Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries "Murder in Montparnasse" #1.7 (2012) (TV)

"Not a lot of crime out there today?", 8 April 2017

When Bert's pal is purposefully run-down, Phryne agrees to take the case to help bring the murderer to justice. Before she can find the killer, however, another of Bert's friends is killed – the second friend is burned alive. Now, the killer is targeting Bert. But why? And who is this unknown assassin? 

As much as I've loved the series so far, I was bound to find an episode that didn't work as well for me. It's not as if Murder in Montparnase is horrible, it just doesn't live up to the high standards previously established in the series. Why? There a few issues I have with the episode, but chief among them is the mind- numbing coincidences we are supposed to swallow in order to make the plot work. During WWI, Phryne was in France. While there, she took a cruel painter as a lover. This painter was jealous of another painter and violently killed him. The police were never able to solve the case. Well, it just so happens that there were three witnesses to the murder. The three men were all Australian soldiers on their way home from the war. One of the soldiers was Bert. So now, years later, the French police re-open the case and decide to track down the possible witnesses. However, before Bert and Co are contacted, the killer heads to Australia from France, tracks down the tree men he ran into years earlier, and starts killing them. And, as we all know, Bert just happens to work for female detective, Phryne Fisher, the killer's former lover. I'm sorry, but I'm not buying it.

Meanwhile, the continuing story of Hugh and Dot hits a speed-bump in Murder in Montparnase. Dot's priest insists she stop seeing Hugh as he's a Protestant. Mr Butler successfully councils Dot on how to best handle the priest so her relationship with Hugh can continue to grow. I'm a sap for the Dot / Hugh storyline.

5/10

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries "Ruddy Gore" #1.6 (2012) (TV)

"You know I like a mystery.", 8 April 2017

Miss Fisher is contacted by a theater producer to investigate a ghost. That's right – a ghost. However, before she can uncover the mysterious apparition, she and Detective Inspector Jack Robinson watch on as the lead actor in the theater's latest musical performance keels over dead while on stage. It looks like some sort of poisoning. Are the recent reports of a ghost in the theater and the death on stage related?

Ruddy Gore is another excellent episode in the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries series. The mystery in this one is quite interesting – even if I saw through the whole thing and spotted the murderer straight away. Plenty of suspects to keep things lively. The ghost's appearance was a lot of fun, even if it reminded me of something straight out of Scooby Doo – in fact, I'd be shocked if at some point a ghost didn't appear in an episode of Scooby Doo in exactly the same manner presented in Ruddy Gore. The writers give plenty of clues to figure it all out. The acting in this episode is, once again, top notch. I've run out of superlatives to describe Essie Davis. The stunt work here is also very good with a nice alley-way fight scene. The ending was very satisfying with Miss Fisher gathering all the suspects together for the final reveal. Finally, the budding relationship between Dot and Hugh gets a kick in the seat from Miss Fisher, but only after Hugh gives Dot a very unromantic pair of rain boots for her birthday.

8/10

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries "Raisins and Almonds" #1.5 (2012) (TV)

"I stabbed him in the shoulder!", 6 April 2017

As luck would have it, Miss Fisher is on hand when a young man is found dead in a bookstore. Miss Fisher suspects foul play and based at least in part on her discovers at the crime scene, the bookstore manager, Miss Leigh, is arrested on suspicion of murder. In an ironic twist, the bookstore's owner, Ben Abrahams, hires Miss Fisher to prove Miss Leigh's innocence. Miss Fisher discovers that the murdered man was a scientist with a dream of creating a Jewish homeland. To fund the dream, he had been working on a formula as valuable as turning lead into gold – something valuable enough to kill for.

The further I get into the series, the more I enjoy each episode. Raisins and Almonds is truly entertaining. There's probably more mystery here than in the other episodes I've seen, with Miss Fisher doing more real sleuthing. Hidden messages, mystery poisons, and secret formulas – there's a lot here for Miss Fisher and Co to uncover. While the solutions to the mysteries have been a little obvious in several of the episodes so far, that's not the case this time. I guessed incorrectly throughout Raisins and Almonds. Scenes that stood out to me included the nighttime chase in (and out) of the bookstore and (obviously) the final standoff with the murderer. This one gets an 8/10 from me.

