Why Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise’s most underused character needs their own storyline
It's long overdue.
Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise season 14 episode 4 spoilers follow.
This week’s Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise saw DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) become both a little softer and more vulnerable. It was a much more likeable and endearing side to the terse detective we’ve come to know so far – and a side which we wouldn’t have known existed, had it not been for DS Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson) drawing it out of him.
While Mervin’s tender episode-four journey will, no doubt, have commanded viewers’ attention, our eyes were on Jackson’s performance.
As she owned each and every moment of screen time, finding a way to shine through Mervin’s narrative, Jackson left us craving more while simultaneously making us realise how starved she’s been of a storyline worthy enough to show off her talent.
Witnessing her boss’s struggle to assimilate with Island life, Naomi encouraged him to step away from the recluse lifestyle he was so desperately trying to create and instead get closer to his late, estranged mother.
“This is your one chance to get to learn more about your mother’s life here on Saint Marie,” she cautioned, in an attempt to rescue him from an isolated life with only his air con and a satellite dish.
Her gentle cajoling led to the pair taking a trip to his mum’s favourite seafood joint, The Flying Fish.
Naomi initially seemed cautiously optimistic about this positive step from the DI, but as he rushed them through their working lunch – speeding through the ordering process and inhaling the food before telling her to box hers up and meet him by the car – she soon realised that he wasn’t changing.
Mervin’s briskness made her boil over and, for the first time, we saw a stricter and more bristly side of Naomi, adding more character to her usually cheery and agreeable demeanour.
Arriving at the car – hot tempered and with a look on her face we seldom get to see – Naomi let him have it.
She lectured him about his tendency to rush through things, even something as sentimental as finding ways to connect with his mother, and gave it to him straight about “how annoying” he could be.
Her frustration rose and fell during this interaction, giving way to compassion when she advised: “There’s so much you’re going to miss if you don’t slow down.”
It was a small moment, but one with impact. It gave viewers a small window into the range Jackson has been sitting on, thanks to Naomi’s limited character growth and storylines she has had on the show to date.
Despite this being her fourth season, Naomi has had very little in the way of her own personal arc.
This feels extremely puzzling when you consider that her previous counterpart Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert), who also held the position of Detective Sergeant, was awarded gripping storylines. These included an exploration of grief after a traumatic loss, an undercover mission where she was tasked with catching a mafia boss, and an arguably sweeping love story with former lead detective Neville Parker (Ralf Little).
In comparison, when it comes to the love department, Naomi kissed her colleague once then regretted it. After that, just when it might have been assumed that this misadventure was intended for her to recognise that she perhaps did want a romance, it was dropped – along with the possibility of a further storyline.
Naomi has come a long way from the overly keen DS who busted her junior colleague Marlon (Tahj Miles) for being late on her first day. But while her character has quietly matured in the background, there has been very little way for her to showcase that. Until now.
There’s something about Mervin and Naomi’s interactions that allow the character of Naomi to be stretched, with more frequency to explore a feistier, more assertive, side than she has previously.
Her being there for him during a difficult time – despite him not wanting to admit his emotional turmoil – also seems to have opened up something between them.
There’s chemistry and trust building between them. She pushes him out of his comfort zone, forcing him to reconsider his approach, and in turn he brings out a different side of her which makes her even more interesting to watch.
There are many moments where it feels like there might be a spark of something more than friendship growing. Fleeting looks and a tension, that is perhaps on the cusp of romance.
While a Mervin-Naomi love story should not be the only way for Jackson to have a meatier role, it could mean we get to see more of this more layered version of Naomi.
Either way, whether they fall for each other or develop a ‘buddy cop’ friendship, their relationship has highlighted just how engaging and entertaining Jackson is in her own right.
And how she is deserving of her own storyline.
Beyond Paradise and Dᴇᴀᴛʜ in Paradise both air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.
