Frankie Drake Mysteries Series Finale Recap: Family Reunions and Unanswered Questions — Grade It!
Ever since she was a child, Frankie thought her father died in an alley under suspicious circumstances. But in what turned out to be Ovation TV‘s series finale of Frankie Drake Mysteries, the ace private detective finally learned the truth.
The revelation began on Saturday’s installment when Jack, Frankie’s younger half-brother, appeared at her office with a newspaper article that featured a man who looked a lot like their dearly departed dad — except very much alive. Confused by the news, Frankie reached out to one of the witnesses who said he saw Ned Drake get murdered. Sadly, the man admitted to Frankie he lied to the police to help Ned stage his own death because Ned paid him to do so.
A shocked and slightly heartbroken Frankie then visited an old friend of Ned’s named Desmond, and he said he thought Ned was dead, too. Something about his vibe made Frankie suspicious, and when she learned Desmond and her father were a part of a shady and thieving secret society known as the Brothers of the Crooked Dagger, she decided to crash one of their meetings to get to the truth.
While there, she heard Desmond announce they needed to kill Ned because he could expose their secrets. Just as Frankie was about to run off and keep looking for her father, he snuck up on her and said he’d tell her everything once they got out of the Brothers’ hidden lair.
Ned apologized for deserting Frankie and Jack, but said he was back to steal a very valuable telescope from the brotherhood that once belonged to Sir Francis Drake because Desmond used his old plans to steal it. Ned said he needed Frankie and Jack to help him find two more Crooked Dagger brotherhood rings, and then he’d nab the telescope and split.
Frankie and Jack set out to do just that, but Jack got arrested in the process. Meanwhile, Frankie’s mom Nora and Ned rekindled their spark while Frankie and Jack were away. Ned, Nora and Frankie then figured out a way into the lair, and Ned used the rings to help him steal the telescope. But when he attempted to save Frankie from the bad guys, Desmond stabbed him before they could escape.
It seemed like Jack had come to their rescue, but he snatched the telescope and said he needed the money for his wife and son. Nora was horrified by Jack’s selfishness, but Ned and Frankie just laughed about how much of a mess the Drake family really is.
Ned said he was proud Frankie turned out so well, and he once again apologized for not being there for her. He explained one of the reasons he left was because he thought Frankie would be better off without him. Sadly, Ned really did die this time, and once again, Frankie was devastated. She couldn’t turn to Sandro because he’d already left for Europe, so she ran to the arms of Sebastian, and for a moment, it seemed like they could be more than just friends.
Before they could get too cozy, the pair heard an ominous gunshot. However, it was unclear if Trudy had fallen victim to those shady insurance types she had started working for, or if she had bested the fake doctor lady.
Elsewhere in the finale, Flo took custody of her niece, and Mary took down a couple of corrupt Toronto police detectives, but at what cost? Unless there’s a follow-up movie of some sort — hint hint, CBC and Ovation TV — fans will never know how this story ends and if Trudy survived.
What did you think of the series finale? And are you hoping the series will find a new home or at least land a TV movie that could give a sense of closure? Grade the finale in our poll, and drop your thoughts in the comments.
I loved this series! Shame it wasn’t picked up for a new season as I would love to find out what happened after…
I like the show, but they had to much packed in the final episode, and left to many unanswered questions as to what happened.
I and my wife are Very disappointed that Frankie drake has ended and we hope someone will pick up this series…it was so entertaining and enjoyable to watch and we want more!😐
And yet another show to point to when I complain about how cliffhanger season finales should be illegal, especially if you don’t know if the show will be renewed.
That season finale, should haves been series final! It was awful! The ending should have tied up some thing.They could have written better endings! It is so sad to see a good show cancelled, and a crappy ending!
The ending left everything hanging and solved nothing. I found it highly frustrating. Especially considering how much I enjoyed the series.
