Category: Television

Death in Paradise: Eps3 (Review)

Death In Paradise s12,06-01-2023,Generics,Generics,(L-R) Darlene Curtis (GINNY HOLDER), Marlon Pryce (TAHJ MILES), DI Neville Parker (RALF LITTLE), Naomi Thomas (SHANTOL JACKSON), Commisioner Selwyn Patterson (DON WARRINGTON), Catherine Bordey (ELIZABETH BOURGINE),Red Planet Pictures,Denis Guyenon

The second episode of Death in Paradise or episode 3, follows a familiar pattern. It kills off the guest star in a matter of moments. Haley Mills, played philanthropist extraoenaire Nancy Martin, and she is offed with a knitting needle.

This Death in Paradise felt very Colonel Mustard with the pipe wrench, in the library. Despite this Clue feel, the murder and the back story leading up to it were quite clever.

Nancy Martin, Mills, runs a charity. Her funding, never questioned, comes from purloined activity; 5 million pounds sterling. Martin, a full time resident of a nursing home, lives for bingo. It is during this game of chance that she dies.

the usual suspects

The list of suspects in this episode is not long. This allows time for the commissioner to be released from hospital. He refuses to take it easy and this enables a little comedy to make its way into an otherwise humourless episode.

Just as last week’s offering, Death in Paradise feels forced, lacking its general good humour. Granted, there have been quite serious episodes in the past. DS Cassell, Joséphine Jobert, being shot was very intense. This two-parter ended with Cassell leaving the island.

Episode 3 of Death in Paradise suffers from the same malaise as the previous one. The formula, though, is still the same familiar one we have grown to love.

But.

Despite dealing with murder in each episode, the show does not “feel” happy? DI Parker rounds up the suspects. This moment contained about the only real humorous moment in the show. DS Thomas seems really pleased about the idea of getting all the usual suspects together.

The only real suspects are Martin’s daughter, Oona and her old assistant Philippe Varane. There is a marvelous misdirect halfway through. This suitably muddies the water.

Mystery is Murder

To be fair, this week’s murder was a puzzler. it took the entire episode of Death in Paradise to work it out. Regardless of this “plus” the show still exudes a Debbie Downer vibe. This show has an excellent track record. Mystery may well be murder, but nothing like the demise of what has always made this show special.

Bonus points to the plot of the show though. The murder weapon was also a fine touch. However, Death in Paradise needs to get back that whimsical touch that makes it so endearing.

The show is streaming on BritBox. Check it out. It is a binge worthy series.

The Rookie: Strike Back Season 6 Opener Kills It

The Rookie Strike Back Season 6 opener Kills it

Here there be spoilers.

The Rookie: Strike Back as season 6 opener, kills it. Although to be fair, like every other season opener, the last episode of season 5 had to be reviewed. Not to say that we do not trust The Rookie, but that third season/fourth season clanger has not quite been forgiven. In case fans have forgotten, said clanger was the mysterious death of Jackson West in between the seasons. A death never satisfactorily explained.

By anyone.

Moving ahead, however, this season opener picks up with no surprises. The. prologue, after the “previously on The Rookie” scenes, show smoke, floating money and a man on fire. Nolan radioes for help.

Fade to:

97 MINUTES EARLIER

Great start. Right?

The Rookie specializes in these “reverse” intros. And this one is no different from others used to set the scenario of the episode. As the rest of Nolan’s precinct scale down, Aaron, is being rushed into emergency surgery.

The crew recognize that the dramatics that just ended are a distraction for something else. Something big.

Nolan and his colleagues are right.

once more with feeling

The action, being covered by the diversion, is the gang seen briefly at the end of season 5. They are going after the LA Federal Reserve Bank Building.

*Not to point any fingers, but…

There have been 13 movies dealing with robbing the Federal Reserve. This does not include any television shows that may offer the same plot line. In terms of plot lines, The Rookie is borrowing from a tired premise.*

The bad guys are fast and professional. The robbery itself is set to snappy music. The gang cold bloodily take out their own people. Nolan goes to check a reported discrepancy, a missed check. The group lookout starts shooting at Nolan.

Nolan engages the lookout with a LMG. Another diversion is created. The one we saw at the beginning of the episode.

fastforward

The Rookie then moves forward six weeks. Nolan and Bailey are finalizing their wedding plans. There is talk of the “last shift curse.” Nolan and Juarez comically find a missing husband. This light hearted direction will not last long.

