Death and Other Details: Tragic New Body Count

Death and Other Details: Tragic New Body Count
Recap/Review

This week on Death and Other Details: Tragic there is a new body count. It is all about widespread blackmail, two new deaths and the “C-Word.”The episode starts with Imogene and Sunil finishing what they started in that launch. The newly formed couple are clearly having a blast.

Meanwhile, Rufus, Teddy and Leila workout just how big Viktor Sams’ network really is in terms of scope. The trio of sleuths work out that Sunil has to be working for Sams. Cotesworth immediately starts calling Imogene on her mobile phone.

It goes to voicemail.

Odd Couples

Jules and Winnie talk about “changing the world.” Winnie reveals that she is “part of something.” During the conversation with the former head of security, Winnie learns that she killed an innocent.

Tripp and his sister Anna do Karaoke (Sail Away) and we are treated to Llewellyn and Hilde’s “date.” The interpol agent sets fire to Llewellyn’s chest as part of her dominatrix foreplay.

Leila and Teddy are in the server area. Anna’s soon to be ex-wife is breaking the system code. Celia warns Eleanor not to let her guard down as they still have much to do. Sunil hears from Sams.

Rufus and Imogene brace Sunil and force him to tell all.

flashbacks

As the two take Sunil back to his face-to-face meeting with Sams’ go between; the man who followed them in the previous episode, they interact with the memory.

Imogene is outraged at Sunil’s deception. Their burgeoning romance is now a tragic casualty of reality. The cruise ship owner is now a new source of information about Viltor Sams. If Rufus and Imogene can count on him telling the truth.

Sunil relives finding Danny’s body in 534. Imogene ties him to a chair. Anna and Tripp continue to bolster each other’s spirits.

Murder again

Llewellyn goes topside and tells the Priest about the takeover. He reveals that he now takes his orders from Shanghai. The Governor retrieves the evidence against Lawrence Collier. She takes it to Agent Eriksen. Hilde opens the folder and the pages are blank. The governor starts coughing up blood and dies.

The blackmailed politician has been poisoned. Rufus and Imogene inspect the dead Governor. Imogene realizes that the intravenous vitamin treatments deckside is the culprit here. Rufus declares that Alexandra has been dead three days, “She just didn’t know it.”

Minnie provides her backstory. She became a follower of Sams after her best friend died. She still believes there is a reason for Danny’s death.

Anna and Imogene have a confrontation. Imogene calls Anna out for the factory (Responsible for Minnie’s mate’s death.) and she retaliates by calling Imogene a thief and the “C” word.

Mrs Collier complains about the ship not mooring. Hilde tells her that she needs to speak with her husband; Lawrence. He is nowhere to be seen. Is this another victim to add to the new body count?

The priest asks Hilde if she will pray with them. The agent reveals that she is not a believer. She tells the father that he should pray for no one else to be killed. He muses on a prayer against murder. “Can’t hurt,” he replies.

Power to the cruise ship goes out. As does the wifi. Sams’ servers are now inaccessible.

details matter

Llewellyn falls to his death off the ship, yet another new addition to the body count. Before he goes, the Collier family lawyer sneers at the world’s greatest detective, “It was right in front of you and you missed it.” He calls Rufus a “hack.”

Rufus then reveals the truth behind the myth. The case that earned him the moniker of “WGD” was a lie. The details, in the first crime he investigated, show it was never a matter of detection at all. Just dumb luck. Rufus always deferred that title with the offhand remark, (sic) “That’s what they call me.” We find details really do matter after his own backstory comes to light.

The world’s greatest detective was, according to Rufus, all bluff. He tells Imogene that his bluff was called when he investigated her mother’s death.

All the rest

Thus far, Death and Other Details is keeping its tongue in cheek delivery. It dances warily into dark comedy and then steps quickly back from that abyss. This week’s episode “Tragic” is just that. Everything is coming unravelled here.

