Calling all fans of the Poirot/Marple TV series

[ILoveMyYuccaPlant]

After browsing ITVX for something to watch I was excited to see that they have all the episodes of both of these series. I'm off work tomorrow and planning to have a lazy day of watching one or two of these while the kids are at school. I've read almost all the Poirot books and watched a few of the episodes (Death On The Nile, Orient Express, Roger Ackroyd) but never read any Marple although I plan to do so this year.

Any recommendations on favourite episodes that are well worth a watch? Or alternatively are there any to avoid?

Thanks!

I've been bingeing Marple too. Especially love the Geraldine McEwen ones. I also like the DC Banks series and the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes

I think the Joan Hickson ones are the best, very creepy.

I only watch the original Joan Hickson Marple I'm afraid. The books are a bit odd, sometimes there is a surprisingly small amount of Miss Marple in them. I like A Pocketful of Rye best.

@DrEllie yes I noticed when browsing the episodes that there are a couple of different actresses playing Miss Marple. I've read threads were people have opinions on the best Marple actress but never having read them I have nothing to compare them to!

Joan Hickson was of course the best Marple but I do enjoy the Geraldine McEwan/Julia Mackenzie ones too. Good production values and strong supporting casts.

I like them all but Joan Hickson is my absolute favourite

Be aware that with Poirot, most of the seasons are fun, frothy, light-hearted nonsense. The final three or four seasons suddenly go all "film noir psychological thriller" and exclude the recurring characters. As a family we love classic detective stories but couldn't handle the complete change of style!

If you want a faithful to the original retelling of the book, stick with Joan Hickson.
If you don't mind a more modern take then the Geraldine McEwan are good. Just reread the body in the library and the retelling/ twist was interesting.
Poirot, either Peter Ustinov or David Suchet.

I agree that there's a huge contrast between David Suchet's earlier Poirot and his later Poirot. Earlier Poirot episodes are tidy little cases that are tied up in an hour. There's nothing too unsavoury. Then they change completely and have a much more cinematic style. And a much darker vibe. I do enjoy these though.

I love them all. For piorot I would recommend After the funeral and evil under the sun. For miss marple I would recommend towards zero and murder at the vicarage to get you started.

My favourite Piorot is David Suchet. Joan Hickson is fantastic as marple. Still really like Geraldine and Julia though.

Enjoy.

The Moving Finger
Marple
So comforting and lovely outfits 😊

Thanks everyone for your replies. Agree David Suchet makes a wonderful Poirot. Joan Hickson seems a popular Marple but it looks like my choices are either Mackenzie or McEwan on the ITVX! @PhotoDad any recommendations for more classic detective stories are really welcome

A PP has already recommended the Jeremy Brett "Sherlock Holmes" and it looks like they're all on ITVX!

A Carribean Mystery is one of my faves with Joan Hickson but sounds like it's not on there. I liked the 4.50 from Paddington with McEwan.

I watch Poirot chronologically. One of my favourite programmes.

Joan Hickson is the most faithful to the Marple books but I love Geraldine McEwan. I'm currently rewatching her episodes. Julie McKenzie doesn't play Marple how I imagine her to be. For Poirot, David Suchet and Peter Ustinov are both good.

And if you have Audible the Marple audiobooks are cery good. Not Marple related but And Then There Were None read by Dan Stevens is excellent.

Greenshaw's Folly is a good episode with an excellent cast. I also enjoyed The Pale Horse and Towards Zero.

I like Murder at the Vicarage and A Murder is Announced but with Joan Hickson. I think they're available on BritBox. I think Paul Eddington is excellent as the vicar in Murder at the Vicarage - you feel like the murder really affects him. Some murder dramas people barely turn a hair! I find Geraldine McEwan a bit too, hmm, I don't quite know, a bit too modern? Although Joanna Lumley is amusing as Dolly in The Body in the Library. Lots of liberties are taken with the itv versions of the books to snazzy them up (see Sleeping Murder)

As for Suchet as Poirot I like Third Floor Flat and The Adventure of the Clapham Cook.

Shout also for Ustinov in Evil Under the Sun (Maggie Smith fabulous) and Death on the Nile and the Albert Finney film version of Murder on the Orient Express for old school glamour!

Don't get me started on the Branagh Poirot films

The tv version (2015) of And Then There Were None was good as well with Aidan Turner, Toby Stephens and Charles Dance

My favourite Miss Marple novel is Sleeping Murder but I would only watch the Joan Hickson tv version. The ITV version was appalling. I like Nemesis too. I prefer Julia McKenzie to Geraldine McEwan, who irritates the hell out of me in that role but don't think any are a patch on the BBC versions.

However, a Caribbean Mystery is pretty good, no matter which version.

Re Poirot, if you haven't watched Five Little Pigs ( Suchet version) I would highly recommend it. It's very good but remarkably sad.

I would agree.

the audio book - the labours of Hercules is really good.

underneaththeash I've only seen the tv version.

One of the few of her books I haven't read. I read almost all of them, including short stories, in my teens.

My favourite Poirot episode is Dumb Witness (it’s a dog that is the only witness to a murder) the dog is adorable.

Im so jealous! I can’t get ITVX on sky 😩