BROKAW: ‘Shakespeare & Hathaway’ return for a fifth season of sleuthing
Photo supplied, BritBox
Shakespeare and HathawayAfter three years, the unlikely yet efficient duo of PIs Frank Hathaway (Mark Benton) and Luella Shakespeare (Jo Joyner) are reunited for a fifth season of “Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.” While Frank was a legitimate PI back in 2018, Lu joined him after her fiancé was murdered and has learned the ropes with his help, albeit reluctantly. Along with Sebastian “Seb” Brudenell (Patrick Walshe McBride), their dedicated office assistant and now investigative assistant, the PI office of Shakespeare and Hathaway have been very successful in solving cases, to the chagrin of Detective Sergeant Keeler (Tomos Eames) who feels they only get in his way.
For admirers of the team, their return has been highly anticipated. BritBox has brought back the hard-nosed Frank and the truly dedicated Lu to solve more mysteries. Seb supplies much of the humor in this series. His prior education at RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts) helps him get into his undercover roles and it comes in handy this season, along quick wit and dry sense of humor. He never lets anyone forget that he is a trained actor, bringing his talent to the agency in a myriad of forms.
Season 5 begins with the duo having gone their separate ways the past couple years. They each have their own PI agency, and unbeknownst to each other, Seb works for both of them. When their latest cases bring them together, they rediscover what a great team they make. At the end of the first episode, they are once again solving mysteries under the banner “Shakespeare & Hathaway.”
Throughout this season, their unique qualities combine to make them a great team. Frank and Lu might seem like polar opposites on the outside, but combining their instincts and intelligence is the success of their private investigating agency. He is a rough, grumbly, unkempt kind of guy and she is a sweet, neat and tidy woman.
“Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators” is a rather low-key and fun show for evening streaming. In season five, there are plenty of undercover operations bringing the team closer together while they solve the mysteries and crimes.
And there’s a nod to the classic board game “Clue” in one episode as Seb is tasked with retrieving anything that could be a weapon in a mysterious mansion, where they are gathered for a murder mystery dinner. Who would have guessed that an actual death would occur?
The storylines are not too complex, lending to the whimsical nature of the show. With the dedication of Lu, the grit of Frank and the wit of Seb, the three of them are entertaining to watch as they mingle and maneuver their way through their jobs, with great success.
Season 5 began streaming on BritBox the end of November and new episodes are continuing to roll out weekly through January. As with the previous four season, there are 10 episodes in this season.
“Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators” Season 5 is now rolling out weekly with new episodes on BritBox, with all episodes of the previous four seasons available to stream.
