The season 14 open for Death in Paradise sees a new DI in town. DI Mervin Wilson cuts his holiday in Saint Marie short. He is told by his boss in London to stay.
That Death in Paradise is still going strong after 13 seasons says a lot about its popularity and the ability to keep bringing something new to the metaphorical table. Wilson is, at this point in the series, quite aggressive and, at times, outrightly rude.
The story
There are three shootings. Two of the Father Christmas’s die. The other Santa is wounded. Patterson does not have a replacement for DI Neville Parker so he asks London for a replacement. There is a DI already there, Detective Inspector Wilson. His boss tells him to help the locals solve the case. DI Wilson is not happy at all about this. We soon learn that he has a secret of his own.
The Cast
Don Gilet is DI Mervin Wilson.
Don Warrington is Commissioner Selwyn Patterson.
Elizabeth Bourgine is Catherine Bordey.
Danny John-Jules is Officer Dwayne Myers.
Shantol Jackson is DSI Naomi Thomas.
Ginny Holder is Officer Darlene Curtis.
Guest Starring
Angela Griffin is Angela Reed.
Elizabeth Carling is Karla Hammond.
Michael Salami is Tomas Demille.
Jim Howick is Jamie Barton.
The mystery
In this Death in Paradise opening episode, all three Santas, are shot by the same gun at the same time. DI Wilson must work out who pulled the trigger. He must also work out how they managed to be at the scene of the crime. Scenes on wildly different areas on the island.
The Problem with Wilson
Wilson is not like the other Detective Inspectors on Death in Paradise. His predecessors all had likeable eccentricities. Mervin is abrasive and rather rude. He is quick to dismiss those he deems beneath him and clearly feels himself above the lower ranks. Wilson actually refuses to shake hands with several of the locals. However, he shakes hands with the Commissioner without hesitation.
Later in the show we learn the reason for his prickly behaviour but he has a long way to go before reaching the ranks of those who passed before him.
An Ensemble
Death in Paradise is an ensemble show. Each actor brings something to the table here. From longtime personal favorites like Don Warrington and Danny John-Jules to new faves like Shantol Jackson, these guys make it seem effortless. This insures that the show has an almost devout following and keeps things moving.
While DI Parker may have overstayed his welcome on the show, DI Wilson has some big shoes to fill and it will be interesting to see if he is a good fit.
Gilet, however, is adept at any part he plays and will definitely fit in well with his fellow cast members.
*Side note: It was brilliant seeing another old favorite; Angela Griffin whom I remember fondly from her Coronation Street days.*
The verdict
Despite the irritating nature of the new Detective Inspector, the season open of Death in Paradise Season 14 is a 4.25 stars out of 5. The show, despite the splendid mystery it posed, lost .75 because of the irritation factor of Wilson. The character is not likeable and, in real life, would be avoided, full stop.The show is streaming now on BritBox.
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