Imogene’s quick foray into all things Sunil, ends very badly. Anna and Leila,with their ups and downs, will soon become an “ex” couple after Anna is shown making love with her ex. Leila learns of this infidelity via Sams’ blackmail files.

The governor, AKA the politician, dies an elongated and horrible death. The poor woman starts coughing as she takes out her “proof.” Llewellyn is in agony after his BDSM date with the Interpol agent. His self inflicted death, (Death by cruise ship?) helps to bring this dark episode to an end.

Episode six of this murder mystery shows a lot of players removing their masks. Winne, despite learning of Sams’ treacherous intel, still believes her murder of Danny to be justified. Rufus reveals that his own mask hid a gambling alcoholic. The list could go on. So far though only Jules and Imogene remain unchanged.

The former head of security really is an altruistic chap out to help others. While Imogene still wants to find her mother’s murderer.

In case you have forgotten who all the players are in this little “homage” to all things Christie, check out the Hulu promo trailer below.

Death and Other Details: Exquisite Truth

Death and Other Details: Exquisite Truth

Death and Other Details: Exquisite opens with Rufus telling the reader that he was a little loose with the truth. Cotesworth explains that he and Danny were operating on a hunch. Flashbacks are used, there is that trend again; a la Sam Spade, the first being Danny and Leila.

The future murder victim and the clickbait writer, reveal their own truth to one another. Danny explains that he was hired by the Chuns to ferret out any information about Leila and Anna. Danny tells Leila that he knows she is a real journalist who met Anna through her work.

an exquisite truth?

Leila explains that her “new” family, the Colliers, were not part of her investigation. She also tells Danny that he needs to stop asking questions. He is murdered later by Winnie. This moment segways into a scene with Rufus and Leila.

More truth comes to light. Rufus recaps that the Colliers were victims of Viktor Sams. When he mentions the banned dye, Leila has no idea what he is talking about. The investigator reveals that he will not stop his search for the truth.

Sunil and Imogene have successfully dropped off the “stowaways.” Imogene complains about her lack of progress. She still cannot uncover the truth about Danny’s death and that worthless bill of lading.

All this before the opening credits.

Imogene and Sunil take a break, separate rooms, and drop off the lading paperwork to someone Sunil knows.

Interesting Interval

Tripp and the politician snap at one another. They then move away from anger to sex. Anna cheats on Leila and we are privy to the uncomfortable aftermath.

Leila relives the moment she makes the Victor Sams connection and her car accident. Anna tells her they will speak with Dr Mark “in the morning.” Lewellyn makes a pass at Hilde. The inspector rebuffs him. The Priest reveals to Celia that he wants out of their agreement. Rufus admits that he does not work for the Chuns now.

The Colliers continue fighting amongst themselves. Imogene and Sunil continue to bond. The negotiations with the Chuns continue until Lawrence sabotages the final sign off. Leila discovers a hidden camera. Someone is watching the reporter and her wife.

Death and Other Details:Exquisite Truth

Sunil and Imogene pick up a tail as they drop off that bill of lading. Alexandra confronts Llewellyn in the lift. Inspector Erikson catches that pass and Imogene tells her companion the truth about Cotesworth.

Rufus connects the dots and “finds” Viktor Sams.

sex and sams

This ode to Agatha Christie Poirot mysteries includes a lot of coital connections. Everyone is having sex with everyone else and Sams can, apparently, see it all. We have yet to see just what this criminal mastermind’s motives are. There is no doubt, however, that Rufus and his many new recruits will solve this crime. A crime that grows more complex at every turn.

This is splendid stuff and it is streaming at Hulu. Stop by and enjoy this offering. 

Remember.

Details matter.

Monsieur Spade: Death and Zayd

Monsieur Spade: Death and Zayd

Monsieur Spade opens with death this week. Gabrielle, with a little help from her friends, becomes a widow. In this flashback opening, Jacques gets his just desserts for being a collaborator. This jarring moment does not define the episode, it just deepens the mystery. It all seems to be about death and Zayd.