Another enjoyable aspect of this particular episode is the side- story featuring Miss Fisher's hired muscle, Bert and Cec. I don't think I've written about them before, but they always add a ton of flavor to each episode – even when their parts are small. It was nice to see the pair given a bit more screen time than normal in Raisins and Almonds.

8/10

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries "Death at Victoria Dock" #1.4 (2012) (TV)

Miss Fisher meets the Latvians, 6 April 2017

While investigating the disappearance of a young girl, Miss Fisher gets caught up in a shooting on the local shipping docks. The docks are the location of a strike led by Latvian revolutionaries. The Latvians are afraid that Miss Fisher may be able to identify them, so they decide to take her out. Their plan to kidnap Miss Fisher, however, goes sideways when they mistakenly grab Dot.

Death at Victoria Dock is a nice episode with as much action as I've seen so far in a Miss Fisher episode. Between the shooting, the kidnapping, the bank robbery, and everything else that's crammed into the episode, it moves at a fantastic pace. Highlights for me include Miss Fisher's undercover work in the Latvian bar and the foiled bank robbery. It's exciting and tense stuff. I appreciated the way Phryne took the death of the Latvian who was shot in front of her on the docks. You could feel her pain. Once again, great acting on the part of Essie Davis. I'm very impressed with her so far. While the Latvian storyline is rewarding, the story of the lost girl ends up pretty much fizzling out.

As exciting as much of Death at Victoria Dock is, I appreciate some of the smaller moments and plot points. A perfect example is the storyline involving Jane's problems at school. First, I'm glad to see that Jane (introduced in the previous episode) appears to be a regular character going forward in the series. Second, this storyline is a nice distraction from main plot and serves to ground the series and Miss Fisher.

8/10

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries "The Green Mill Murder" #1.3 (2012) (TV)

An interesting means of murder, 5 April 2017

While out dancing at a jazz club, a man is murdered right in front of Miss Phryne Fisher. Her friend, Charles, was seen arguing with the murdered man just before he was killed. In addition, it's discovered that Charles was being blackmailed by the dead man. To make matters even worse, he's disappeared. Things certainly don't look good for old Charles. As it turns out, however, Charles wasn't the only person being blackmailed. Miss Fisher uncovers a slew of people with a motive for murder.

Overall, The Green Mill Murder was an enjoyable enough episode – not spectacular, but decent enough. The mystery here is more difficult to solve than the previous episodes. I didn't guess the outcome. The means of murder ends up being rather ingenious, but most probably very unlikely to succeed. Once again, watching Miss Fisher go about her investigation is what I like most about the show. Whether it's climbing the side of a building or flying a plane, Miss Fisher's exploits are always entertaining. The episode touches interestingly on topics that would have been scandalous in the 1920s – homosexuality, inter- racial marriage, and even Protestant / Catholic relationships. While all this may seem routine today, it's interesting to watch how these topics would have been dealt with 100 years ago. For example, homosexuality was punishable by a multi- year prison sentence. Finally, the supporting characters get a real chance to shine in The Green Mill Murder. The budding romance between Miss Fisher's maid, Dot, and Constable Collins gets considerable airtime. I never use this word, but it's sweet.

7/10

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries "Murder on the Ballarat Train" #1.2 (2012) (TV)

Very entertaining, 5 April 2017

In Murder on the Ballarat Train, Miss Fisher must unravel the mystery behind the murder of a crotchety old woman named Mrs Henderson and the little orphaned girl named Jane who is in possession of Mrs Henderson's valuable jewelry. The case will take Miss Fisher from an upscale university rowing team to a rundown boarding house where lost little girls do the bidding for a crook and hypnotist named Mr Merton.

