User reviews

Having re-watched and re read my review of the 1987 version (or as I call it the proper one) I thought it about time I reviewed this. I stated back in 2007 that I couldn't wait to see this one, oh that hope. I had totally loved Geraldine as Miss M, there was definitely a little twinkle in the eye, she gave some great performances, A murder is announced and The Body in the Library i loved. This version of Nemesis though was not great, a 6/10 rating I think is fairly generous, calling it Nemesis was taking a bit of a liberty, the core of the story was totally lost, it was a pity a Caribbean Mystery hadn't come first to set the scene. It was a really messy script, which was held together by the quality acting and beautiful scenery. Even the wonderful Amanda Burton couldn't save the day, I find it quite an irritating version, the Will Mellor and wife storyline doesn't work, I didn't like the change of the 3 weird sisters into nuns, the whole point of the 3 sisters was the comparison between the 3 witches in Macbeth etc and turning them into 2 nuns did not work. On the plus side it was an attempt to freshen up the script to try something new, and some aspects worked OK, I will add that i think the last 10 minutes are fantastic, it's worth sticking with to get to the finale, the acting is excellent. 6/10 I think the 1987 version is just so good, this was never going to come up to the mark.

A friend of Miss Marple's, John Rafiel, dies. He leaves Miss Marple with a message that a murder needs to be solved. His only clue - two tickets on a Daffodil coach tour. Accompanied by her nephew, the semi-famous author Raymond West, Miss Marple joins the tour. The other members of the coach party were also invited by Mr Rafiel. Some have links to Mr Rafiel, some not. What do they have in common and who was murdered?

Reasonably interesting. Decent degree of mystery though difficult to work out the murderer on your own - the clues aren't sufficient.

Engagement is limited. Here was a great opportunity to have a great rollicking romp of an episode, due to Richard E Grant playing Raymond West. He does his best to liven things up, Withnail and I style, but his screen time is limited and the sub-plots he is given don't really go anywhere.

Another interesting point from the cast/crew is Nicholas Winding Refn directing the episode. He would go on to direct feature films like Bronson, Drive and Only God Forgives.

Most interesting aspect of the cast is that this was to be Geraldine McEwan's final Miss Marple episode. In the next season she was replaced by Julia McKenzie.

The most remarkable thing about this TV-film is probably the name of the director. The undeniably multi-talented Danish prodigy Nicolas Winding Refn had already made a few cult-films before his odd career-detour via "Agatha Christie's Marple", like "Fear X" and the "Pusher" trilogy, but his major breakthrough came right after with first "Bronson", and then of course the Ryan Goslin hits "Drive" and "Only God Forgives". Refn is known and acclaimed for his raw, realistic and nihilistically toned thrillers, so his choice to direct a "Miss Marple" is curious, to say the least.

It's a rarity, but I haven't read the Christie novel on which the episode is based, and neither had I seen a previous TV-adaptation, so I was in for a full surprise! The set-up is quite original. For once, it's not the regular routine of Miss Marple visiting a friend and, all of a sudden, a vile murder gets committed. Instead, it's reminiscent to "And then there were none", with a big of group of people - including Miss Marple and her nephew - receiving tickets for a guided tour where a previously committed crime will gradually become exposed.

So far so good, but regrettably "Nemesis" became one of my least favorite instalments of the three seasons thus far. Strange as it may sound, I don't like it when I can guess the killer's identity, the modus operandi, and his/her motives. Usually, this is never a problem with Agatha Christie, as her plots and denouements are extremely convoluted and surprising, but this one was rather transparent. Maybe I've seen and read too many Christie-stories lately, I don't know.

My exposure to Miss Marple is strictly through the TV and movie adaptations. I adored Joan Hickson (Agatha Christie's preferred Miss Marple), who somehow was able to pull off a mix of mildly dotty old lady, mysterious Sybil, and avenging angel, all while employing the instincts of a superb detective. The 1987 series also tried to convey a reasonably realistic picture of post-war Britain, which was fascinating.

To me, Geraldine McEwan's Miss Marple strains too hard to be ingratiating (maybe it's the direction).

I've watched a couple of installments from this new Miss Marple series, and I found "Nemesis" to be the most logy and confusing of all.

The supporting performances were very good, but it is a mystery series after all and the only mystery I really cared to have solved was, When is this going to end?

