The episode is different in the aspect of our main leads are barely in it, but while others may have not appreciated her acting, I smiled ear to ear after her first lines...Our beloved Moaning Mettle has left Hogwarts and is vacationing in the island! The character was brilliant, this tiny, awkward, mousey lady with her quiet almost squeaky voice that shifts into the nasty growl that we Potterheads know and love. The extreme clash of styles make you quickly appreciate the boss when he returns! I guess maybe you dislike her character it my be transferred into the acting and or episode overall?
9 Reviews
You'll have to wear it backwards or you'll pop out.
Sleepin_Dragon14 October 2020
DS Young is on hand to take over then Richard falls ill with tropical fever the case, murder, of a diver.
I don't get why people are so hard on this episode, it's bags of fun. It's a smart mystery against a very amusing back story.
The outcome comes as a real surprise, it's a clever mystery, but the intrigue and mystery are almost secondary to the story of Richard being laid up.
Miller is absolutely hilarious, the way he mocks the chicken soup is very funny, Shirley Henderson is so good as the holiday making Detective, the way she marches about is so funny, she pulls some amusing faces and has some great lines.
It also features the gorgeous Kieran O'Brien, so that's another win.
Barmy fun, 8/10.
I don't get why people are so hard on this episode, it's bags of fun. It's a smart mystery against a very amusing back story.
The outcome comes as a real surprise, it's a clever mystery, but the intrigue and mystery are almost secondary to the story of Richard being laid up.
Miller is absolutely hilarious, the way he mocks the chicken soup is very funny, Shirley Henderson is so good as the holiday making Detective, the way she marches about is so funny, she pulls some amusing faces and has some great lines.
It also features the gorgeous Kieran O'Brien, so that's another win.
Barmy fun, 8/10.
Chicken Soup
ygwerin126 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Camille is away on a course and is expected to extend her departure.
Richard is sick and delirious bedridden with a high fever, Catherine tried to care for him bringing him her home made chicken soup.
Local diver is found dead on the sea bed, Dwayne investigated and suspected foul play.
Dwayne and Fidel try to cope by themselves without informing the Commissioner, and keep Richard on his sick bed.
But the Commissioner located an English Detective Sargent on holiday, who doesn't take any encouragement to become a stand in for Richard.
Richard gets involved in work from home, with Dwayne and Fidel sneaking him info. To solve the case while they have to work publicly, with the holidaying Detective.
Richard is sick and delirious bedridden with a high fever, Catherine tried to care for him bringing him her home made chicken soup.
Local diver is found dead on the sea bed, Dwayne investigated and suspected foul play.
Dwayne and Fidel try to cope by themselves without informing the Commissioner, and keep Richard on his sick bed.
But the Commissioner located an English Detective Sargent on holiday, who doesn't take any encouragement to become a stand in for Richard.
Richard gets involved in work from home, with Dwayne and Fidel sneaking him info. To solve the case while they have to work publicly, with the holidaying Detective.
Slick
bevo-136789 November 2020
Avoid this episode of an otherwise great show! Terrible terrible acting
Caulfieldp25 January 2013
I am writing this review as love this series, which is generally well acted and written.
However, avoid this episode at all costs!! The acting by Shirley H appearing as Guest star is appalling,very amateur dramatic and her accent seems to change all the time. I don't understand why the shows producers would risk an episode of an otherwise good series by removing the two main characters and then introducing an annoying unprofessional shrill guest "star" . The plot premise is also poor, surely we are watching the show for the two main characters to have them both "missing" from the main action is a little odd so early in the series development.
I know the replacement character is meant to be annoying - that uncertainly achieved! Unfortunately through bad acting and unintelligible speech, rather than any design of screen writing. Very poor indeed!!!! I cannot understand who thought this actor would add to the show in episode 7. BBC who agreed to this casting!!!!
However, avoid this episode at all costs!! The acting by Shirley H appearing as Guest star is appalling,very amateur dramatic and her accent seems to change all the time. I don't understand why the shows producers would risk an episode of an otherwise good series by removing the two main characters and then introducing an annoying unprofessional shrill guest "star" . The plot premise is also poor, surely we are watching the show for the two main characters to have them both "missing" from the main action is a little odd so early in the series development.