Now that's more like it. Even though I enjoyed the first episode, Murder on the Ballarat Train is closer to what I'm hoping to find in the series. Once again, the mystery isn't overly difficult to solve, but the process is what matters. The entertainment comes from watching Miss Fisher gather her information and clues in the face of police opposition. Whether it's rescuing a fellow passenger from a chloroform attack or leading the police on a search for missing woman in the middle of the night or making eyes with a young rower who has information she wants, watching Miss Fisher go about her investigation is the part I enjoy. Essie Davis is amazing. I think I could watch her do just about anything and be entertained – she just as that something about her. The regular supporting cast is strong. After two episodes, I'm especially impressed with the wide-eyed, innocent maid Dot, played by Ashleigh Cummings. She makes for a good contrast to Miss Fisher.

8/10

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries "Cocaine Blues" #1.1 (2012) (TV)

"Considering your last employers were a drug baroness and a rapist, surely he'd find me a modest improvement.", 5 April 2017

After several years away from home, Miss Phryne Fisher returns to Melbourne. Miss Fisher is invited to a luncheon at the home of John and Lydia Andrews. She arrives only to discover that Mr Andrews died in his bathroom earlier that morning. The police (and Miss Fisher) suspect it was murder and discover a sugar bowl laced with arsenic. Miss Fisher begins her investigation, much to the consternation of the police, and discovers a cocaine ring, a pregnant servant with a botched abortion, a suspicious Turkish bathhouse, and a man named Butcher George.

I've never read any of the Kerry Greenwood books and maybe that's a good thing. Going in, I had no preconceived notions of what to expect and what I imagined the characters to be. With that being said, overall, I enjoyed Cocaine Blues. Most of my enjoyment came from the characters – particularly Miss Fisher. I found Miss Fisher a different sort of sleuth than I'm accustomed to (you won't mistake her for Miss Marple). She's smart, witty, and fashionable with sensibilities that are way ahead of her time. Essie Davis, the actress behind Miss Fisher, is truly entertaining to watch. She plays her part with such ease. I'm looking forward to seeing her in the rest of the series. Costuming, locations, and sets are exquisite. The dialogue is snappy and clever. I particularly enjoyed the banter between Miss Fisher and Detective Jack Robinson. As for the episode itself, Cocaine Blues, it's not as good as I had hoped. The plot lets it down – the mystery just isn't there. It was way too easy to spot the killer. Hopefully, things will get better moving forward.

7/10

Poirot "Third Girl" #11.3 (2008) (TV)

"Let the game be played out.", 5 April 2017

In Third Girl, Poirot is visited by a young woman, Norma Restarick, and is told that she may have committed murder. She simply says to Poirot, "Save me". Poirot, with the assistance of Ariadne Oliver, begins investigating and quickly determines that, despite her repeated claims, Norma did not commit murder. Instead, he discovers a girl from a broken home, a mother who committed suicide, a father who has just recently returned, a questionable boyfriend, and a rather large inheritance.

It's not often I will say this, but this version of Third Girl is actually better than Agatha Christie's original work. Granted, I don't remember every little detail, but I do remember not caring for the book very much. I didn't care for the modern setting and the story wasn't all that compelling or memorable. Screenwriter Peter Flannery has actually improved on Christie's work. Unthinkable! His plot is more in line with Christie's other work than the original. All of the character relationships, red herrings, and family drama I so love about Christie are here. The final denouement is more than satisfying. Poirot ties everything together and only uses one (maybe two) vital piece of information that was not available to the viewer. Third Girl is also more violent than a lot of the other episodes. I've often commented that watching Agatha Christie is like watching a toned down Italian Giallo. There's more blood here than usual. Another plus for Third Girl (and I can't believe I'm saying this) is Zoe Wanamaker as Mrs Oliver. This is the best I've seen of her so far. Instead of being annoying as she so often is, here she's entertaining and contributes in a useful way to the plot. Watching her tail the "Peacock" was a highlight.

