My Current Interest

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...

Christmas time at Skeldale House brings endings and beginnings for all “Merry Bloody Christmas” Siegfried compromises his beliefs to save Tristan Now that veterinarians James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) and Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse) have enlisted in the military, Tristan’s brother, Siegfried (Samuel West), will do anything to keep Tristan from going to war. He is even willing to sacrifice the ethics and morals he has held strongly to his entire life. During a run, a horse named River was injured. He is supposed to run a race in a few days, but Siegfried is certain River will not be healed enough to race. This does not go over well with River’s owner, Albert Sebright Saunders (Michael Maloney). Saunders wants River to race and he will do anything to make that happen. He even implies that if Siegfried okays River’s health, Tristan will be removed from the report to duty list. Sending an injured horse out to race goes completely against Siegfried’s belief that the animals t...

Mrs. Hall and Siegfried face their family pasts, and James must decide between family and duty Get ready for hard times ahead. Everyone in these two episodes of All Creatures Great & Small must face an uncertain future. Some must also face their past, which causes them to struggle with who they are and what they have done. “Edward” This fifth episode of the season is so incredibly sad! In some ways it is too sad to watch. Mrs. Hall finally sees her son After years of estrangement, Mrs. Hall (Anna Madeley) has finally heard from her son, Edward (Conor Deane). He has joined the Navy and has a bit of time to meet his mother at a train station before he must return to duty. It is an invitation Mrs. Hall has been waiting for with all her heart. When Mrs. Hall arrives at the station, Edward is not there. She waits and waits for him, but it is only when she is about to leave that he shows up. They decide to go to a quiet place to talk. Past events are brought up between m...

Siegfried battles with his war memories while James struggles to figure out what he is going to do about the upcoming war One of the biggest things I am loving about this third season of All Creatures Great & Small is learning more about who Siegfried is and why he is the way he is. Previously, mostly we just saw him angry, especially in his interactions with his brother, Tristan. This season we are seeing far more than that. “Surviving Siegfried” Siegfried tries to save a horse while dealing with bad wartime memories Behind all of his bluster and temper, veterinarian Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) is actually a very caring man. During World War I he worked with horses and was devastated when he was ordered to kill them at the end of the war. Now at the brink of war again, memories are coming back to Siegfried. He is currently working with a horse who has been traumatized. The owner wants to put the horse, River, down, but Siegfried is certain River will be okay with time a...