Nemesis is the best movie of this season.A very loose adaptation of the novel,but respecting its basic principles ( the culprit,the motive,the Bonaventure Rock murder,the deceived and angry son,the Rafiel's be-quest for the truth,the final switch of graves....),is directed with great northern style by Winding Refn,giving to the story the weird and haunting flavor of a Karen Blixen's Gothic tale.The script by Churchett is clever,thrilling,highly poetical and subtly menacing.And the acting is really top-notch:Geraldine McEwan shines as a steely and not at all cute Nemesis.If they let her on center stage instead to push her behind the wings ,she's a Great Marple,if a nonconformist one.Amanda Burton is simply perfect.Grant is a wondrous Raymond West,the best incarnation of this character.Dan Stevens is a good improvement on Bruce Payne,in the same role(Payne's beggar sounded quite phony).Cole,Woof and Reid are great.Ruth Wilson is a very promising actress.And Mellor,as a wounded and shell-shocked pilot,is a real discovery.People having disliked this movie are simply showing their prejudice against the series.If you are judging Nemesis as a movie and not as a battle in an unholy crusade against Geraldine and Churchett the Heretics,well, you will watch it with a sort of endless guilty pleasure.This is not Bertram or Sittaford,this is really British TV on its best!

If one takes the show on its own, it is not bad. In fact, it's rather good. But other than the fact that there is a tour bus involved, there is absolutely no resemblance to the book. So, if you are to watch this keep your Agatha Christie predilections behind and think of this as a completely new story, which in fact it is.

Having read the message board posts for this program, a lot of people seem to dislike both the new "Marple" adaptations in general, and this episode in particular. However, I am not one of theme. I have never been one to hold up live-action adaptations to their source novels (I haven't even read this Agatha Christie book), and I think thought this episode was very good when viewed independently of the book! Although not the best-ever episode of "Marple" (that honor falls to "A Murder Is Announced", from the first season), "Nemesis" is a very solid, engaging entry in the series.

The basic premise is that a friend of Miss Marple's, Jason Rafiel, dies and leaves her a letter asking her to solve an unspecified crime that has happened, or will happen soon. To this end, he has also left her 2 tickets for a bus tour of the English countryside. So, Miss Marple sets off with her nephew Raymond, but it seems as if all the other bus passengers are connected to one another through a mysterious girl named Verity. It falls to Miss Marple to honor Jason Rafiel's last request, and untangle the secrets that bind everyone together.

Like all other "Marple" episodes, one of the highlights was the performances - "Marple" episodes always feature great British character actors, and this one was no exception. Geraldine McEwan is always excellent; she is by far my favorite Miss Marple (I know many will disagree, but I always found Joan Hickson to be far too cold and unfriendly in the role). Other standouts in this episode were Ruth Wilson, fresh from the recent "Jane Eyre" TV adaptation, as the tour group leader, and Ronni Ancona as the glamorous socialite Amanda Dalrymple. The settings and costumes were also impeccable.

The story itself was also very intriguing, with many secrets from the past being brought to the surface (a very common theme in Agatha Christie's novels). The story did move quite briskly, though, and it was occasionally difficult to keep up with the plot developments. I was watching the episode on tape, though, so it wasn't a big issue for me. I also found the solution to the mystery to be very gratifying, and it completely surprised me! Although I have not read the book, I have heard that this adaptation has taken significant liberties with the plot, so you may wish to 'prepare yourself' if the book is one of your favorites. However, I enjoyed this adaptation a great deal, and I definitely recommend it.

Can never give a poor review where Richard E Grant acts. Agatha Christie only said one should play Miss Marple- Joan Hickson... and she is great in the part... but shouldn't other actresses be given a chance too? I feel it's unfair to not allow the space for these actresses in this series.

The Brits I do feel do the best holding on to authenticity period. But, even the Brits can make something terrible when they don't stay true to making a great production. I do hope they can maintain their quality work through time.

A message from a dead acquaintance prompts a bus tour to an unknown crime... In utter disbelief Miss Marple read the letter addressed to her from the recently deceased Mr Rafiel - an acquaintance she had met briefly on her travels. Recognising in Miss Marple a natural flair for justice, Mr Rafiel had left instructions for her to investigate a crime after his death. The only problem was, he had failed to tell her who was involved or where and when the crime had been committed.

Intrigued by Mr Rafiel's request and tempted by the money, Miss Marple decides to accept the mission - and promptly receives an invitation to join a tour of Britain's historic houses and gardens. During the tour she gradually uncovers the details of a crime committed several years earlier and discovers at last what Mr Rafiel wants her to do.

Fairly watchable adaptation with Geraldine McEwan, who continued to put her unique stamp to Miss Marple, nice period details, interesting characters, however it comes across a bit muddled, the execution of the mystery isn't too sharp - I didn't expect it to be on level as the brilliant book, but generally it doesn't quite match it. Richard E Grant was an odd choice for Miss Marple's nephew. He came across as a neurotic rake.

Once again we are asked to delve into another McEwan/Marple/Christie murder mystery. Except that it isn't a Christie murder mystery. Only the name remains the same to trap unwary viewers. The real mystery is why the trustees of Dame Agatha's estate ever allowed this series to be made by disrespectful butchers. Only "A Murder is Announced" retained some faithful semblance of the original novels.

