Chief Inspector Japp is in Brussels to receive an award from the Belgian government. Poirot accompanies him and, through meeting old acquaintances and seeing familiar places, recounts the details of his first case as a Belgian policeman, before World War 1. Paul Deroulard was a government minister with proposed policies, especially regarding language and religion, which make him unpopular, especially among his friends. One night, having eaten some chocolates provided by one such friend, he dies. It is ruled a death by natural causes but Poirot suspects that he was poisoned. With his superior insistent that there is no murder to investigate, Poirot investigates the death on the sly.
Pretty good, and a rare glimpse into Poirot's past. As far as I can recall, this is the only episode that covers Poirot's life in Belgium and it is quite warmly and engagingly done. The mystery is okay, though a bit disjointed due to the jumping back-and-forth between the early 1910s and the mid-1930s. The conclusion to the mystery also seems a bit rushed.
However, seeing Poirot as a youngish man and seeing him develop as a detective is quite interesting. There's even a hint of romance and regret and large dollop of nostalgia about it all too...
Pretty good, and a rare glimpse into Poirot's past. As far as I can recall, this is the only episode that covers Poirot's life in Belgium and it is quite warmly and engagingly done. The mystery is okay, though a bit disjointed due to the jumping back-and-forth between the early 1910s and the mid-1930s. The conclusion to the mystery also seems a bit rushed.
However, seeing Poirot as a youngish man and seeing him develop as a detective is quite interesting. There's even a hint of romance and regret and large dollop of nostalgia about it all too...