DEATH IN PARADISE s14 - Fri 31st Jan. 9pm bbc. TV PACE NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

yah. It’s back. For 8w

We're transported back to the tropical island of Saint Marie, and this time with a new Detective Inspector in place - but will DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) remain in the job for long?

Following the recently cracked case of ‘who shot the Santas?’, along with the revelation that his estranged mother has passed away, Mervin is ready to get back home and leave the island for good.

But when a case close to the hearts of those at the station presents itself, is he tempted to extend his stay?

As Mervin continues to ruffle feathers, the police team pull together to solve some of the island’s most confounding cases yet.

And making their mark across the series is a host of fantastic guest stars including: Tobi Bakare (Kingsman), reprising his role of Sergeant JP Hooper, Michelle Greenidge (Kaos), Joy Richardson (Dreamland), Stephen Odubola (Boiling Point), Anthony J. Abraham (The Acolyte), Simon Lennon (Our Girl), Bhavna Limbachia (Brassic), Adam James (The Day of The Jackal), David Avery (Gangs of London), Sofia Oxenham (A Very Royal Scandal), Patricia Allison (Sex Education), Imogen King (Love Rat), David Mumeni (Bridgerton), Madeline Appiah (In The Long Run), Siobhan Redmond (Two Doors Down), Chantelle Alle (Hijack), Rita Bernard-Shaw (The Power), Bobby Gordon (Three Little Birds), Tony Marshall (Casualty), Charlotte Spencer (The Gold), Tala Gouveia (McDonald & Dodds), Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge (Holby City), Gerard Horan (Detectorists), Judith Jacob (The Five), Lily Nichol (Renegade Nell), Lyndsey Marshal (Inside Man) and more.

Elsewhere, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) must deal with momentous news from the Chief Commissioner in Jamaica that rocks the police department to its very core.

As an unexpected foe attempts to enforce the unfathomable, Catherine (Elizabeth Bourgine), in her role as Mayor, acts as the last line of defence in a battle to save the team as we know it.

In an unexpected twist, Naomi (Shantol Jackson) finds herself at an emotional crossroads when an old flame from St Barnabas makes a surprising appearance on the island, while Darlene (Ginny Holder) becomes a mentor when a new officer joins the ranks, but is left questioning whether she’s the right person for the job.

And with the opportunity to learn more about his mother’s life, Mervin begins to discover things may not be all that they seem in Saint Marie. As everything he thought he knew unravels, will his life ever be the same again?

Death in Paradise was the UK’s most watched returning drama in 2024 across all broadcasters and streamers, with last year's series watched by over 8 million viewers. BBC Studios, who distribute the series, have now licensed Death in Paradise to over 230 territories across the globe.

Following the successful launch of spin-off series Beyond Paradise in 2023, the Death in Paradise franchise has built on its international success with new Australia-set spin-off series for the ABC - Return to Paradise, which launched last year on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Filmed on the French Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe, Death in Paradise continues to delight audiences with the perfect blend of exciting escapism, puzzling mysteries, and juicy plot twists set against an idyllic sun-drenched backdro

I agree. I don’t understand why PP are criticising her for being assertive and insisting that she is spoken to in a respectful way.

I'm Team Darlene too, good for her for sticking up for basic manners, he shouldn't be so disrespectful to the team but so many would let him get away with it.

How come the bullet in the changing room episode embedded itself in a breeze block wall but this episode's bullet just landed on the patio?
Have they used this location before, for the seafood chef murder with the walk in freezer?

I wasn’t convinced that the taxi driver had time to run around the back of the house, shoot the boyfriend (silently) and then run back around the house, in the time it took the girlfriend to walk through the house. If she had been quicker, she would have seen him being shot.

I thought this week's was a particularly implausible one. I agree about there not being enough time to do it. It all seemed a bit far fetched.
In fact I fell asleep towards the end and had to rewind it. Still don't fully understand the motive.

Yes it would seem they are spending more time thinking about the commissioner and Mervin’s mums murder than the actual murder plots

the house wasn’t big enough and she would have heard him fall. And on that basis she could have been the murderer as she was alone with the victim.

and the motive was terrible - would have been much better to just make it over money

The motive was that he didn’t want the boyfriend cheating other women, and swindling them out of money. His granddaughter was the catalyst for this, as he wouldn’t want thus to happen to her.

It seems extreme - I get that he probably didn’t want to report him to the police because he would be implicated but if his moral compass was so strong why not serve a short sentence for that than a long sentence for murder.

Agree - but also he was only looking at his phone, he could have been reading an important email, totally normal behaviour in an office regardless of the added rank aspect

If he was reading an important email he shouldn’t have asked her to tell him her info.

if I’m talking to someone at work and they start looking at their screen I assume the conversation is over tbh

This latest series just seems very different, not as much 'Caribbean' music in between scenes, unknown (to me) actors as the main suspects...at one point I recognised every actor in every episode. I don't like the new male trainee cop nor the new commissioner, it really misses funny characters like Duane and Ruby, the new recruit doesn't measure up at all. If this was the first series, I wouldn't bother watching any further episodes...sad really as I've enjoyed every series until this one

I was thinking about it this morning and I wondered if the new commissioner is being brought in due to the help Selwyn gave the new detective about his mums death?

It doesn’t seem as feel good. Which I know is odd to say about a program based around murder!

How do you mean?

Selwyn gave the new detective a folder about is mums case didn't he?
I'm not sure, maybe as a distraction.
Or because he doesn't know anything about it so can't say anything against those in the force that do know.
Or maybe he does know and his mad behaviour is just an act...

I like the new recruit

The new commissioner doesn’t have the gravitas that a role like that would bring. Too much of a wide boy. Yes I know I’m taking it too seriously.

It’s basically pen pusher vs old school policeman

Yes, I agree.

ditto @WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout

Selwyn is being pushed out so that something about Mervin's Mum's death doesn't come out?

Although retiring someone who has been in the force for 51 years isn't in itself suspicious!

Ah I get you now.

Thank you, this is what I meant but couldn't think of how to phrase it.

Has anyone seen Saint-Pierre?

Florence appears as the deputy on a French island, this time the island is just off the Newfoundland coast. The "visiting inspector" is from Newfoundland after getting into hot water and being sent to do a stint on Saint-Pierre. I've only seen a couple of episodes but the vibe is similar to DiP, including a lot of focus on the local French influenced culture.

Its not quite a replication in the way of Return to Paradise - more a cross between the Paradise franchise and a cosy procedural.

I think the actress who plays Florence is dreadful so won’t be tuning in!