Rivals
Content issues take center stage in this TV drama about television tycoons and politicians vying for power.
Reverend Sidney Chambers of the 1950s Grantchester Parish sits alone at the pub when he’s approached by Pamela Morton.
“No one knows what to say to a clergyman after a funeral,” Sidney admits. “They can’t relax till I’ve gone … Perhaps I remind them too much of death.”
As it turns out, death is exactly why Pamela wants to talk.
She’s mourning the loss of Stephen, the other half of her sordid affair—over whose funeral Sidney officiated. The police officially ruled his death as a suicide, but Pamela claims that the act doesn’t add up. After all, Stephen had just confessed his desire for the two of them to run away together.
Why is Pamela telling a vicar about all of this? According to Pamela, it’s because he’s in the business of hearts, and he may just care enough to figure things out.
And she’s right. Sidney takes the new information straight to Detective Inspector Geordie Keating, who finds Sidney’s info unconvincing.
“Why don’t you go back to church and pray for the wicked?” Geordie dismissively says.
Not a bad idea. But to do it, Sidney will need to dive deeper into the case to uncover just who the “wicked” in this case might be. And if it is murder, Sidney will need to find him before he can pray for him.
It’s not long before Sidney does determine Stephen’s killer. And his investigative skills (as well as his priestly ability to make suspects trust him) earn him Geordie’s friendship. And episode by episode, the two teamed up to solve mysteries and lock criminals away.
By Grantchester’s ninth season, however, Sidney’s long gone, having immigrated to the United States. And his replacement (and current main character), Reverend William Davenport, isn’t long for the show either—at the start of the ninth season, he accepted a position in Newcastle. The empty position in Grantchester is soon to be filled by vicar Alphy Kotteram, who, like both of his predecessors, is sure to have the same knack for priestly sleuthing as well as getting along with Geordie.
We did some sleuthing of our own around Grantchester, too. And not everything is in accordance with Anglican belief.
Often, people are murdered, as you might expect. We don’t often see the actual murder: just the resulting dead body or something similar. But the descriptions of the grisly murders and the occasional bloodstained victims are likely more than a parent would like his or her child to see. What’s more, other violent acts, such as rape, abuse and abortion, are plot points, too.
The show likewise throws some sexual content under its detective’s magnifying glass. Affairs come up in the show, and romance can result in two characters briefly engaging in onscreen sex (though nothing critical is typically seen). Other cases include Sidney entering a strip club filled with lingerie-clad women and a case in which Will deals with a dead male streaker whose naked behind is visible to the camera. As for other content, a prominent series-long B-plot revolves around one Anglican curate’s struggle and personal acceptance of his homosexual feelings and eventual relationship.
Episodes often end with Sidney or Will providing the church with a snippet of a sermon that’s subtly or overtly related to the events of the episode’s investigation. They wear their priestly robes and make references to Bible passages. But their spiritual insight rarely goes further than bumper-sticker theology wherein they quote nice sentiments lacking context that are likewise missing any deeper Christian truths.
To its credit, Grantchester provides compelling mysteries—ones that made me want to detect the killer before the priests could. Its current nine-season run indicates that its writers know how to create compelling plots.
But is that enough to convince you to watch? That’s a mystery only you can solve.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at [email protected], or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
Sidney investigates an alleged suicide after he’s told of evidence that may actually point to murder.
At a funeral, a congregant states that “a man who takes his own life is going straight to hell.” However, Sidney he believes all sins shall be forgiven, making the point by quoting Mark 3:28, which, without context, makes him sound as if he holds to a universalist view of salvation. Someone quotes Proverbs 12:22 regarding how God feels about lies. After stealing something, Sidney laments that he’s broken the eighth commandment. Claiming that they need more evidence, Geordie appeals to Sidney: “Take your Jesus,” he says. “He didn’t settle for one or two miracles, did He? He went on until people believed Him.” Someone describes Sidney as “not a natural sinner.” Sidney tells his congregation to “live as they have never lived.”
A scene briefly reveals a man and woman, naked under bedcovers, having sex. For the two seconds it is onscreen, we hear sensual noises. A prostitute solicits Sidney. A husband slaps his wife on her rear. Sidney kisses his female friend on the cheek. A man is briefly shirtless. Geordie wonders how a man could have the energy to engage in an affair.
We see the grisly scene of someone’s death. Drops of blood stain his desk and the wall behind his dead body. We likewise see the gun as it fires the killing blow. In a flashback to World War II, Sidney shoots and kills a German soldier.
People smoke cigarettes and drink beer. Sidney has a glass of liquor. Whiskey is a key piece of evidence in Sidney’s investigation.
We hear occasional swears like “b–tard,” “b–ch,” “p-ss” and “d–n.” British crudities like “bloody” and “bugger” are used. God’s name is used in vain four times.
Will and Geordie attend the circus when it comes to town. But when a performer ends up dead, they seek to find the murderer.
Will gives a strange sermon based not in Scripture but on his time at the circus. “It reminds me of a desert, long ago, where dusty, huddled souls performed—clowned even—to a scared and hopeful crowd,” he says. “They juggled bread and wine and told the thrilling secret of the universe: Christ is risen.” One congregant mocks him for the analogy. “Is next week going to be ‘How The Guns of Navarone reminds me of Paul and the Corinthians?” A street preacher gains popularity, causing Will to reexamine his shepherding at Grantchester. Will quotes 1 Peter 4:10 on using our gifts to serve others.
Women wear tight leotards that reveal their curves. One woman’s top accentuates her breasts. Geordie makes sly sexual references. Someone else tells of their time at a lewd show. We hear a reference to one man’s homosexual desires. A woman irons a man’s underwear. Someone learns that two of his coworkers had sex.
Geordie investigates a man’s dead body. He’s been shot through the heart with an arrow.
Geordie finds opium in one of the circus tents. People smoke and drink.
“H—” and “a–” are heard a couple of times. The British vulgarity “bloody” is used eight times. God’s name is used in vain once.
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
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