Spoiler Alert for Murder in a Small Town season 1, episode 8, “Sleep While I Sing”
This article discusses substance use.
Fox’s Murder in a Small Town mystery series’ season finale has big moments that set up the potential for season 2. Season 1 laid a solid foundation for how Rossif Sutherland’s Karl Alberg operates as the Gibsons Chief of Police and how Kristin Kreuk’s local librarian, Cassandra Lee, informally assists with his investigations. Things heated up when she was abducted by a criminal from his past, causing Karl and Cassandra’s breakup in Murder in a Small Town episode 6, and time to reconcile was running thin with only eight episodes in the series’ first season.
In the Murder in a Small Town season 1 finale, the Gibsons police force continues investigating a serial killer. The town collectively panics with a criminal on the loose, with hushed conversations taking place around Gibsons. In Murder in a Small Town episode 7, Karl seeks out local art teacher Tommy Cummins (Noah Reid) to paint a portrait of their victim, which jumpstarts the case. As the series came to a head with no news on season 2, the finale simultaneously wrapped up the series with a lovely potential ending and paved the way for the procedural TV show’s continuation.
Karl Circulates Mr. Cummins’ Portrait Of Their Jane Doe From Tommy Cummins
The Local Art Teacher Brings Their Victim To Life
In the penultimate episode of Murder in a Small Town season 1, Karl finds Cassandra and asks her if she knows a local artist who can bring their unidentified murder victim to life. Cassandra gives Karl the name of the local art teacher at the high school that Devon (Alisha Newton) and Karl’s daughter Holly (Dakota Guppy) attend. Tommy agrees to the task, and Murder in a Small Town episode 7 ends with Tommy beginning the portrait.
Murder in a Small Town
season 1 comprises eight episodes.
In Murder in a Small Town episode 8, Tommy Cummins paints a beautiful portrait, which the police force circulates on social media and the news. Sid is particularly captivated by the picture. The Gibsons police discovered in the previous episode from wounds on their victim that she previously used drugs but had quit. The case reminds Sid of his deceased sister, who died of drug use.
Robert Cross Identifies Sally Dublin & Ties Cassandra Lee’s Friend To Their Jane Doe
A Friend From Los Angeles Identifies Their Jane Doe As Sally Dublin
As the Gibsons police department gets calls about their Jane Doe after they release her portrait, they finally get a promising lead on the case. Robert Cross, a talent agent from Los Angeles, calls the police force and reports that the woman in the photo is named Sally Dublin, and he is confident that it’s her. Thus, the police department finally has a lead in their serial killer case.
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Robert reports that Sally called him recently, saying she was going to the Sunshine Coast. When asked if she would see any friends, Cross reveals that Sally mentioned seeing a friend named Roger Galbraith. Roger, a fellow actor, is a close friend of Cassandra, and their connection entangles her in yet another case with the police. The development puts her closer to her ex.
Devon Has A Weird Run-In With Cummins
Devon and Mr. Cummins Have A Weird Dynamic
Crossing the boundary of their relationship as student and teacher, Devon has a weird run-in with Mr. Cummins. Their connection is revealed in episode 7, as the town prepares for Tommy Cummins’ art show, and Devon is determined to help. When Karl comes to visit Tommy about the portrait of their Jane Doe in episode 7, Devon is in his office, and he remarks about how talented she is after she leaves.
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In “Sleep While I Sing,” Devon and Tommy hang out after Mr. Cummins’ art show. Devon hugs her teacher, to which he responds awkwardly, and she apologizes. Mr. Cummins offers to drive Devon home, but then she is stranded and distressed on the side of the road. The following day, she is at the Alberg house and describes to Holly how things got weird after she flirted with her teacher.
Roger Steals Cassandra’s Car And Is Invited To The Police Station For Questioning
Roger Galbraith Is Acting Suspicious And Erratic
As danger continues to surface, things get even weirder when Cassandra finds that her car has been stolen and returned worse for wear. Karl has Kendrick (Fritzy-Klevans Destine) posted in a squad car outside her house. She suggests the gesture is unnecessary, but that proves wrong when she discovers someone stole and used her car and whoever it was damaged her bumper.