Jacques is shot by about every villager who owns a gun. He takes a long drop down a gorge. Sam is saved from certain death by strangulation by Henri. Spade catches his breath and questions Henri about his “protection” of Teresa.

Ain’t that a kick in the head

Sam plays a very painful variation of twenty questions with his attacker. *A bonus point of two here for the Dean Martin reference. For those who were lost on this segment, check out the original Ocean’s Eleven.* After more that a few kicks to the head, Sam explains what will happen next.

Jean-Pierre still has flashbacks. Going to his window for a bit of fresh air, he shows off his meat and two veg to a female neighbour. Marguerite visits Denis. He returns her letters and we are afforded a glimpse into their past relationship.

Neighbours, eh

Spade’s new neighbours helpfully find one of the dead kidnappers in Sam’s pool. The death, in this instance, is unusual and suspicious. The police chief reminds Sam that he is not in Kansas (San Francisco) any more. The Arabic family looking after Zayd are concerned about the man watching their home.

Jean-Pierre visits an old colleague from the war. The damaged veteran tells a story rich in bitter irony. The tale told by the blind man also shows that Jean-Pierre is not the only one re-living the war in his mind. This interlude highlights that there are things worse than death.

Enemies FOREIGN and Domestic

Jean-PIerre almost shoots Samir and finally meets Zayd. “The one they all kill for.” Sam winnoes the truth from Henri about what his position in the Army really is. Teresa thanks her military hero for saving her life. Henri tells the young lady more about his duties. The soldier leaves something behind. Death, at this point, seems very far away.

The young girl returns the clothes that Audrey sent and adds a bit of vitriol. The police chief and Sam attend an intimate and awkward soiree with the Fitzsimmons family next door. Spade goes exploring and has an uncomfortable interlude with Mrs Fitzsimmons.

Phillipe and Jean-Pierre come to see Zayd. Philippe whistles the Colonel Bogey March and the young Arabic lad whistles back. They walk off together.

death and zayd

This episode of Monsieur Spade starts with death and ends with Zayd. All roads lead to the young saviour. All the characters are revealing more about their background and the mystery of the boy deepens. Sam learns that his past follows him regardless of where he lives. Things are starting to get really interesting here.

As usual, the show looks stunning. The colours, the acting are above par and each vignette adds to the ongoing story. Owen is filling that metaphorical trench coat with ease. Monsieur Spade is airing on AMC+.

A Haunting in Venice: Haunted Poirot

A Haunting in Venice: Haunted Poirot

A Haunting in Venice features a haunted Poirot. The Belgian detective with the “mustaches” sees and hears a few ghosts in this film. Kenneth Branagh stars as Agatha Christie’s diminutive crime solver extraordinaire. This is not his first time donning the “stache.” He is in good company. 40 actors have portrayed Poirot over the years. *David Suchet holds the record playing the Belgian an incredible 70 times on British television.*

Branagh has played the sleuth three times. Twice in remakes and now this new movie based very loosely on Christie’s book Halloween Party. In many ways, apart from Poirot attempting to debunk a haunted piazza, this feels a little like “Mousetrap.” This West End stage production has been playing so long that it holds the world title of “longest running.”

Films, stage and television adaptations aside, Christie penned 33 novels and 51 short stories. All these tales have been about Poirot. There have also been 14 films made about the little Belgian with the gray cells. *Does anyone else feel the overwhelming compulsion to speak with a french accent after watching one of these?*

The story

A haunted Poirot is “hiding” in Venice. He refuses to solve crime. He is haunted by death. The neverending tide of corpses have driven him to a retirement of mediocrity. Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) entices Poirot out of his self imposed exile from crime.

There is an invitation to a party and a seance from the tragic Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly). Her daughter died at the haunted piazza she owns. A world class medium; Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh) will attempt to contact Drake’s daughter, Alicia. The main seance attendees include Poirot, Rowena, and Ariadne. The rest of this small party includes, Olga, Dr. Ferrier and his son Leopold as well as Maxime Gerard (The fiance who broke things off with Alicia.) Also along for the ride are Joyce’s assistants: Desdemona and Nicholas Holland and last but not least, the ex cop who protects Poirot from the world; Vitale Portfoglio.

