British Network Television

‘Father Brown’: S03.E03. “The Invisible Man”

The circus brings with it far more than the village can cope with

Screen Capture: Mark Williams, Tom Chambers, and Sevan Stephan as Father Brown, Inspector Sullivan, and Reggie Smythe, respectively, in “Father Brown”

Whenever a circus arrives in Kembleford, noting the frequent number of deaths, there is never not a mystery for Father Brown (Mark Williams) to solve. The source material for this episode can be found in G. K. Chesterton’s 1911’s published short story collection The Innocence of Father Brown.

The previous year, when the circus was in the village, Laura Hope (Justine Cain) had promised to marry clown Reggie Smythe (Sevan Stephan) or hypnotist Arthur Welkin (Guy Henry). Miss Hope promised to marry the first one that made his fortune.

This promise Miss Hope made, seemingly unbeknownst to both the clown and the hypnotist, was merely in jest as she was never really serious. Miss Hope, since that promise was made, became romantically involved with Nicholas Wallis (Joe Layton). The obvious gentleman’s agreement, as both men shock hands, should have been taken as an indicator they believed her commitment to them.

Screen Capture: Justine Cain and Joe Layton as Laura Hope and Nicholas Wallis, respectively, in “Father Brown”