Grimsburg – Season 1 Episode 2 “The Flute Show” Recap & Review

The Flute Show

Episode 2 of Grimsburg focuses on the “Boner Case.” The city has been struck by five cold-blooded murders. Each one has been committed using an animal bone; hence, the tacky name. Detective Marvin Flute is all over it and in the process, discovers that Bertram Figg, a movie director, is making a limited series about the case. Chief Stamos has green-lit the project as the department is in need of funds. Figgs’ series recreates all the gory details in a facsimile manner.

He has also cast a British actor, Kip, to play Flute, although he is having a hard time “learning about the character.” He wants to nail every last mannerism and has decided to shadow Flute, even coming to his wife Harmony’s house. Summers, who isn’t featured on the show, reveals to Flute that the murderer used a rabbit bone to commit the latest one. Through some complex thought processes, he discovers that the taxidermy shop in the city might have the next clue.

When Flute confronts the shopkeeper at the front desk for details about a rabbit bone buyer, he makes a run for it, confirming that he is indeed the killer. However, when he tries to catch him, Bertram intervenes and ensures that the killer gets away. Meanwhile, since Kip wants to go deep into the role like Jeremy Strong, he takes on the challenge of learning about Stan, Flute’s neglected son. Stan is shown to be going through feelings of abandonment. He wants to have a present father in his life but Flute fails to live up to his responsibilities.

Bertram argues that he wants to ease into the core plot of the series. Before Flute is seen in action, he must be romanticized to the viewers by making him fall in love. Flute suggests they could include Harmony in the role. But the crew won’t make it apparent since Flute wants to mend their relationship and wants to come off as genuine. This includes going to the BarKour restaurant, taking a stroll through the park, and trying to arouse nostalgia in Harmony about the good memories from the past.

However, when Harmony learns the truth, she is disgruntled. She bemoans how her beleaguered husband makes everything a “Flute Show” and walks away. Although Stan had hoped that he could feel his father’s love by rehearsing and spending time with Kip, he has his heart broken. The actor sees through the facade that Stan had put up to realize the truth about his relationship with Flute. The actor is found dead next…but sensationally, it is revealed that he isn’t the Boner killer’s victim.

The Boner killer kidnaps Flute and accuses Bertram of having killed the actor. He has solid evidence as the bone used to commit the murder is a Hollywood prop. At Kip’s funeral, Flute tries to nail Bertram but the director/psychopath is smart about it. Blocked off due to an impasse, the deadlock is broken by Harmony, who “parkours” her way through the chapel and arrests Bertram.

Flute finally let her take centre stage and she doesn’t disappoint. However, before he can be taken away, the real Boner killer pounces on Bertram, killing him. The episode ends with Stan and Flute sharing some light moments, perhaps giving the young boy some hope. 

The Episode Review

Grimsburg has the right elements of comedy and adult serious-mindedness but fails to impress with its second outing. The makers stray away from the original formula of giving Flute complex cases to solve and apply his crime-solving skills. The compromise is to adjust larger themes about his stint as a failed father and husband, which is an encouraging move. As bold and thoughtful as it is, the execution is seriously lacking. 

Altruistic side plots like Lieutenant Kang’s musings about Hollywood stardom and Bertram’s obsession with true crime are frustrating distractions. Dr Rufis Pentos is completely wasted, forming yet another part of the failed experiment. The thought process to attempt something fresh points to a good mindset. However, the show isn’t as charmingly put together as we’d hoped for. 

If the makers do decide to take a complete U-turn and go back to the original planning, it won’t reflect well on their creative intent. From the promos of Episode 3, that looks to be the case. I hope I am wrong about that.