Ep 1. The Virgin in the Ice

In Cadfael season 2 episode 1 titled "The Virgin in the Ice," we see our beloved monk-turned-sleuth, Brother Cadfael, pulled into yet another intriguing mystery. The episode opens with a harrowing scene of a young girl, the Lady Ermina, and her half-brother, Sir Basil, lost in a wintry forest after their sledge crashed. They stumble upon an abandoned chapel where they take shelter for the night, only to awaken to a nightmare - Lady Ermina is missing.

As the search for Lady Ermina begins, we see the arrival of a group of Flemish weavers in Shrewsbury, led by the enigmatic Tilman Deremans. Cadfael is tasked with welcoming them to the town and soon finds himself drawn into their affairs when one of the weavers, Joscelin Lucy, asks for his help in finding his sister Emma, who has disappeared somewhere in the forest. Cadfael is intrigued by this request, as it seems to mirror the disappearance of Lady Ermina.

While Cadfael sets out to investigate the disappearance of the weaver's sister, the hunt for Lady Ermina continues, with suspicion falling on her half-brother and his companion, a drunken knight named Fauvel. As the investigation unfolds, Cadfael finds himself entangled in a web of deception and betrayal, where the truth is not always easy to distinguish from lies.

Meanwhile, tensions are rising in Shrewsbury as the weavers prepare to set up shop and compete with the town's own skilled craftsmen. The locals are wary of these newcomers, with some accusing them of bringing a curse upon the town. Cadfael, however, sees something in Tilman Deremans that inspires his trust and respect, and he begins to see the Flemish weavers in a new light.

As the search for Lady Ermina and Emma draws to a close, Cadfael realizes that the two disappearances are linked in a way he never could have imagined. With his sharp mind and deep wisdom, he brings the case to a satisfying conclusion that leaves everyone involved with a sense of justice and closure.

"The Virgin in the Ice" is a gripping episode of Cadfael that showcases the series' strengths, from its detailed historical setting to its complex characters and intricate plot. It is a must-watch for any fan of the historical mystery genre, and a testament to why Cadfael remains a beloved series to this day.