Unraveling the Mystery: The Intriguing Motive Behind Jefferson Grieff's Wife's Demise in Inside Man

Summary

Grieff's motive for killing his wife in Inside Man is likely revenge against his father-in-law, Gordon, who may have orchestrated the conflict between them.

Grieff's intense animosity towards Gordon and his intention to harm him drove him to decapitate his own wife and conceal her head as a means to inflict suffering upon him. Although the precise motive behind Grieff's actions remains undisclosed, speculations propose that it may be linked to Grieff unexpectedly discovering his wife engaging in an extramarital affair. However, this rationale still does not account for the extremely gruesome act of decapitation. A potential explanation could be unveiled in a forthcoming season of Inside Man.

WARNING: This article contains MAJOR spoilers for Inside Man

This article contains discussion of domestic violence.

Grieff killed his wife in Stephen Moffat's compelling new BBC and Netflix series Inside Man, leaving viewers questioning his motives. The show delves into the transformation of Jefferson Grieff, an intelligent and logical criminal pathologist, into a monstrous killer who carries out gruesome acts against his beloved spouse. Moffat skillfully weaves this central question throughout the series, presenting it as just as important as the real-time events in the UK. While the series does not fully answer the ambiguity surrounding Grieff's actions, Moffat provides enough context clues to satisfy viewers' desire for a conclusion. Ultimately, the question of why Jefferson murdered his wife serves as the overarching theme of Moffat's thought-provoking series.

The ending of Inside Man reinforces the notion that even a person of good character can resort to murder under extreme circumstances. Jefferson himself embodies this idea throughout the series, reflecting upon his own actions. Moreover, the audience witnesses this concept being played out when Harry, a friendly vicar, grapples with the idea that killing his son's tutor, Janice, might be the only way to salvage his crumbling family life. This exploration of the boundaries of human compassion is both disturbing and captivating. However, there is a more specific answer to the question of "why did Grieff kill his wife?" Grieff's motive behind this heinous act was to seek revenge on his father-in-law, Gordon.

How Gordon Could Be Why Jefferson Murdered His Wife In Inside Man

In the movie Inside Man, Janice's father, Gordon, plays a major role. He tries to negotiate with Jefferson, a character similar to Sherlock Holmes portrayed by Stanley Tucci. Gordon offers to use his connections to prevent the execution of a murderer in exchange for information on the whereabouts of his daughter's missing head.

However, the show suggests that Gordon is not just an innocent grieving father. When Gordon and Jefferson come face to face, their mutual hatred is obvious and Jefferson's usual calm demeanor turns aggressive. He goes as far as calling Gordon a "criminal."

Though not explicitly stated, it can be inferred that Jefferson had discovered one of Gordon's illicit activities and planned to expose him. Before Jefferson could do so, Gordon likely approached his daughter and influenced her to turn against Jefferson. This ultimately led to a heated confrontation between the two, resulting in Jefferson strangling and killing his wife.

Steven Moffat, known for his work on Doctor Who, implies that Gordon orchestrated the incident in a desperate attempt to frame Jefferson. However, it is evident that Gordon had no anticipation of the situation escalating to such a tragic extent.

What Did Jefferson Do With His Wife's Head In Inside Man?

In an overwhelming mix of sorrow and anger, Jefferson beheaded his wife and concealed it. His motive was possibly to inflict pain upon Gordon, who had provoked their altercation, as it meant their daughter could not be laid to rest intact. Throughout the show, Jefferson harbors immense self-hatred for his heinous act, yet his animosity towards Gordon is equally strong. He holds Gordon responsible for orchestrating the incident, just as he holds himself responsible for carrying it out.

While promising Gordon his daughter's severed head, Jefferson manipulates him into rescuing Janice in England by revealing the vicar's whereabouts to his father-in-law. Despite assisting in solving the Kreiner's Inside Man $253.55 case, the hiding place of the head remains undisclosed within the story of Inside Man, as does the exact reason behind Jefferson's murder of his wife. However, he hints at the possibility of revealing it someday to Harry, who now comprehends Grieff's distress. Saving another woman from male violence may offer a minor form of redemption in comparison to his monstrous crime, but they remain redemptive actions nonetheless.

There Are Still Many Theories About Why Jefferson Grieff Killed His Wife

While viewers may deduce that Grieff killed his wife in Inside Man as a form of revenge against his father-in-law, the film never explicitly confirms this. Consequently, there are various other theories regarding Grieff's motivation behind committing such a monstrous act. One hypothesis suggests that Grieff walked in on his wife engaging in an extramarital affair, as hinted by his line, "If you really love someone, never come home early." It is conceivable that Jefferson unexpectedly returned home and in the heat of the moment, Grieff reacted the way he did. However, this still fails to explain why Grieff went to the extreme of decapitating his wife.

Nevertheless, the lingering question of why Grieff murdered his wife may potentially be answered in the future. While Inside Man is self-contained and does not hint at a follow-up season, there have been speculations that Moffat might have planned another season based on an intriguing comment made by Grieff regarding the murder: "That's a story for another day." Moffat has tantalizingly teased the possibility of an Inside Man season 2, stating, "Whether or not there could be any spin-offs or sequels is not solely within my control or the broadcasters'—ultimately, it depends on the audience, doesn't it?"