Poirot "The Kidnapped Prime Minister" #2.8 (1990) (TV)

"I need to restore the little grey cells.", 27 July 2015

I'm going to dispense with the normal plot summary I usually put at the start of one of these. The title, The Kidnapped Prime Minster, is descriptive enough. Technically and artistically, The Kidnapped Prime Minister is as good as you'll find in a the Poriot series. There's something about these early episodes that the later ones do not seem to have. I may be wrong, but I think it's an attention to detail. I fell the series losses some of that as it goes on. The cars, the costumes, the locations, the sets - all are impeccable. Visually, this episode is as good as you'll find. The direction is more than capable. Suspense is built throughout and there is a real sense of urgency toward the end. It's a well put together episode. 

The plot is where I have my problem. I admit, there's nothing really wrong with it. My problems are my own personal preferences. But I much prefer those episodes involving a murder. You know, where Poirot gathers everyone together to reveal the killer. I'm not sure, but this fells like the third or fourth episode in in a row with no dead body. Also, there's no real mystery here. Once you see the Prime Minister's heavily bandaged head, learn of the missing chauffeur, and see Poirot's interest in finding the hospital that treated the Prime Minister, it's not difficult to figure things out.

6/10