All filmed interpretations have taken some artistic licence with Christie's mysteries over the years, which is perfectly acceptable to most Christie fans, but none except this Marple series (and the Tony Randall ABC effort) have turned them into unrecognisable farces. And that is most definitely not acceptable. In the various episodes of McEwen/Marple we've been offered, by way of change to the originals, everything including different characters, different plots, different victims, different culprits, added murders, etc., etc., etc., and of course inclusions of Jane Marple into stories in which she was never intended to appear.

"Nemesis" is the last episode in which Geraldine McEwan dons the mantle of the elderly yet intrepid needle-clicking sleuth (we may, I think, be thankful for the omission of "A Caribbean Mystery"), and it once again takes Dame Agatha's wonderful original tale apart, and reconstitutes it into one that makes little sense, logic, or reason, adds, deletes, and changes characters, presents new plot lines and a new conclusion.

I can't detrimentally criticise the performances, I would be wrong to do so, but when a drama is billed as being based on an Agatha Christie novel I expect it to be, and expect to see, just that. Not something that is haphazardly jumbled together by an inferior hack.

It's fairly enjoyable - if you haven't read the book. The only similarity to the actual book is a few names. The plot is different, the period is different, the characters are different. Why bother adapting the Miss Marple (and it should be MISS Marple and not just plain Marple - that's so very rude) books if the adaptors are just going to change everything about them? Why not just write entirely new mysteries, instead of hanging their own stories onto Agatha Christie characters and book titles? If you want to see Miss Marple:Nemesis, try the far superior Joan Hickson version. This version is not an Agatha Christie mystery.

This new Miss Marple must be intended for people who are deaf and absolutely clueless of Agatha Christie's books. Every character, every part of the plot, and the wonderful development of the mystery has been changed. What we get is an extremely loud, garishly filmed (in bright reds, yellows, ....eeek!!), MESS. The main characters of Jason Rafiel and Michael Rafiel have been changed of course. In keeping with this new series, their characters have been changed to make them German! Michael Rafiel's relationship as well as how he met Verity Hunt has been changed also to an untasty dish served cold. Enough to turn the stomach. The "sisters" who are pivotal to the plot, are now nuns.....real sisters in the Catholic Church sense. The wonderful Amanda Burton is such a good actress, but she's totally wasted here as one of the new characters of a Nun. Richard Grant, also a good actor, is also wasted as Miss Marple's nephew, Raymond. They now make Miss Marple's nephew into a comical, silly, womanizer. Gee, I almost forgot to talk about Miss Marple and her role in this dreadful crime (I'm talking about the series). Can you really believe Geraldine McEwan when she states, "I am Nemesis," in this mystery? She twitters, twinkles her eyes and dithers around. It's really hard to pick out the worse of the lot in the new Miss Marple series, but this comes real close. I think "Bertram's Hotel" is the one that disappointed me most since it was my favorite book, with "Nemesis" as second. The scriptwriters, directors, set designers, everyone associated with this lousy series must have absolutely no sense of Christie's work. Believe me, you are NOT getting anything near to her impeccable mysteries.

I did think this was a poor adaptation of the book by Agatha Christie, and I did think it is one of the weaker Marple adaptations. Honestly, sorry but the Joan Hickson version was much better. There is some very nice period detail and some lovely camera-work and costumes, there is some nice music and the supporting performances from Amanda Burton, George Cole and Richard E.Grant were fine. And you are left asking questions throughout, like a whodunit expects you to. However, the story was a mess, it bears little resemblance to the original story, and most of the plot changes were unnecessary. Also I have never quite been convinced by Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple, she just isn't my idea of the character. Miss Marple is very clever and very wise, not fussy. That is the main reason why I keep saying see the Joan Hickson versions instead, because Hickson was born for Miss Marple, and her interpretation was the truest to the Marple in the book. The script was quite poor, even for an Agatha Christie adaptation,the pacing was off and I am the only one probably who found the final solution confusing, and there was a lot of overacting going on in some parts. Overall, very disappointing, could have been so much better. 4/10 Bethany Cox

This adaptation is dreadful, even if you haven't read the book. I don't like Mckeown as Marple anyway, but the idiotic writer who wrote this - it isn't Christie's book, they just nicked the title, characters and the basis of the story - should be ashamed of themselves. For those of you who haven't read the book, you've missed a masterpiece. For those of you who haven't seen the Joan Hickson version - you must. Liz Fraser's heart breaking performance as a drunkered, reminiscing about her murdered daughter, is amazing.

As for this version. It's a total hash with ridiculous, laughable characters, acting and story. It's hilarious the way a character tells a story and suddenly we are seeing this acted out. The programme makers assume we poor stupid viewers can't imagine it fir ourselves.

It actually makes me angry that the makers changed a great book and turned it into a dreadfully poor cheap play with hammy actors. Agatha Christie Ltd, who gave permission for this rewrite (and other dreadful adaptations) are doing Agatha a disservice and are thinking of $$ and ££ over substance.