Another show that was unable to have a series finale and did a season ending cliffhanger.. yuch,. I doubt any network will pick it up… I enjoyed the 4 seasons and wish it could have ended better…
CBC gave it four seasons. It aired right after Murdoch Mysteries. Obviously it was doing well.
We might not ever know why it was canceled by CBC. Now I only watch Murdoch Mysteries in this network.
Why did it end this way? Leaving us hanging!! I wanted a happy ending or at least one with closure ☹️
S04e10 was broadcast in March, why is this article now ?
It was broadcasted in Canada in March but just aired in the US yesterday.
Excellent series…it could easily have gone another year or two. It definitely needs at the very least a follow up episode or movie to close the storyline properly, but should be picked up by some other network to continue.
I’m sorry it ended was such a great woman series for the 1930s also it looks at the world at that time and addresses the reality of what was happening then but not much has changed even now. Will miss this show it was great. Am buying the entire series
Bring back more Frankie Drake. We need another season!
Love Frankie Drake Mysteries! Never missed an episode . It is one of the best female actor lead shows. The characters are relatable admirable and fun. Please keep this show on ovation or another network!
Fabulous show, great female actors, loved their “characters”, especially Flo and Mary roles interacting last several episodes. Very disappointed the show was cancelled. It was very popular, great story lines, loved Frankie’s independent character and strength. I hope another station continues the show.
I am so sorry to see this show end. It’s such a great show full of nostalgia and they seem to work so well together. I can’t believe they would end with a lot of loose ends like what happened to Trudy etc. Hopefully they will have something more to at least end things right.
Hoping for more series, not just left hanging. Need to know what is actually done with the starring actors. It’s not fair the final outcome. I love the series.
I like this series and hopefully it will come back. Like the Murdoch series its popular in New Zealand. We need vlosure and Frankie needs to get it on with Sebastián.
I have loved all four seasons of Frankie Drake Mysteries. But the series finale was more like a season opener. It left so many unanswered questions. Plus the characters were on the verge of so many life changes. I hope there will be a follow up movie or another season. A finale normally resolves themes instead of creating untold new ones. I was very disappointed.
Frankie Drake was a breath of fresh air in the detective/crime TV world. We need to have some closure on all these characters. As a finale goes it was terrible. With way to many things left hanging. As a tv hour drama it was fun to watch. It was not the best Frankie Drake of the year
I hope it returns soon, find out what happened.
trudy already died the first time, in an episode of a psychic… hopefuly this is something else;
is jack really married with a kid, or did he just want to steal the item for hisself. is there a way to let the writers know we want the show back on the air?
frankie drake mysteries
sebastian asks frankie is she ok, in which she says no, they hear a gun shot; which leads to it being
a champagne bottle opening in frankie’s office, finding trudy and her financial boss, who explains why (the financial boss) snuck into the office.
frankie father’s dies; learning that her brother is keeping the telescope in a safe place, jack tells frankie about his mom and whether or not jack is really frankie’s brother.
sebastian tells frankie why he has been misterious lately, talks about his dead wife, in which sebastian, alone in his office looks at his wife picture on the wall, who looks exactly like trudy.
the financial boss tells trudy that the woman who trudy helped is not who she appears to be, alessondro has a sneaking suspicion about sebastian. jack and nora have a talk about his mom.
NEW EPISODES OF FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES; december 24(8pm/newjersey pbs)
Loved Frankie Drake and the girls. Why would they drop a very decent show? Somebody doesn’t know what is a great show! Come on Ovation pick up this show for at least a couple more years!!!!
I would like the series to continue. The ending left me wondering what happened to Trudy? Wad she really shot? Did she die? Escape? Do they catch the suspects?
I wished they can make another season
Because it not right for the fans to guess what happened to Truly and Mary.
A good finale should wrap things up, not leave people hanging. I choose to believe that Trudy survived and the insurance lady was the one shot, but this was messy and I was disappointed in this ending of a series that I loved and looked forward to.
This is a series I loved and could watch with my grandkids which very rarely happens.
I am bummed.