Death in Paradise (TV Series) Arriving in Paradise (2011) User Reviews

A strong introduction to the series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 6 February 2018]

I had forgotten just how brilliant this show was when it debuted back in 2011, the sun shone brighter, the writing was tighter, the actors took it more seriously.... well ok, maybe not the first one, but the show had a slightly less frivolous attitude, it was perhaps taken a little more seriously then it is now.

One thing I always remember was how good Lenora Crichlow was, I can't truly think of anyone that's bettered her performance since, she took the role very seriously, and was somehow believable as Lily, a shame her character was not a regular.

I liked Ben Miller, his character's attempt to be a straight laced Brit in The Caribbean made for some wonderfully entertaining viewing. I'm finding I miss Ben in the show somewhat.

A great start.

Feels like I'm in paradise

[chrisrs123 · 9/10 · 29 March 2020]

A fantastic introduction to a new weekly murder show. With a charming setting, a strong cast, good humour and a good mystery - this is definitely one to watch. Leaves you excited for the rest of the season.

Fish out of water

[ygwerin1 · 7/10 · 19 October 2019]

I am familiar with the actor Ben Miller (DI Poole) having seen him on the box, in particular in Doc Martin as the reclusive ranger Stuart, who has frankly a few slates loose. The entire show commences with the murder of the islands British police inspector, and the local police force having to accept another British police inspector being called in to investigate it. The Inspector Richard Poole hopes to be able to leave on the completion of the case, but the islands Police Commissioner has other ideas.

As an English bloke I have to say that Richard Poole is embarrassingly true to type, I share all of the hallmarks. His awarkdness around people preferring to keep his distance and not letting them get too close. With the preference for a cooler climate, or at least a cool breeze to stir the air.

One of BBC's best!

[gilawren · 10/10 · 11 February 2019]

I watch this series on PBS in Tucson Arizona. The cast is outstanding, the stories very relevant and always entertaining! Glad I found it!

Episode 1.1

[Prismark10 · 8/10 · 30 June 2017]

It is easy to forget that Death in Paradise started with the death of a Detective Inspector played by Hugo Speer. He appears in flashback.

DI Richard Poole played by Ben Miller is sent out from London to investigate his death. When he departed his work mates back home threw a party as they were glad to see the back of him.

Poole with his suit is a fish out of water. The paradise island of Saint-Marie in the Caribbean with its heavy French influence is well just too hot and laid back for him.

Still Poole diligently sets out to investigate this suspicious death. It is basically a locked room mystery with Poole's attitude being in contrast with those around him, especially his fellow police officers.

The mystery is solved and Poole is persuaded to stick around. A bit of sun, sea and sand makes it hard to believe that this is a BBC production. Ben Miller's awkward characterization sold the opening episode, it rattles along nicely.

By the time Ben Miller felt he had spent enough time in the Caribbean and decided to leave the show, he met the same fate as his predecessor.

Start

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 9 November 2020]

Good one. A bit like murder she wrote with better jokes

And introducing...

[safenoe · 9/10 · 3 September 2016]

Actually the first DI in Death in Paradise was DI Charlie Hulme played by Hugo Speer - this would be a fantastic trivia question by the way. Anyway with the murder of Hulme, DI Richard Poole is introduced, and Ben Miller owns the character. He plays it along the lines of a fish out of water type character who has difficulty coping missing his life in London where he would rug up in front of a pub log fire.

Lily Thompson was one of the police team in this episode, and her true intent is revealed at the end. When she got arrested at the end for the murder of DI Hulme, she made a moving speech the local Police officers like Lily being passed over for promotion in favor of British white officers. Lily highlighted the colonial mentality, and it's similar to something I heard from a Papua New Guinean lawyer (PNG folks have dark skin just in case you haven't Googled it) who expressed discontent that white lawyers from Australia got better pay, perks, and privileges when implanted into Papua New Guinea law firms. Again a colonial mentality thing, as PNG was a colony of Australia until 1975, sort of around the same time that the fictional Saint Marie became an overseas dependent territory of the UK. Also a similar thing happens in Hong Kong where a colonial white mentality ran rampant at the expense of talented locals.

In this episode there was a hint of a possible romance between DI Poole and Lily Thompson, when they were walking and talking along the beach, with Lily sharing a few flirting smiles. A la Basic Instinct I would have liked to have seen them consummating their passion. I can imagine the scene the following morning where Poole and his two underlings Dwayne and Fidel meet up at Mama's bar...Poole: "I didn't use a condom", Dwayne and Fidel: "Chief!!!"

An unknown police officer or a blunder

[kboult-86379 · 14 August 2020]

I just noticed a mistake when Richard Poole leaves the airport you can see either Dwayne or Fidel behind Lily and the commissioner (you can see the hat and police uniform)even though later you see them at the police station.

Expected more, but did like it.

[harrykivi · 7/10 · 20 May 2020]

"Death in Paradise" is another series, which I started to watch, because of the quarantine. I had heard great things about this show. My grandmother, who loves murder mysteries, watches it everday it's on air and critics seem to be warm on this TV show as well. Unfortunately for me, I haven't fallen in love with "Death in Paradise", like many have, because of how many great things I had been hearing, my expectations were maybe bit too high. "Arriving in Paradise" is definitely a solid, well-made episode, but I didn't find it great.

Let's start with what I liked.

. The production values of the episode are briliant. The direction is smooth and beautiful. The music fits the Caribbean setting, which is very exotic indeed. The acting's strong too. Ben Miller is super fun to watch. Sara Martins is nice to the manly eyes and Lenora Chrichlow's deserves every praise she has got.

. The murder mystery is mostly compelling with some neat twists and turns. The solution was quite surprising as well. Lily being the killer here was a clever trick from the writer.

But...

. In terms of different environments, where I don't feel comfortable in, it does take time for me until I am fine with what I am seeing. Same with this episode. I wasn't so keen on the Caribbean setting at the start and it did take me good 15 minutes before I got into the story, characters and mystery.

. Some of the humor about a police officer sent to a place he or she doesn't want to be in, is too much of a clichee at this point. It's nice that the the show takes a humorous approach on it, but I feel there could have been more jokes on this subject.

. The murder mystery itself wasn't focused on as much as I wanted to as well. I understand "Arriving in Paradise" is setting up the environment, characters and stronger stories yet to come, but I think it would have been nicer if the mystery was more easier to digest the first time.

Overall, liked it, but didn't love it.

7/10 HK

An Anachronism

[Warin_West-El · 4/10 · 4 February 2023]

Have to admit the murder mystery in this episode was better than most of the ones shown in the original Professor T. Nevertheless, I haven't fallen in love with "Death in Paradise".

IMHO some of the humour about a police officer sent to a place he or she doesn't want to be, is FAR too much of a cliche or even an anachronism at this point.

The murder mystery was mostly compelling with some neat twists and turns. The solution had a surprise as well.

Nevertheless, the whole premise of this series makes me quite uncomfortable. Inspector Richard Poole hopes to be able to leave on the completion of the case, but the islands Police Commissioner has other ideas. Why?