After the party guests depart, this Halloween seance begins. Everyone sits but Poirot. His detecting is about to begin.

Everything else

The entire tone of this film is, in turns, moody, foreboding, dark and scary. The pallet of colour chosen by the director, along with the cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, is perfect for this haunted mystery that Poirot must solve.

Everyone brings something to the table here. However, it goes without saying that the winner of the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award in this brilliant offering from Branagh and writer Michael Green, is Jude Hill. This young actor almost steals the film. There is no point where eyes do not go immediately to him when he appears.

A Haunting in Venice has more twists than a Chubby Checker dance contest and some darn good scare scenes. Overall, this Christie adaptation is almost perfect.

We give this one a full 5 stars. Sure there are a few goofs here and there, but not enough to spoil this atmospheric nod to Poirot. It is streaming on Hulu at the moment. Head on over and check it out.

A Murder at the End of the World: Through the Looking Glass

A Murder at the End of the world: Through the Looking Glass

A Murder at the End of the World is like a journey through the looking glass. Alice has escaped the dark hole only to end up in another, scarier world. Just like her adventures in wonderland, the rich in this world are indeed all crazy. FX has given us a mystery with more twists and turns than a Monte Carlo road.

Like almost every television show this season, A Murder at the End of the World is flashback heavy. Our protagonist Darby Hart (Emma Corrin) has a lot memories to trudge through as she moves on to a new murder mystery. Hart is the daughter of a Coroner. She learns at dad’s side from an early age.

Hart is also a writer. Her first book is all about finding a serial killer. Using the internet as her guidebook and inspiration, she joins forces with Bill Farrah (Harris Dickinson). The two sleuths do indeed catch the murderer. The flashbacks deal mostly with their shared journey. Looking through the glass darkly, Darby has many disturbing and unsettling moments to think about.

A Murder at the End of the world: Through the Looking Glass.
Darby Hart

The Show

The mini series starts with Darby reading an excerpt from her first book. Fast forward and she is attending meeting of great minds in Iceland. There she meets Lee Anderson (Brit Marling) a hero of hers. Lee was a master hacker who was “doxxed out of existence.” She is another “Alice” type character who has her own memories of looking through the glass darkly.

Lee is married to multi-billionaire Andy Ronson (Clive Owen). *A thinly disguised fictional version of Elon Musk perhaps?* Once she arrives at the snowbound hotel, Bill shows up. Late for dinner, he pretty much ignores the woman he shared so much with.

The Rest of the cast

Other members of the 1% elite includes Sian Cruise (Alice Braga), Liu Mei (Joan Chen) and Javed Khan as Rohan Ravjit. Raúl Esparza is the unlikeable David Alverez and Pegah Ferydoni is Ziba.

Darby is helped by Ronson’s AI assistant Ray (Edoardo Ballerini) as she works to figure out just why she was invited. The young crime investigator/author is not really Alice in Wonderland at all. However, her journey through the looking glass is darker than most of her new colleagues.

A Murder at the End of the world: Through the Looking Glass
Clive Owen as Andy Ronson

Everything else

This seven episode mini series written by Marling and Zal Batmanglij is a brilliant showcase for all the cast. Every one of the actors brought their A game to the show. *Kudos to Owen for his venting rage, the man has spit coming out of his mouth as he bellows his dissatisfaction.*

Ray, as the omnipresent AI assistant moves seamlessly from helpful to creepy.

This is a brilliant and moody piece that made a one night binge enjoyable. Everything about this works. Corrin knocks this one out of the park.

The show itself has a body count that is not too high and there is no real gore to be seen. The language level is a cool PG-13 and there is a minimum of nudity. Hulu is streaming it right now so head on over.