The ABC Murders

[Carlyrichards]

Anyone watching? I like Rupert Grint in this.

I liked the end. Glad they kept the killer, and don’t have a problem with the rewriting of Poirot’s backstory - let’s face it he was never a terribly plausible cop. And the open-ended endings for Megan, Lily and ABC struck a decent balance between optimism and realism. I don’t know how you’d have felt if you didn’t know what was coming though. The revelation that ABC was just set-dressing was very underplayed for such an OMG twist.

I really enjoyed it, though I don't read AC (apart from a couple when I was a teen) or have watched any of the TV adaptations before.
It would make a good series.

I thought it was well done. Andrew Buchan did a great baddy, and the Poirot back story made a lot of sense. He's a far more 3D character with this interpretation

I liked it too. I thought the backstory of Poirot being a priest was very clever. Rupert Grint was excellent and I hope it leads to more interesting parts for him.

Why did Thora's hairstyle change so quickly and dramatically? !

Who was the woman on the stretcher at the end in the big house? And why?

I've loved it. I never liked David suchet's poiret so avoided it. The dark psychological atmosphere with the more traditional puzzle solving were a great mix for me. I loved John malkovich showing Hercules brilliance and vulnerability in equal measure. More of this for me. Rupert grint has absolutely shaken off Ron Weasley and I thought was exceptionally understated in the role. Well done to all involved!

Who was the woman on the stretcher at the end in the big house? And why?

Lady Carmichael.

MsChookandtheelvesofFahFah

"Who was the woman on the stretcher at the end in the big house? And why?"

The murder's sister-in-law. The one left standing between him and the money.

She had been very ill.

Did you not watch Parts 1&2 mrschook?

Clawdy She started flashing the cash in anticipation of Lady Carmichael's death and her forthcoming marriage to her beneficiary.

Load of rubbish. No way was Poirot ever a priest. If someone wants to make a tv programme about a priest who becomes a detective they need to write their own. I think Chesterton and whoever wrote Lewis got there before though.

I love Father Brown. He is Ron Weasley’s dad. There’s a pattern here....

Melroses I agree - @RustyBear hit the nail on the head with the very apposite quote from Mrs McGinty.

Thanks. I thought it was a woman with lighter coloured hair and couldn't work out who it was.

@topcat2014 haha! I thought the exact same! Art Deco Broadchurch

If someone wants to make a tv programme about a priest who becomes a detective they need to write their own.

Exactly. Why doesn't she write an original story? She could even write an original Poirot (except Sophie Hannah has got there first).

This was awful as an adaptation of what is a good story. Even the reveal of the murderer was something of a let down. People may not like Suchet as Poirot (although he is far closer to how Christie wrote him) but the one he was in was a much better adaptation - especially with Donald (?) Sumpter's brilliant portrayal as Cust.

As for her Poirot backstory, that was ridiculous.

enjoyed it, but I haven't seen the Suchet version or read the book, so I am genuinely caught up in the mystery.

I am a big AC fan, DH not so much, so that he has no idea of be original and is really gripped by the production while I can't get past the differences. I wonder why they even claim it be to an Agatha Christie? Fans are bound to be disappointed while people who might enjoy would be put off by the AC headline.

Wondering why they do this...

Yes, the reveal on the Suchet version has much more impact.

The AC novels I've read have been a very light read. This version started off promisingly, but there just wasn't enough substance in the plot to justify the heavyweight treatment; and the backstory and sub-theme of the Mosely-type organisation ultimately just seemed to be red herrings.

AC only works for me in the stagey Suchet-style productions, with the caricature Poirot and the big drawing room style reveal.

I did like the character Malkovich created but as pps have suggested, I think it would have been better to write an entirely new story than to work with the AC plot which just wasn't suitable for the treatment.

I liked it and scary John.

Just finished watching all 3 episodes.

Really liked the acting and the way it was shot. Moody vintage symbolism.

Really didn't like the S&M stuff, the boil, the egg, the way some of the female characters had been altered, the slow and anticlimactic reveal at the end, the way it was longer than it needed to be (and less exciting)

Found the churchy Poirot bits extremely moving and his character very believable

Really didn't like the S&M stuff

Was it S&M, though? I thought that at the time, but I took the later explanation to mean it was a rather drastic way of dealing with the pain from his brain tumour (by distracting with other pain) rather than being sexual.

I have to admit I took my glasses off during those scenes (squeamish) so might have missed something!

Yes, screaming, it was, regardless of any protests to the contrary.