I know the replacement character is meant to be annoying - that uncertainly achieved! Unfortunately through bad acting and unintelligible speech, rather than any design of screen writing. Very poor indeed!!!! I cannot understand who thought this actor would add to the show in episode 7. BBC who agreed to this casting!!!!
Between fine and okay for me!
harrykivi21 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
After "Spot the Difference" was only fine, I hoped "Death in Paradise" to get back on track with very good if not great entries."An Unhelpful Aid." was unfortunately even a bigger disappointment than the previous entry.
Let's start with good, shall we?
. The production values are great here. The music's thrilling and the acting's enjoyable too. Sean Gallagher and O-T Fagbenle being the most serviceable.
. There are some clever red herrings, charming humor in this episode. Some themes, which were touched upon like friendship and honesty felt vital to the show. The solution was decent too.
But..
. Sadly, there are some performances, which did not work at all. In particular Shirley Henderson's, whose portrayal of Angela Young- Poole's replacement- was rather over-the top. Her character was unlikable and bland like dishwasher as quite a few characters in this story unfortunately are. Danny- the diamond dealer connected to the killer- was a waste of a could have been fine character as well.
. The murder mystery was a huge disappointment here. It felt quite average and didn't have as many twists and turns as I would have wanted. Also, the fact that Ben Miller does not investigate the mystery (though solves it) just wasn't a very good idea in my mind and because of that "An Unhelpful Aid" misses a lot of charm, which Miller always gives.
Overall, disappointing, but still an okay watch.
5,5/10 HK
Let's start with good, shall we?
. The production values are great here. The music's thrilling and the acting's enjoyable too. Sean Gallagher and O-T Fagbenle being the most serviceable.
. There are some clever red herrings, charming humor in this episode. Some themes, which were touched upon like friendship and honesty felt vital to the show. The solution was decent too.
But..
. Sadly, there are some performances, which did not work at all. In particular Shirley Henderson's, whose portrayal of Angela Young- Poole's replacement- was rather over-the top. Her character was unlikable and bland like dishwasher as quite a few characters in this story unfortunately are. Danny- the diamond dealer connected to the killer- was a waste of a could have been fine character as well.
. The murder mystery was a huge disappointment here. It felt quite average and didn't have as many twists and turns as I would have wanted. Also, the fact that Ben Miller does not investigate the mystery (though solves it) just wasn't a very good idea in my mind and because of that "An Unhelpful Aid" misses a lot of charm, which Miller always gives.
Overall, disappointing, but still an okay watch.
5,5/10 HK
Stinko
jerseygirl49-674-5995595 January 2022
I have enjoyed every episode so far except this one. Could they have found a more obnoxious woman to play detective? She ruined the episode totally. I will keep watching because all the previous episodes were very very good.
What were they thinking?
andrewwilson666 February 2023
I am a big fan of DiP and whilst not all episodes (apart from this one) are great they are at least good. This one however has to be the worst purely due to the guest DS. The mystery is not the best and I quite like the scenes where DI Poole was delirious however I found the new character unwatchable. This could have been a great opportunity for Dwayne and Fidel to shine yet this was overshadowed by an awful character. I was so tempted to skip to the end but I have, albeit a bit late, watched every other episode. As this was in the first series maybe it was an experiment that thankfully the producers learnt from.
If Moaning Myrtle was a Detective Sergeant...
hayleydaniel-5937528 April 2024
That's basically what you have here: Moaning Myrtle as a belligerent human detective- temporarily in charge in Honoré- and it's fairly annoying. She's just mean and offensive in every way. Whoever allowed her to be a police officer, let alone a DS? I know the actress is good at playing her role, but the character is just so grating and annoying that it does not make for the most enjoyable episode. Anyway, Richard is pretty hilarious while hallucinating due contracting tropical fever. His scenes with Catherine are always entertaining. Camille is greatly missed in this episode, but kudos to Dwayne and Fidel for picking up the slack.
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