Thorsan has returned to the precinct. Grey pumps up the troops. Chen and Bradford (Chenford) decide to team up. The goal is to help Lucy out for the detective exam.

Bailey and Nolan meet their new neighbour. He scuppers their wedding plans. One of the robbers wraps his “Lambo” around a tree and there is a scramble to get him. The scenario goes bad.

Chenford are stressing each other out. Later Chen and Bradford roll up on a wild card crime scene. Harper relives her actions in the ER. Later the precinct welcome Chen by playing circus music.

Nolan and the rest of the precinct search the dead man’s house and get a fix on where the crew will land after Juarez finds money, a gun, and a mobile phone at the address. Back at the precinct Nolan and Grey try to bluff the robbers. Meanwhile they get facial recognition and identify Boyd.

Last shift curse

Chenford catch the clown killer. At the airport Nolan has a Final Destination moment. They capture Boyd. A familiar face turns up as his legal counsel. After her visit Stevens tosses her client to the wolves.

Chen and Bradford snap at each other and Tim takes a night off. Thorsan meets his shrink. A sniper takes Boyd out of the equation.

The Rookie continues to entertain. Reaching season six is no mean feat in this day of lackadaisical studios. ABC has a winner on its hands and they will hopefully not sabotage this excellent procedural. The ensemble cast perfect their characters. Chenford fans will wail and gnash their teeth at the tension between Bradford and Lucy.

One note of dissatisfaction is the transport scene. Boyd would have gone to a detention center pending charges and court. He would not have been on a prison bus.

The Rookie is currently on ABC and is streaming on Hulu.

BritBox: Murder is Easy Agatha Christie Redux

Murder is Easy: Christie Redux All photographs courtesy of BritBox

BritBox is dropping an Agatha Christie redux on March 1, 2024: Murder is Easy. This murder mystery, set in 1954, is literally teeming with bodies. All killed in a myriad of ways. So dust off your dinner jacket and remember pinkies out, it is time for a foray into small town murder.

Christie fans will remember the book this two part series is adapted from. The Mistress of murder debuted Murder is Easy in 1939, first in the UK and later in the US. The main redux of the novel is both an updating in time to 1954, and change of characters. There are also a few plot point deviations. *The time change is more than acceptable as it allows a nod to Dean Martin.*

Redux

The major redux in Murder is Easy is the protagonist change. Luke Fitzwilliam in no longer a retired copper. He is now a Whitehall debutant. The young man is from Nigeria and it is he who must suss out just who the serial killer is. A chance meeting with Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton) on the train to London sets young Fitzwilliam on a very different sort of journey.

All photographs courtesy of BritBox
David Jonsson as Fitzwilliam

Fitzwilliam finds Miss Pinkerton brutally murdered. She had just won a large sum of money. Luke placed her bet on the horses for her. He finds her body when he goes to drop off her winnings. Luke then goes to inform her family. He also intends to deliver her considerable reward from the bookies to her heirs. His next stop is Wychwood under Ashe.

Murder is Easy makes a slight deviation from its source material in a number of areas. Although most of the players are all the same, some liberties have been taken in order roles they play. These are, we hasten to add, mainly cosmetic and unimportant in nature, nor are they of any major consequence.

The players

The players in Murder is Easy are all the same, barring the change of occupation and country of origin of Fitzwilliam. Each character is brought to magnificent life by the actors cast in their respective roles.

Miss Pinkerton, who leaves all to soon with a little help from the village serial killer. *Penelope Wilton as usual knocks this one out of the park.

Luke Fitzwilliam earnestly trying to track down what resident of this quaint village is the killer or killers.

Lord Whitfield (Tom Riley); all full of his own self importance and a secret or two to hide.

Murder is Easy photographs provided by BritBox.
Bayton and the Bonner

Dr Thomas (Mathew Baynton) the local doctor with a fiance and secrets of his own.

Rose Humbleby (Phoebe Licorish) the young woman Thomas intends to wed and daughter of:

Mrs. Humbleby (Nimra Bucha) mother to Rose and wife of:

Reverend Humbleby (Mark Bonnar) the village vicar.

Murder is Easy photographs provided by BritBox.
Bridget and Whitfield

Bridget Conway (Morfydd Clark) the “ingenue” of this mystery and fiance Whitfield.