The thing that keeps me from rating Third Girl higher is the acting. These Poirot episodes usually feature first rate performances, but not here. Jemina Roper who played Norma is especially poor. I didn't care for her performance at all. I don't know if it was here or the direction she was given, but her performance was lacking. Important supporting cast members Tom Mison, James Wilby, and Matilda Sturridge (despite being devastatingly beautiful) are not as strong as they needed to be.

7/10

Poirot "Dead Man's Folly" #13.3 (2013) (TV)

Location and atmosphere, 3 April 2017

Poirot's friend, Ariadne Oliver, has been asked to prepare a murder game for a fete being held on the grounds of a large estate. She has a sense of unease regarding the proceedings. and feels that someone may use the game as an opportunity to commit a real murder. She summons Poirot for help. Her fears prove to have been founded when the game's intended murder victim is found to have been strangled to death.

I may not remember a lot of the specific details of the Agatha Christie I read years ago, but I certainly remember enjoying Dead Man's Folly. It was one of my favorites. There was something about the murder game being turned into a real murder that appealed to me. And, the fete provided a lot of interesting suspects, all going in different directions. While a few changes have been made, overall, the plot, most of the important plot points, and characters remain. I don't remember if the book was atmospheric, but this filmed version of Dead Man's Folly is dripping with it. I can understand why Mrs Oliver had a sense of unease, because I had the same feeling as a viewer. I just love atmosphere like this. The acting is especially strong in Dead Man's Folly. David Suchet gives another of his fantastic performances. This may be Zoe Wanamaker's best performance as Mrs Oliver – at least it's the least annoying. The supporting cast includes a nice turn by Sean Pertwee as Sir George Stubbs. I've read that much of the movie was filmed at Agatha Christie's actual home. What a fantastic location! Overall, a nice episode that is only hurt by Poirot's wild accusations at the end that prove to be 100% accurate, even though he had little actual evidence from what I could see. Anyway, a 7/10 from me.

7/10

Poirot "Three Act Tragedy" #12.1 (2010) (TV)

"We eliminate the suspects one by one. We do not scatter around like the puppies.", 3 April 2017

While enjoying a cocktail at a dinner party, the local vicar keels over. The man was harmless enough with no enemies and there was no sign of any sort of poison in his drink. Sometime later, a second man dies at a dinner party in a similar manner. Most of the same guests at the first party were also present at the second party. Additional tests are run and it's determined that the second man died of nicotine poisoning. Poirot realizes he made a mistake with the first death and is determined to set things right. He's on the trail of a killer who has already killed twice.

I should probably say upfront that I've never been a big fan of the book on which this episode is based. There were so many of Agatha Christie's other works that appealed to me more than this one. Even though I've only rated Three Act Tragedy a 6/10, that's not bad considering my preconceived notions about the work. There are things that I enjoyed, like all of the theater trappings that fit with the theater theme of the story. It's an interesting story device. Also, I always prefer a Poirot episode where all the potential suspects are gathered together to hear the final denouement. Having the denouement on a theater stage was very fitting. And how could you not enjoy Poirot's grand entrance? As Poirot would say, "Magnifique". Finally, there are a number of red herrings and other attempts to put Poirot off the scent that I found enjoyable. The whole bit about all the nonsense of the sanatorium is a perfect example.

So, what are my problems with Three Act Tragedy? I'll keep this short and only discuss one – the character Sir Charles Cartwright as played by Martin Shaw. Don't misunderstand, I think Shaw did a fantastic job. My problem is with the character as presented in this movie. I cannot imagine a world where the Cartwright presented here would be close friends with Poirot. They have little in common and are not alike at all. For example, scenes where Cartwright insults his hired help do not seem like something Poirot would be comfortable with. Yet he just sits there like he enjoys and endorses the ridicule heaped on this poor woman. This is not the Poirot I've been familiar with for over 40 years. Their friendship never seemed real. This one issue I had with Three Act Tragedy really hurt my enjoyment of the whole thing.

6/10