My Current Interest

Agatha Christie’s Poirot Series 1 “The Incredible Theft" David Suchet as Hercule Poirot A penguin pool is not the usual place to rendezvous with a client, but that is where Hercule Poirot has agreed to meet an anonymous caller. The problem is, the woman who called does not abide by the meeting rules she came up with. That’s not exactly the way to get on Poirot’s good side, let me tell you. Lady Mayfield finally reveals her concerns The woman, Lady Margaret Mayfield, does end up meeting with Poirot in person. She tells him she is worried about her husband, Lord Mayfield, and a woman with German sympathies, Mrs. Vanderlyn. Needing to be nearer the concern, Poirot agrees to go to the Mayfield estate were both Mayfield and Mrs. Vanderlyn will be. Poirot and Hastings investigate Poirot takes his friend Captain Hastings with him to Mayfield. Hastings, however, is not allowed to stay at the estate. He must stay at a local pub. Interestingly enough, Hastings ends up sharing a room...

Agatha Christie’s Poirot Series 1 “Problem at Sea" David Suchet as Hercule Poirot I am really starting to think Poirot cannot go anywhere without a murder happening. There are other shows where this happens too. I have to wonder if these characters start to think they are cursed after a while. Poirot and sea travel do not mix It should not come as too much surprise that military man and adventurer Captain Hastings likes being out at sea. For his friend, Hercule Poirot, the sea trip they are on together is not enjoyable at all. He especially does not care for the entertainment put on by the other travelers. It is definitely not his style. The Clapperton’s marriage is in question One of the travelers is Adeline Clapperton. She is a very high and mighty woman. Definitely someone who believes herself superior to everyone, including her own husband. Colonel John Clapperton pretty much just puts up with whatever Adeline dishes out. It probably helps that two young female travelers love ...

Agatha Christie’s Poirot Series 1 “Triangle at Rhodes” David Suchet as Hercule Poirot Hercule Poirot does have a hard time avoiding trouble, doesn’t he? Even when he is on holiday a murder happens. At least it does in “Triangle at Rhodes.” Poirot has problems with women Poirot may say Hastings has a hard time resisting a beautiful woman in need, but in my opinion, Poirot has the exact same problem. That is why he is so eager to help Pamela Lyall when she tries to escape the attentions of Major Barnes. At least at that moment she is trying to escape him. Not too long later, Pamela is seen latched onto Barnes. Clearly, somewhere along the line, Pamela had a change of heart. But Pamela is not the only woman Poirot runs into problems with. Then there is the beautiful, wealthy, and famous Valentine Chantry. Despite being in Rhodes with her husband, Tony, Valentine is spending her time with another guest, Douglas Gold. Douglas is traveling with his wife, Marjorie. All the time Douglas spends...

Agatha Christie’s Poirot Series 1 "The Third Floor Flat" David Suchet as Hercule Poirot Hercule Poirot has a cold in “The Third Floor Flat.” On top of that, he has not had a case in a while. Both instances are making him very cranky. Should anyone be surprised? You can always rely on Captain Hastings Trying to be his ever-cheerful self, Captain Hastings takes Poirot to a murder mystery play to cheer him up. The only problem is that Poirot disagrees with the answer the play gives to the mystery. As a result, Poirot loses a bet to Hastings about whether or not he could solve “the case.” A body is found in Poirot’s own building When Poirot and Hastings return home, it is discovered that two men have found the body of Mrs. Ernestine Grant. They discovered it when they accidentally entered the wrong flat. A note and a monogrammed handkerchief were found at the scene, which very quickly gives the police a person of interest. Poirot wants to do some more investigating before he make...

Agatha Christie’s Poirot Series 1 “Four and Twenty Blackbirds” David Suchet as Hercule Poirot I imagine it would be unnerving to see someone and not long later they turn up dead. For Hercule Poirot, it is a man in a restaurant who puts him in this situation in “Four and Twenty Blackbirds.” A diner’s death causes Poirot’s concern It is Henry Gascoigne that concerns Poirot. He was seen by Poirot eating in a restaurant and exhibiting strange behavior. Not too long later, Poirot discovers the man has died having fallen down his stairs. Poirot does not believe the fall was accidental. Based on the stomach contents of Gascoigne, Poirot knows something is not right. His stomach did not contain what Poirot saw him eat. This furthers Poirot’s insistence that something is not right with Gascoigne’s death. Who was Henry Gascoigne? Gascoigne was an artist with a very surly model. He also had a brother, who somehow recently died too. With both brothers dead, the only remaining family to inherit is ...

Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 1 "The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly" David Suchet as Hercule Poirot One would think, if parents went to the police with letters threatening a kidnapping unless money was paid that the police would take the threat seriously. But the police in “The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly” don’t, and that is where Hercule Poirot must step in. The letters to the Waverlys pique Poirot’s interest The family receiving the threatening letters are the Waverlys. Marcus and Ada Waverly have a young son named Johnnie. It is he who the kidnappers are threatening to take. Yet, despite the letters in front of them, the police do not take the threat seriously. Neither does Poirot’s friend, Captain Hastings, when he learns about what is going on. In fact, Hastings believes the letters are a joke. Poirot, however, looks at the letters from a different angle. Why is someone warning of a kidnapping at all? Why are the kidnappers telling their plans to the people they wis...

Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 1 "Murder in the Mews" David Suchet as Hercule Poirot Suicide or murder? That is the mystery Detective Hercule Poirot must solve in “Murder in the Mews.” Barbara Allen is found dead, but not all is as it seems On the surface, Barbara Allen died by her own hand. There is just one problem. Barbara was shot on the left side of her head, and everyone Poirot asks claims she was right-handed. Even her desk is arranged for a right-handed person. So, if Barbara Allen was right-handed, why and how would she have used her left hand to commit suicide? Barbara’s flatmate, Jane Plenderleith, is the one who found Barbara. However, she does not tell Barbara’s fiancé, Charles Laverton West, about the death. I find this odd. One would think Jane would call Charles soon after finding the body, but I guess not. Instead, she leaves this task for Chief Inspector Japp and Poirot to do. Charles Laverton West is not a man in love Not that I exactly blame Jane for ...

 Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 1 "The Adventure of the Clapham Cook" David Suchet as Hercule Poirot When I read David Suchet's book Poirot and Me , I learned a lot about each episode of the TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot . Once I finished, I felt the need to watch the entire series all over again and look for all the things I had learned about. With thirteen seasons and I don't know how many episodes, this is going to be a long journey, but I'm going to give it a try. Hopefully the theme song will not drive me too crazy before I finish. The very first episode "The Adventure of the Clapham Cook" is the first episode in the series. In it, a woman seeks detective Hercule Poirot's help in finding her missing cook. Poirot believes he is far above a case like this. In fact, he feels he is pretty much above every case, as there were quite a few before this one that his friend Captain Hastings presented to him. The woman rightfully tells Poirot...

Pearl and Mike continue to investigate cases while trying to figure out exactly what their relationship is and where it is going “The Gumshoe and the Femme Fatale” Pearl helps a woman everyone is convinced is guilty of attempted murder Private Investigator and restaurant owner Pearl Nolan (Kerry Godliman) is brought onto a case before a crime is even committed in Whitstable Pearl ’s fourth episode of season two. Natalia (Lizzie Aaryn-Stanton) is a housekeeper for former movie star Zelda St. John (Stephanie Beacham). Zelda has decided that instead of leaving her estate to her family, she is going to leave most of it to Natalia. When Natalia learns of this change of the will, she becomes concerned that she and Zelda are in danger. When she goes to the police about the matter, they do not take it seriously. That is why Natalia turns up at Pearl’s door. There is only so much Pearl can investigate without an actual crime happening. When Zelda is attacked, it gives Pearl something ...

Here it is. The final film where Margaret Rutherford stars as Miss Marple. By the time I watched Murder Most Foul , I have to admit, I had gone a little batty with the theme song of these four movies. The same happens with Agatha Christie’s Poirot . Still, I am sad to be done with Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple. Miss Marple disrupts a jury Margaret McGinty is dead. She was found hanging, and the police are certain they know exactly who killed her. The police found a man at the scene, Harold Taylor. He was caught with his hands on the rope. So, he has to be guilty, right? Not everyone thinks Taylor is a guilty man. What seems to be an open and shut case ends with a hung jury (that is not meant to be a play on words, I promise). While eleven vote guilty, there is one who will not be swayed to do so. That person is Miss Marple (Margaret Rutherford). No one is happy about the hung jury which leads to a mistrial. This displeasure does not bother Miss Marple one bit. She knows ...

Some shows struggle with their second season. I am happy to say, Whitstable Pearl is not one of those shows. The characters and storylines this second season have more depth than they did in the first. We learn so much more about why the characters are the way they are, and we get to see more sides of them. This makes me very eager to see how much more we will learn in the third season, if there is one. “Babylon” Pearl and Mike have moved on from their relationship, or have they? Private investigator and restaurant owner Pearl Nolan (Kerry Godliman) has moved on from her relationship with DCI Mike McGuire (Howard Charles). She is dating a teacher, Tom Grant (Robert Webb). Mike has moved on too. He is dating a woman he met at grief counseling, Kat Bergman (Emily Head). Now the question is, have these two actually moved on, or are they just pretending to have done so? Because when they look for a missing boy, it is clear there are some unresolved feelings between Pearl and Mik...

It is official. Eliza Scarlet and William “Duke” Wellington should not get together. They want such different things in life. At least they believe they do. “The Vanishing” A magician goes missing Private investigator Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) needs publicity to help drum up business. She agrees to team up with the questionable journalist Basil Sinclaire (Oliver Chris). In exchange for her investigating a missing magician, Sinclaire will write articles about her, promoting her skills. This agreement does not go over well with Detective Inspector William Wellington (Stuart Martin). After some confidential information was revealed to the public, William does not look at any cooperation with journalists in a positive light. He particularly does not care for Sinclaire. To put a stop to the leaks, William tells his fellow detectives they may not talk to any journalists. This causes problems for the young Detective Oliver Fitzroy (Evan McCabe). He sees another detective, Det...