'Shardlake' Episode 2 Ending Explained: Simon Whelplay's mysterious death complicates Robin Singleton's murder case
LONDON, ENGLAND: Tudo England is being brought alive on the screen in Hulu's 'Shardlake', where the dissolution of the monasteries is at its peak.
The series, directed by Justin Chadwick, follows crookback lawyer Matthew Shardlake (Arthur Hughes), who is assigned to investigate the inexplicable murder of Master Robin Singleton at St. Donatus.
Together with Jack Barak (Anthony Boyle), Shardlake investigates the monks and the monastery in hopes of discovering the truth.
In the second episode, Shardlake resolves to investigate the fundamental reason for Robin's death, and to do so, he examines the monastery's account book.
Matthew Shardlake is startled by Simon Whelplay's disorientation
From the first episode, it's clear that Whelplay is aware of critical information that might endanger the monastery.
In the second episode, Whelplay flees as Alice Fewterer (Ruby Ashbourne Serkis) and Brother Guy (Irfan Shamji) pursue him.
Shardlake notices the disorientated young monk and requests that he stop, but the guy flees and ends up on the barn's upper level.
Shardlake urges him to come down, but Whelplay begins to mirror Shardlake's body language and falls from the height.
Later, Shardlake is seen regretting not being able to save Whelplay.
On his way back from the woods, he is trapped in quicksand, but Alice rescues him.
Both Alice and Shardlake bond later with Alice adding that Robin was a hothead, and Shardlake isn't like him.
Jack Barak kills Dr. Goodhap in 'Shardlake' Episode 2
At the infirmary, Barak questions why they were not told that Whelplay had woken up. When Shardlake sees monks visiting Whelplay, who is always thought to be beneficial for nothing, confusion strikes, and he sheds light on his doubts in front of Guy.
Seemingly desperate to solve the murder case, Barak asks Shardlake if the information is being withheld from them knowingly, at which point they should determine the truth for themselves.
However, Brother Guy delivers a postmortem to Whelplay, shattering Shardlake's belief that Whelplay was about to use the poison Belladona, sometimes known as deadly nightshade.
Shocked by the discovery, Shardlake asks Brother Guy to keep quiet about the new knowledge.
On the other side, Barak witnesses Dr. Goodhap fleeing. Barak follows him, well aware that he knows too much.
At the end of the episode, Barak brutally kills Dr. Goodhap before running away.
'Shardlake' trailer