Major Horton (Douglas Henshall) a widower with two bulldogs.

The Major and bulldogs

Behind the scenes

Director Meenu Gaur and editor Matthew Tucker have put together a wonderful mix of old fashioned village life juxtaposed against the early ’50s. Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, adapted Agatha Christies novel with an almost seamless touch. The production design by Andy Harris is spot on and the art design by Jean Kerr is nigh on perfect.

The location(s) sets up the scenes with authority and that local village quaintness of yesteryear brilliantly.

All the rest

The rest of the Murder is Easy cast comprise victims and other suspects. *On a side note, we are always happy to see personal favourite Tamzin Outhwaite in a supporting role of any kind.

Murder is Easy offers a number of potential suspects, anyone of whom could be the killer. The body count is high.

This offering of classic British murder and mayhem will stream March 1. This is one to watch. We guarantee that it is well worth the visit. Get a bag of popcorn and a pint, or two, and enjoy.

Murder is Easy trailer:

Death and Other Details Episode 7: Alice in Wonderland

Death and Other Details episode 7 is an Alice in Wonderland trip down memory lane for Imogene

Death and Other Details episode 7 is an Alice in Wonderland trip down memory lane for Imogene. She literally walks a mile in Rufus “The Hack” Cotesworth’s shoes. Although in terms of total distance, she walks much further. In Eps 7: “Memories” Rufus is Cheshire Cat, sans creepy grin. Although Viktor Sams can also be seen as the stripped orange feline, but he never appears.

At least not yet.

Walk a mile in my shoes

Imogene (Violett Beane) begins her trip, but not as Alice falling down the rabbit hole and landing in wonderland. Instead she finds herself in a city apartment. She wakes with all the sounds connected to such a domicile. She has a very disconcerting moment when looking into, first, the coffee maker and then the mirror. As she recoils, we see Rufus. He is seated in his flat and plays the role of Coach. A Cheshire Cat moment sans grin.

He explains what is happening throughout Imogene’s return to events over a decade ago. She interacts with everyone. Danny/Keith is the first of Rufus’s memories to prod Imogene in the right direction.

Walking a mile as Alice in Wonderland, Imogene must explore all the details. This has to be done. She must learn what was staring Rufus in the face and discover who murdered her mother.

Sheer Genius

The walking in someone’s shoes template works brilliantly. As plot mechanisms go, this one rocks. Utilizing an Alice in Wonderland scenario is a genius move. This makes the journey a slightly confusing ride for Imogene. We learn so much about the initial investigation and the interaction between Rufus and all the suspects.

Everything works against what we are prepared to see. The episode starts on land, in the middle of a city. Imogene wakes, just as muddled as we are. The viewer asks, “What is this doing here?” For a split second, we think the mystery has moved on without us.

Imogene morphs into Rufus repeatedly. All the while learning just a little bit more about his investigation all those years ago. As much as she becomes Rufus, she also changes locales. One moment she is in Cotesworth’s office, the next in the Diner with her dead mother. This Alice (Imogene) makes an allegorical journey into a twisting and, at least once, unpleasant Wonderland.

Ultimately, Imogenes walk in Rufus’ shoes lead her to clues that will ultimately reveal who killed her mother. Viktor Sams has been the main suspect for a long time. The next episode may well give a face to the evil name.

A different Cheshire Cat with an wicked and knowing grin.

*Kudos to Beane and Sophia Reid-Gantzert as grown and 11 year old Violet respectively. The two are beyond excellent.

Death and Other Details streams Tuesdays on Hulu. Check this latest episode out .

Death in Paradise Season 13: A Bittersweet Love Letter

Death in Paradise Season 13: A bittersweet love letter
Death In Paradise s12,06-01-2023,Generics,Generics,(L-R) Darlene Curtis (GINNY HOLDER), Marlon Pryce (TAHJ MILES), DI Neville Parker (RALF LITTLE), Naomi Thomas (SHANTOL JACKSON), Commisioner Selwyn Patterson (DON WARRINGTON), Catherine Bordey (ELIZABETH BOURGINE),Red Planet Pictures,Denis Guyenon

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:

Don Warrington

Danny John-Jules

Joséphine Jobert

Sara Martins

And:

Shantol Jackson

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.