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Roger has been acting suspiciously, with Murder in a Small Town leaving the room to believe that Roger is the murderer. The connection is the most convincing when Roger calls Cassandra and asks her to lie to Karl and say she was with him the night of the murder. Roger becomes a suspect but clears his name when he voluntarily shows up at the police station for questioning, and his story checks out.
Karl Ties The Murder To Cummins After He Paints A Portrait Of Clyde, A Gibsons Resident’s Dog
A Portrait Of The Deceased Is Cummins’ Calling Card
After the police station gets a tip that there was a green SUV on the side of the road the night Sally Dublin was killed, Karl returns to their first witness, Callum Hingle (Gardiner Millar), to verify the report. Some Gibsons residents believe Callum is the murderer, but his wife, Mary (Liza Huget), confidently assures Karl that her husband isn’t responsible. When Karl comes inside, something else catches his eye.
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Karl spots a portrait of the couple’s deceased dog, Clyde, who was found dead in the woods. Callum believes that his dog was murdered, and he and his wife are distressed, but tell Karl that a portrait by local artist Tommy Cummins brought their dog back to life and lifted their spirits. Upon seeing the picture, it clicks to Karl that a painting of his victims is Cummins’ calling card and that he is their serial killer.
Sid Finds Roger & Comforts His Sister
Sid Has A Connection To Gail Galbraith
While Roger is no longer a prime suspect, he acts erratically. Sid and Yen (Mya Lowe) search for Roger after finding proof that he stole Cassandra’s car, and they locate him with a woman they don’t recognize but was with him the night he stole Cassandra’s car. The interaction reveals that Roger has been hanging out with his sister, and they are both acting erratically due to substance use disorder.
Sid gives Gail his card, saying he is there for her if she needs help, but she must try to help herself.
Upon seeing the bigger picture, Sid requests to speak alone to Roger’s sister, Gail (Paula Lindberg). Yen takes Roger to another bench, and Sid tells Gail about how he lost his sister to addiction. Sid gives Gail his card, saying he is there for her if she needs help, but she must try to help herself. It’s a tender moment between the police officer and someone who needs help, and Sid does the right thing by lending a hand rather than apprehending people who need help.
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Roger officially clears his name when Sid reveals they know Sally Dublin called him when she came into town. Roger admits that the call was too painful to talk about because he knows he should have answered and that his friend would still be alive. The moment proves that, despite his odd behavior, Roger is also a victim of the circumstances and has no malicious intention.
Tommy Cummins Shows Devon His Art Studio And Reveals He’s A Serial Killer
Mr. Cummings Wants Devon To Join Him
After Holly Alberg tells Devon that her ex-boyfriend, Jesse (Quinten James), has punched Mr. Cummins, Devon rushes to find her teacher. She successfully finds him, and they are sitting in the teacher’s car, driving to an unknown location shortly after. Cummins tells Devon that there’s something special he has been wanting to show her, and Devon gushes with excitement as she rides in the passenger seat.
When Devon and her teacher arrive at his home, Tommy Cummins reveals his studio to Devon, including the photos of the people he killed.
When Devon and her teacher arrive at his home, Tommy Cummins reveals his studio to Devon, including the photos of the people he killed. Cummins tells Devon that he wants her to be his apprentice, and she pushes Tommy away as she runs, fearing for her life. The teacher has had an uncomfortable fixation on his student throughout episodes 7 and 8, and the finale reveals he was looking for a partner-in-crime.
Karl Alberg Rushes To Tommy’s House And Stops Him From Murdering Devon
Tommy Cummins Is About To Make Devon His Next Victim
As Karl makes the connection that Cummins is their serial killer, he rushes to his house. Karl learns from Devon’s mother that her daughter is with the murderer. The police chief rushes to the scene, calling all units for backup and hoping that he isn’t too late to save Devon’s life. Tommy is chasing Devon through the yard when Karl arrives at the Cummins home.
