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The ABC Murders

286 replies

Carlyrichards · 26/12/2018 21:33

Anyone watching? I like Rupert Grint in this.

OP posts:
MsChookandtheelvesofFahFah · 29/12/2018 15:34

In the book I thought the other killings were random, maybe I'm mis-remembering

WakeMeUpWhenGoodOmensIsOn · 29/12/2018 15:43

In the book the first two were pre-planned to fit the pattern, the fourth was semi-random and there wasn't a fifth.

JoyceTempleSavage · 29/12/2018 16:40

I loved it. It’s like they took the best bits of the book and added extra elements, the way they found ABC, the prison interview for example

Liked the casting except Flora with the ridiculous orange face and beetle eyebrows which were completely wrong for the time

topcat2014 · 29/12/2018 18:12

Can't eat eggs at the moment!

ScreamingBadSanta · 29/12/2018 18:15

I was rather hoping for a plot diversion with guest star Dr Pimple Popper during the egg scene!

Wearywithteens · 29/12/2018 19:48

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

ElspethFlashman · 29/12/2018 21:05

Wow, talk about a Marmite adaptation!

We were absolutely gripped in this house. I've read every Poirot but suprisingly didn't mind the changes, as it was so dark and sinister and chilling. We found it genuinely creepy. No cosy crime here!

Malkovich wasn't really Poirot - but his character was still grave and solemn and vulnerable and impressive. He just should have been called a different name! But he definitely showed great reserve and skill. Very understated, very powerful.

I really was impressed with RG. He has finally grown into his Little Old Man face, lol. He was almost unrecognizeable. And I thought he did a very confident and assured job. I'm excited he's turning into a character actor, he definitely has the weary baggy eyes for it.

I thought the casting was great for the adapted story. Lilly looked genuinely poverty stricken - her pitiful little skinny wrists! And the poor fat sister Megan had a wonderfully expressive face, like a beautiful sullen angel.

I don't think I can go back to watching Suchet now. He may be perfect, but it's all so "afternoon telly" now.

ElspethFlashman · 29/12/2018 21:08

BTW, who played Cust? He was absolutely amazing, even before I knew the twist ( I had totally forgotten the plot) I was agonised for him.

Melroses · 29/12/2018 21:40

Yes, it was a perfectly good story and well acted etc, if you don't call the detective Poirot. JM was definitely not Poirot and neither was the backstory they gave him. They could have given him his own name, his own stories and many more series.

Cust was very good, but I could have done without the unnecessary fetish detail. I don't buy that it was only to treat his brain tumour pain. It is a very recognised fetish. He was nevertheless really well acted and you could see how a Cust would get drawn into accidently acting as a cover for the killer.

FelicityLemon · 29/12/2018 22:09

Now that the BBC has retconned Poirot into a priest I guess there won't be an adaptation of The Mysterious Affair at Styles which rests on him being a former police officer to serve as his reason for being involved. He also now has no reason to know Hastings.

Mrsmadevans · 29/12/2018 22:18

I am such a huge Agatha Christie fan that normally l would hate this sort of adaptation but l really loved it , so dark and atmospheric. l really dislike John Malkovitch but have to admit he was excellent in it. Such a sad back story too . The actor who played Cust was great. l will be watching his career develop definitely. Grint was pretty good to be fair imho . I hope they do more of the same .

derxa · 29/12/2018 22:22

I loved this adaption but it's not Poirot.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 30/12/2018 11:43

Watched all 3 with my DM

She found JMs accent very strange and almost robotic . I didn't much care as just enjoyed the programme (if enjoy is correct word).
I really thought it was Cust , as it was set up that way at the start .
A Detective I would not have made.

MargueritaPink · 30/12/2018 12:41

I thought the casting was great for the adapted story. Lilly looked genuinely poverty stricken - her pitiful little skinny wrists! And the poor fat sister Megan had a wonderfully expressive face, like a beautiful sullen angel

Neither Lily nor Megan in the book were anything like the way were portrayed here. The re-writing of all the female characters was very misogynistic.

Deadringer · 30/12/2018 12:53

I enjoyed it but I wasn't familiar with the story and not a fan of ac at all. My mum was a huge fan so I read a few when I was younger and found them very samey. It seemed that the most unlikely person who couldn't possibly be guilty was always the killer, so I gave up on them.

Thewerera66it · 30/12/2018 12:58

Well, I haven't read any AC, nor have I watched any previous David Suchet's Poirot, but I really enjoyed the series. In fact, it's made me think that I must read some AC - can anyone suggest a good one to start with?

Melroses · 30/12/2018 13:14

Death in the Clouds was the first one I read when I found it in a holiday cottage when I was about 13. I like the Miss Marple ones. They are a bit samey in that the characters stay the same and these things just happen to them. It is more the fun of the puzzle. I was no great fan of the sameiness of Enid Blyton but I used to love these. They are good when you want an engrossing read with no stress - you know the baddy will be unveiled at the end.

Inkanta · 30/12/2018 13:22

I enjoyed it as a series in it's own right. A bit dark and seedy which I was in the mood for at the time of watching.

Interesting what you all say about the story not matching up with AC, and the female character's given a misogynistic tarnish by the screenwriter - Sarah Phelps.

GrandmaSteglitszch · 30/12/2018 13:25

The re-writing of all the female characters was very misogynistic.

The male characters were fairly repulsive too.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 30/12/2018 15:26

The Suchet one is on tv now. It is, of course, very different in style but the standouts for me are Donald Sumpter as Cust (a man who even thinks himself he may indeed be the murderer because of his blackouts) and the grief of Betty's parents. They have a small role but you really feel their grief.

In the modern version, everyone seemed to be unremitting nasty.

JoyceTempleSavage · 30/12/2018 15:49

The re-writing of all the female characters was very misogynistic

Interesting view. I thought Megan and Lily were fully fleshed out characters. Both had heart

Banjax · 30/12/2018 16:41

I thought it was awful.

Hammy acting, unbelievable dialogue, and the sort of sass that just didnt exist in those times. The mean girl waitress was just totally over the top and ridiculous. "Vinegar tits?" Thought that was invented in Prisoner Cell Block H in the 80s!

Melroses · 30/12/2018 17:10

"Vinegar tits?" Thought that was invented in Prisoner Cell Block H in the 80s!

Yes, a quick google agrees with you - certainly not a Christie term, or very 1930s.

GodrestyemerrySchadenfreud · 30/12/2018 17:30

I don't think I can go back to watching Suchet now. He may be perfect, but it's all so "afternoon telly" now.

Totally agree Elspeth - the David Suchet ones are almost Children's TV compared with this adaptation.

The froth on the coffee.

Just the froth.