One of the satisfying aspects of this series is the way in which the various writers offer social critiques even while structuring the script around the traditional mystery form. In previous episodes they have looked at institutions such as private schools; in this episode they look at the church - specifically the demise of a priest (Ron Falk) with a penchant for rubbing people up the wrong way. As the drama unfolds, we discover that he suffers from an incurable illness that affects the way he speaks: many of the confidences spoken to him in confessions end up being revealed in his Sunday sermons.
As Blake's investigation unfolds, so we discover the hypocrisies lurking behind such apparently innocuous rituals as church-going. Celia and Ben Lloyd (Sheridan Harbridge, Lyall Brooks) attend weekly, but their apparent piety conceals dark secrets - especially concerning Celia. Dorothy Turner (Petula Clark) is the deceased priest's devoted housekeeper, yet has spent most of her life being ignored by him, which quite obviously provokes her into resentment of his behavior. Add to that an over-ambitious younger priest (Nick Farnell), and there are plenty of motives for wanting to murder the unfortunate priest.
This episode also contains an interesting sideline involving Lawson (Joel Tobeck). Despite his efforts in trying to maintain a firm yet benevolent rule over his unruly force, as well as the doctor (Craig McLachlan) he is summoned to Head Office for a dressing-down. One wonders what will happen next.