WRITER: Robert Murphy DIRECTOR: Duane Clark
CAST: David Morrissey (Danny Brogan), Lucy Cohu (Evelyn Brogan), Felicity Jones (Zoë Brogan), Harry Treadaway (Mark Brogan), Ralph Brown (Bernard Wintersgill), Nina Sosanya (Samantha Campbell), Melanie Hill (Brenda Ogilvie), Ella Smith (Jezebel Ogilvie), Tristan Gemmill (Dr David York) & Don Gilet (Freddie Marcuse)
Wintersgill plays a psychological game of cat-and-mouse with Danny over Jack Donnelly's disappearance, Mark's obsession with Brenda reaches a peak, and Evelyn makes a startling discover…The oddness that permeates Cape Wrath is beginning to focus in on its characters, thanks to the "Who Killed Jack Donnelly?" plotline, which, like Twin Peaks stiff Laura Palmer before it, gives you something relatable to off-set the creepy actions of its ensemble.
Episode 4 is perhaps the series' most "normal" episode yet, essentially boiling down to a two-hander between murdering patriarch Danny (David Morrissey) and authoritarian nutcase Wintersgill (Ralph Brown). Wintersgill is convinced Danny murdered Jack and has buries him in his garden. He's right, of course, but as Jack was in the midst of raping a cross-dressing teen with autism, we're on Danny's side.
Robert Murphy's script rattles along, clearly enjoying not having to "out weird" itself with every scene, but instead getting to grips with two of the show's best characters. David Morrissey has been excellent through the series, but is undoubtedly at his peak here. Likewise, Ralph Brown is such a strong presence it makes you wonder why he isn't seen more on our screens.
Outside of their interrogation, which soon devolves into unpleasant torture, punctuated by the mysterious phrase "wind song" that sends Wintersgill into a rage, Episode 4 turns its attention to three sub-plots for the Brogan clan.
Matriarch Evelyn (Lucy Cohu) has a few short scenes with "unprofessional" doctor/admirer David York, in-between fretting over her husband's situation, while daughter Zoë (Felicity Jones) meets a dashing American at the town's golf course. Indeed, Cape Wrath often throws in a few American characters, perhaps as a concession to the fact Cape Wrath is shown first across the pond (but known as Meadowlands – which I prefer, incidentally!)
The plot that becomes most interesting away from the Danny/Wintersgill battle-of-will involves Mark Brogan (Harry Treadaway), whose "peeping tom" antics with neighbour Brenda Ogilvie (Melanie Hill) has gone uncommented upon since Episode 1… until now. Here, Mark makes a desperate bid to connect with someone sexually, leading to a skewed Graduate-style moment.
Overall, despite being well-acted and enjoyable enough, the overall "mystery" surrounding the town doesn't seem to have any clear direction. It's basically become a warped soap opera, which is fitfully enjoyable, but a little bit beneath a big drama series. While the characters are fun to watch and things develop nicely, I've yet to be sold on the idea that there's anything particularly mind-blowing happening regarding Meadowlands and Danny's "handler" Samantha (Nina Sosanya).
It's easy to be portentous and enigmatic, but far harder to successfully cultivate a feeling of intelligent mystery. I wouldn't be surprised if Meadowlands was revealed as a social experiment, which is nothing as meaty as its cousins Twin Peaks and The Prisoner had up their sleeves.