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At the last possible moment, Karl rushes to Tommy, who grabs Devon and holds a knife to her throat. Karl refuses to lower his gun, telling Tommy that it’s over. The serial killer refuses, but Kendrick provides pivotal backup, forcing Cummins to drop his weapon and surrender. The police force takes Tommy into custody before he murders again, but it remains unclear how many people he has hurt.
Roger Gives Cassandra Her Keys Back And Encourages Her To Be With Karl
Roger Is Ultimately A Good Guy
As Cassandra leaves the library, Roger waits for her so he can return his keys. He tells her he’s going to rehab and provides an essential wake-up call before he parts ways with his friend. Roger reminds Cassandra that she’s in love with Karl, comparing it to a romance she experienced as a high school senior. The moment shows how well Roger knows Cass, giving his advice credibility.
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Roger tells his friend that her true love for Karl is rare, encouraging Cassandra not to compromise her relationship. This moment proves that Roger isn’t a bad guy after all, that he’s midway through a journey, and ultimately supportive of his longtime friend. Advice from a trusted source impacts Cassandra, who finds Karl looking out over the harbor and comes to talk to him.
Cassandra Reveals She’s Running For Town Council
Cassandra’s Role Is Evolving
Karl and Cassandra have had great conversations at the end of the episodes throughout Murder in a Small Town season 1, and the finale is no exception. As with many times before, it’s unclear what direction the conversation is heading, but Cassandra tries to clear the air about their relationship. Eventually, Cass reveals she’s running for town council, setting up her potential season 2 story.
Sid and Corporal Yen also have a resolution. Yen is a rising officer, and Sid reveals that he eventually wants to retire and work as security at a local marijuana dispensary.
Karl asks if her role would have an art focus, and Cassandra suggests she might be interested in police oversight. If Fox renews the series for season 2, Cassandra’s potential connection to the police force will allow her to get more involved in crimes in the second season. Kreuk’s character has excellent relationships with the police force, making her future a perfect fit, muddling her preference between art and investigative work.
Karl And Cassandra Rekindle Their Romance
Karl And Cassandra Reconcile
In the final moments of Murder in a Small Town season 1, Karl and Cassandra rekindle their romance. The pair have a strong connection throughout the series, with Murder in a Small Town breaking a romance TV trope and allowing its central characters to get together early on in the series and sustain a romance. Still, their relationship experiences a significant hurdle after Gordon Murphy (Devon Sawa) abducts Cass.
Cassandra’s interest in police oversight proves that she, too, has one foot in both worlds, and maybe the couple isn’t such an odd pairing after all.
Cassandra hesitated to accept that Karl was a police chief. However, Cassandra’s interest in police oversight proves that she, too, has one foot in both worlds, and maybe the couple isn’t such an odd pairing after all. Cassandra asks what he wants, and he remarks that he only wants her. They share a kiss, effectively reuniting the couple. Karl and Cassandra’s love story could continue in Murder in a Small Town season 2. If not, it has a lovely ending.
Detective Karl Alberg moves to a peaceful coastal town to recover from the emotional toll of big-city police work. However, a series of mysterious murders shatters the town’s tranquility. Alberg must rely on his investigative skills to uncover secrets buried in this seemingly idyllic community, as danger continues to surface.
- Cast
- Rossif Sutherland , Kristin Kreuk , Mya Lowe , Aaron Douglas , Savonna Spracklin , Fritzy-Klevans Destine , Fiona Vroom , Dakota Guppy , Paloma Kwiatkowski , Gardiner Millar , Crystal Balint , Alisha Newton , James Cromwell , Jonathan Whitesell , Tammy Gillis , Aaron Pearl
- Character(s)
- Karl Alberg , Cassandra Mitchell , Corporal Edwina Yen , Sergeant Sid Sokolowski , Isabella Harbud , Constable Andy Kendrick , Phyllis , Holly Alberg , Bree , Callum Hingle , Dr. Olive Duval , Devon Travis , George Wilcox , Riley Erlandson , Bronwen Travis , Kenny Mac
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator(s)
- Ian Weir