Love Agatha Christie and have been for half my life, my love for detective mysteries is primarily down to reading her books and watching numerous film and television adaptation. 'Les Petits Meutres D'Agatha Christie' is a recently acquainted with French series that is essentially Agatha Christie with a French light comedy twist and a "spoonful of French flair". On its own terms it is fascinating and charming light-hearted entertainment with intriguing stories as long as one doesn't expect complete fidelity as the adaptations are actually quite loose and use her work as a basic frame-work.
Regarding the previous episodes, liked "Les Meurtres ABC" (a loose adaptation of 'The ABC Murders') and liked even more "Am Stram Gram" (loosely adapted from 'Ordeal By Innocence' and for me the only good version of that story), though there was room for improvement for both. Feel the same for 'Les Petits Meurtres D'Agatha Christie's' adaptation of 'The Moving Finger' (which had two previous adaptations, one with Joan Hickson and the other with Geraldine McEwen, and both were done well in my view) "La Plume Empoisonee". Meaning pretty good if uneven.
Do think that there could have been more tension and a slightly more consistent pace for a story as narratively rich as this one.
At this point, the comedic elements have still not completely settled, enough entertains but more calming down would be more welcome.
On the other hand, there is some handsome and evocative period detail, the colours sumptuous and vibrant that could be quite atmospheric when needed. The stylish photography complements loving. The music continues to match the light-hearted and at times very atmospheric tone very well. On the most part, the writing is thoughtful and attention grabbing with the right amount of entertainment value. As said, some of it needed to calm down but didn't feel much staleness here and a lot of it is still fun. The mystery is clever and keeps one guessing and anybody not familiar with the story will find the final solution a complete surprise. Any brutality, and there is more of it than in 'The Moving Finger', doesn't come over as over the top or gratuitous.
Characterisation here in "La Plume Empoisonee" continues the improved variety seen in "Am Stram Gram", even if some characters are still more interesting than others. The pairing of Larosiere and Lampion is already very well settled and the two contrast very well with each other and fascinate as characters. Lampion may be the more likeable character but the series develops Larosiere quite a bit better. The acting is excellent from Antoine Dulery and Marius Colucci, while Frederic Pierrot is a standout as Villiers.
Summarising, pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Regarding the previous episodes, liked "Les Meurtres ABC" (a loose adaptation of 'The ABC Murders') and liked even more "Am Stram Gram" (loosely adapted from 'Ordeal By Innocence' and for me the only good version of that story), though there was room for improvement for both. Feel the same for 'Les Petits Meurtres D'Agatha Christie's' adaptation of 'The Moving Finger' (which had two previous adaptations, one with Joan Hickson and the other with Geraldine McEwen, and both were done well in my view) "La Plume Empoisonee". Meaning pretty good if uneven.
Do think that there could have been more tension and a slightly more consistent pace for a story as narratively rich as this one.
At this point, the comedic elements have still not completely settled, enough entertains but more calming down would be more welcome.
On the other hand, there is some handsome and evocative period detail, the colours sumptuous and vibrant that could be quite atmospheric when needed. The stylish photography complements loving. The music continues to match the light-hearted and at times very atmospheric tone very well. On the most part, the writing is thoughtful and attention grabbing with the right amount of entertainment value. As said, some of it needed to calm down but didn't feel much staleness here and a lot of it is still fun. The mystery is clever and keeps one guessing and anybody not familiar with the story will find the final solution a complete surprise. Any brutality, and there is more of it than in 'The Moving Finger', doesn't come over as over the top or gratuitous.
Characterisation here in "La Plume Empoisonee" continues the improved variety seen in "Am Stram Gram", even if some characters are still more interesting than others. The pairing of Larosiere and Lampion is already very well settled and the two contrast very well with each other and fascinate as characters. Lampion may be the more likeable character but the series develops Larosiere quite a bit better. The acting is excellent from Antoine Dulery and Marius Colucci, while Frederic Pierrot is a standout as Villiers.
Summarising, pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox
