Joe attempts to navigate the aristocratic circles to clear his name, but he is constantly waylaid by his obsession with "saving" people. However, the episode reveals that the rich elite he is surrounded by cannot be saved, nor do they necessarily want to be. The "Duke" referenced in the title refers to the social hierarchy Joe is navigating.
: Before the fire, the episode features a literal manhunt where a drunken, paranoid Roald chases Joe through the woods, egged on by the group’s collective hysteria. you s04e05 bd5
This is a moment of supreme poetic justice. For three seasons, Joe has imprisoned his victims in glass cages to "protect" them or force them to love him. In "The Duke," the tables are turned. Joe finds himself on the inside looking out. This visual motif signifies that Joe has lost control of the narrative. The episode ends on a cliffhanger that fundamentally changes the viewer's relationship with the protagonist; for the first time, the audience is asked to root for Joe’s survival, rather than his capture, as he is now the victim of a predator even more calculated than himself. Joe attempts to navigate the aristocratic circles to
Rhys sets the dungeon on fire and leaves the two to die. Joe manages to free himself and, in a moment of uncharacteristic altruism, saves Roald as well. : Before the fire, the episode features a
: In a rare moment of "heroism," Joe manage to save both himself and Roald from the burning cellar, though Rhys escapes into the night, setting the stage for Part 2.