Death in Paradise Season 13: A bittersweet love letter is the best way to sum up the jaded feel of a show beloved by so many. The tropical island version of Inspector Barnaby’s Midsomer has a huge fanbase. The show has been running for a staggering 13 years. Perhaps this is why the Christmas special and the first “official” episode of season 13 feels a bit off.
a little history
Death in Paradise has featured four Detective Inspectors in all. The first three seasons starred Ben Miller as DI Richard Poole. His fish out of water character was an immediate hit with audiences. The current police chief of the fictional Caribbean town of Saint-Marie is murdered. The Di arrives to clear things up. He dislikes the local food and is “Oh so English.”
He lasted two seasons.
After killing DI Poole off, the next Englishman abroad was Humphrey Goodman. Played by personal favorite Kris Marshall, Humphrey had his own brand of eccentricity. Goodman lasted four seasons. And, like Miller before him, Marshall’s moving on left one with a bittersweet aftertaste. The love felt for each of the Detective Inspectors was surprisingly deep for a light procedural show about island crime.
*On a side note: Marshall has been a Mike’s Film Talk favorite since his appearance as Nick Harper in My Family. This ran from 2000 to 2005 and is brilliantly funny. It can also be seen on Britbox and Pluto TV.*
After Goodman, or Marshall, moved on Ardal O’Hanlon as DI Jack Mooney stepped in to take up the slack. O’Hanlon, an alumni of Father Ted, left his own indelible mark on the show. Sadly, he too left in 2020. The last, and easily the hardest to like, is Ralf Little. Not because his character or his acting is sub par. Far from it. The main reason he chafes is down to those huge shoes that he must fill. Detective Inspector Neville Parker has a lot to live up to.
A special kind of special
Death in Paradise is the Caribbean that we all, British and American alike, imagine. Long sandy beaches. Scads of rum to be had while laying on said beaches. Friendly folk who lavish attention on their special guests. This little run up to “guests” leads into another thing that makes this show so special. Again, like Midsomer Murders, the guest stars on this crime under the sun offering is ripe with the creme de la creme of British talent.
*If you find this to be an exaggeration, check out the preview of the next episode. Long time favorite and former Disney star Haley Mills can be spied doing her character’s bit in episode two. *
Each episode features actors of the highest calibre. The cast of seasons past have included:
And:
Out of the above mentioned cast members, only Shantol and Warrington remain. There are many regulars who do not get a mention here. This is not down to lack of popularity or importance, just an issue of time constraints.
Running out of steam
The real problem, it seems, is one of dwindling interest. Not just that of the public’s almost slavish addiction to the show, but also the cast and creators. There are only so many ways to, as the old saying goes, “skin a cat.”
Episode 13.1 of Death in Paradise feels tired. DI Parker seems to be sleepwalking thr0ugh this investigation. To be fair, apart from the thought that Commissioner Selwyn Patterson could die from his gunshot wound, the whole thing felt jaded and spent.
Do not get us wrong here. A lot of impatience lead up to the premiere of this season’s show. However, many things have changed. For one thing, this DI; Parker, has lasted longer than previous temporary inspectors. Season 13 makes this Little’s fifth year. Perhaps it is time for him to move on.
Time Ladies and gentleman
It may well be time to hang it all up. Even Harry the CGI lizard friend of all the Inspectors has gone AWOL. Just as Pubs had early closing times, the cry of “Time ladies and gentlemen, last orders please,” could perhaps apply here. Let us have last orders of a 13 season show that is running a bit dry.
Time may prove that this doom and gloom look at Death in Paradise is premature. There may be life in the old girl yet. One can only hope.
Death in Paradise can be seen on Britbox and Pluto TV in America.
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