Return to Paradise premiere answers two big mysteries about DI Mackenzie Clarke

Return to Paradise premiere answers two big mysteries about DI Mackenzie Clarke

As a seasoned film enthusiast who’s had the privilege of witnessing countless tales unfold on the silver screen, I must say that Return to Paradise has certainly piqued my interest from the very first episode. The intricate plot twists and the enigmatic character of Mackenzie Clarke have left me captivated, much like a cat watching a field mouse through a window.


Upon Mackenzie Clarke’s return to the seaside town of Dolphin Cove at the start of Return to Paradise, her comeback is met with a sense of deflation among several residents.

The detective inspector encounters anything from cool indifference to outright contempt, ranging from being thrown out of a taxi to being told off by a woman at the youth club for her donations.

But the reason for that widespread ill feeling towards Mackenzie is initially kept under wraps.

Why is it that so many people seem to dislike her so intensely? Can you shed some light on what incident or actions from six years ago, prior to her move to London, might have caused such animosity?

And that’s not the only mystery that’s teased earlier in the episode.

What makes you think Mackenzie returned to Australia, if she wasn’t keen on it? Also, why does it seem like she’s evading the question regarding her stay duration? Could it be that she herself isn’t sure how long she will be in the country?

When Mackenzie tries to call her boss, who is based in London (the English capital), it’s Detective Jack Mooney, portrayed by Ardal O’Hanlon, that initially doesn’t answer her call. However, after she contacts him from an unidentified number, she eventually manages to get through to him.

At first, he communicates with her using a secret language to hide the identity of his conversation partner, and then he sternly instructs her never to reach out to him again.

Return to Paradise premiere answers two big mysteries about DI Mackenzie Clarke

But eventually, we get some clarity about who we’re dealing with here.

Approximately five years past, Mackenzie left her fiancé Glenn Strong at the altar when she boarded a plane. The cause was her long-standing sense of being criticized and excluded in Dolphin Cove. Ultimately, she decided that despite its beauty, the town failed to meet her needs.

Instead of discussing things with Glenn before departing, Mackenzie simply chose to go without notice, leaving Glenn clueless and devastated. Moreover, being a well-respected figure in the community, people were outraged by Mackenzie’s thoughtless behavior towards Glenn.

In another phrase, how on earth did she manage to hurt dear Glenn like that? Why was she so heartless? Consequently, their disdain for her took shape.

Not long after the question was addressed, it was additionally disclosed that Mackenzie returned to a location she held such a strong desire to depart from. This was due to encountering difficulties in her employment with the Metropolitan Police.

At present, she’s on a leave of absence, as it were, due to allegations against her for tampering with evidence. The detective denies these claims, yet she chose to depart the country, taking her warrant card with her. This action has resulted in a pause in the proceedings.

She told Senior Sergeant Philomena Strong, “I wasn’t involved; I was tied up. I would never manipulate evidence.” It’s apparent that Mackenzie is an officer with impeccable honesty.

As mentioned by Philomena, there’s a prolonged investigation coming up that could last for several months, so I’m preparing myself for staying put for a while.

But London’s loss is Dolphin Cove’s (and our) gain.

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2024-11-23 01:06