Ep 4. Monk's Hood

Brother Cadfael, the Benedictine monk and herbalist, faces another mystery in the fourth episode of season one, titled "Monk's Hood." The episode begins with a group of monks in the midst of a heated debate over their monastery's fate. The Abbot has just died, and there are two potential candidates to replace him – Brother Jerome, a strict and uncompromising monk, and Brother Prior Robert, a more liberal-minded leader. The monks are split between the two candidates, and tensions are high.

Cadfael, meanwhile, is preoccupied with his herbal garden and the upcoming arrival of his close friend, Master Olivier de Bretagne. However, his plans are interrupted when a young man named Eluard arrives at the monastery seeking sanctuary from the law. Eluard is accused of murdering his estranged wife, and the Crown is on his tail.

Despite the danger, the monastery takes Eluard in, and Cadfael takes a particular interest in him. As he tends to Eluard's injuries, he notes that the young man's symptoms are unusual – his eyes are dilated, his breathing is labored, and his pulse is erratic. Cadfael suspects that Eluard has been poisoned, possibly with a plant known as Monk's Hood.

As Cadfael tends to Eluard, he begins to round up the suspects – including a wealthy landowner who stands to benefit from Eluard's conviction, and a local apothecary who may have supplied the poison. With Brother Jerome and Prior Robert at each other's throats, Cadfael must work alone to find the true murderer before Eluard's time runs out.

As the investigation unfolds, Cadfael must also confront his own demons. As a former soldier who fought in the Crusades, he has seen his fair share of death and violence. Now, as a dedicated monk and healer, he struggles to reconcile his past with his present. His relationship with Robert, who is also a former soldier, is particularly fraught, as the two men have vastly different visions for the monastery's future.

Ultimately, Cadfael uncovers the truth about the murder and clears Eluard's name. Along the way, he discovers important clues about his own past, as well as the role that his skills as an herbalist and healer play in his work as a detective. As the episode comes to a close, Cadfael reflects on the fragile balance between justice and mercy, and the role that he must play in maintaining that balance.

"Monk's Hood" is a gripping episode that showcases both the political intrigue and the personal drama that make Cadfael such a compelling series. With strong performances from lead actor Derek Jacobi and the supporting cast, as well as lush period detail and a haunting musical score, this episode is sure to captivate viewers from start to finish.