The creators of Murder in a Small Town made a bold storytelling choice, delivering a finale-level episode early. Showrunner Ian Weir confirmed the decision to place a major storyline in the season’s ninth episode was deliberate and heavily debated. This move allowed the show to explore character relationships more deeply before a finale packed with what Weir describes as “fireworks.”
Why The Major Story Moved Early
Ian Weir explained that the writing team deliberately placed a powerful character-driven story in Episode 9, “The Fall of Holman.” This decision involved wrapping up the political storyline of Mayor Christy Holman, played by Marcia Gay Harden, ahead of the season finale.
The team wanted to avoid crowding the final episode with too many major plot points. By resolving Holman’s dramatic arc in the penultimate episode, the finale could focus fully on the escalating central mystery. Weir stated the writers “totally debated that” choice but ultimately agreed it was the right path for the story.
“That’s a really great question, and we totally debated that with the writers and with producers as well,” said Weir. “Ultimately, we just thought that having had the wonderful chance to work with Marcia over the course of the season, we wanted absolutely to do a story built around her character, but didn’t want to get locked into something that had to be the high octane, escalating murder mystery plot line, [but] something that could lock in more on the relationships of the characters.”
A Clearer Path For The Finale
Shifting Mayor Holman’s storyline served a key structural purpose. It created a clear separation between her political scandal and the deeper psychological arc involving Kristin Kreuk’s character, Cassandra. Trying to tell both stories in the same finale would have lessened the emotional impact of each.
This architecture gave both narratives the space they needed. Episode 9 deals with the fallout from Holman’s leaked emails, the ensuing public scandal, and a violent attack on the mayor that serves as the episode’s climax. Isolating this plot allowed the show to then dedicate the finale entirely to the long-simmering mystery connected to Cassandra’s past.
Setting A Darker Tone
Episode 9 also introduced a new threat for Cassandra, establishing a darker tone that flows into the finale. A former friend named Warren arrives in Gibsons, making her increasingly uncomfortable. Weir noted that the actor, Birkett Turton, brought a chilling quality to the role that was “creepier than I had hoped for.”
This unsettling presence successfully built tension without any physical violence. Weir highlighted Kristin Kreuk’s performance in these scenes, noting her ability to show both fear and defiance. The showrunner also indicated that this storyline could potentially extend into a future season, depending on renewal.
The Human Cost Amid The Chaos
The intense penultimate episode also wove in the personal struggles of Rossif Sutherland’s character, Karl Alberg. His decision to return an engagement ring and the emotional turmoil that followed was presented as part of the human cost existing beneath the main police procedural.
Weir views this not as a separate subplot but as an integral part of the show’s exploration of how personal relationships unfold alongside major investigations. This balance between the professional and the personal has been a hallmark of the series, which is based on the Karl Alberg novels by L.R. Wright.
The second season of Murder in a Small Town premiered on September 23, 2025, and airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. New episodes become available for streaming the following day on Hulu.
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