The Chedworth Cyclone is the fourth episode of the fifth season of Father Brown.
Jed, a former local troubled teen has turned his life around through the discipline of boxing. When he is offered the chance of a title bout by a hot-shot promoter, a rival boxer turns envious. When the rival ends up dead, Jed is suspected, but his promoter pulls strings ahead of his big match. But his trainer may have made a deal that puts him in a situation that's more than he can handle.
Tropes:
- Bloodlust: Played with. Normally timid, vocally pacifist Mrs. McCarthy tut-tuts the whole world of boxing — particularly Father Brown's involvement in it — and comes to the match ostensibly as a force of righteousness. But as the fight gets interesting in its last moments, she's up with the rest of them cheering for Jed to beat the stuffing out of his opponent.
- The Boxing Episode
- Did Not Get the Girl: Zigzagged. Bunty is ready to spell this out to Jed until Rita actually appears.
- Friendly Rivalry: Inverted. Roy and Jed should be this, as they come from the same boxing club. However, Roy's jealousy of Jed's success (and his own fading glory) turn him into a straight up enemy.
- He Knows Too Much: When Roy finds out about the plan to throw the match, he demands a cut, but Tommy kills him to keep the secret quiet.
- His Own Worst Enemy: Roy has let his career go, made too many compromising decisions, and is now drinking his sorrows away. After sparring recklessly with Jed, he is thrown out of the club for being drunk. He's seen later being kicked out of one bar and heading to another.
- Hit Stop: When Jed knocks out Hoyle.
- Honey Trap: Nelson has Rita seduce a city councillor (and then take surprise photos) in order to blackmail him into approving the boxing match in the town hall. Implied the blackmail is re-used to get said councillor to pull strings to have Jed released.
- Manipulative Bastard: Nelson, the sleazy London promoter, who is frequently alluded to be a gangster. He lures Tommy into debt, then holds his club as ransom to force him into a racketeering gambit. On top of it, he beats his trusted moll when she steps out of line.
- The Rival: Roy, for Jed.
- Saving the Orphanage: The Chedworth Boxing Club has been a way for a lot of troubled youth to turn around their lives, and Jed is a shining example. Unfortunately, the club is secretly in danger of eviction for back rent, due to the manager's bad debts.
- Sleeping with the Boss's Wife: Jed and Rita.
- Throwing the Fight: Nelson, and Tommy's plan for the fight — which they haven't told Jed about yet. Father Brown, through Goodfellow, discovers that after a betting round mostly on Jed, a flurry of late bets against him are entered before betting is closed.
- Trapped by Gambling Debts: Tommy, and as a result, the club.
- Troubled Teen: Jed, and many of the lads at Chedworth Club are this, who have turned their lives around with the boxing program.
- Worthy Opponent: Invoked by Roy, when Tommy suggests Jed spar with one of the other boys, Roy suggests himself instead as "real competition."
- Would Hit a Girl: Nelson slugs Rita for having a tryst with Jed. He has her show off her black eye to intimidate Jed into complying with the plan. Although it turns out the black eye is fake.
