Poirot "The Affair at the Victory Ball" #3.10 (1991) (TV)

"I shall lend to the Chief Inspector my personal copy of 'The English as She Should be Spoken'.", 9 August 2015

Poirot and Hastings attend a masquerade party where one of the revelers is (quite naturally) murdered. With plenty of suspects and plenty of clues, Poirot must solve the case to ensure his reputation.

There are a few problems I have with The Affair at the Victory Ball that keep me from rating it any higher. But, I'll start with the positive. This has to be among the best looking episodes in the series. The period detail was never better. The acting is what I've come to expect - very good. The mystery here is quite nice. I honestly had no idea which way things were going to go until the very end. And there are some very funny moments. One of my favorites is the line I've included in the title. Funny stuff.

As for the problems - I'll keep this to three. First, and most importantly, as others have pointed out, part of The Affair at the Victory Ball can be confusing. Characters are introduced rapid-fire style. And with their costumes and masks, it's impossible to keep up with who's who. Second, a key clue is found clutched in the dead man's fist. What medical examiner or Scotland Yard Inspector wouldn't have found this? It's not until the next day that Poirot has the man's hand opened to reveal its secret. Finally, things feel a little rushed. There's a lot here to pack into 50 or so minutes. This one might have been better with another half hour.

6/10