Towards Zero - binge watch

[IwantToRetire]

Has anyone else watched all episodes.

If so wondered what you thought?

I am used to tv series messing around with characters etc., so wasn't too upset that it took a few liberties.

Overall I thought it worked quite well, and somehow took on the tone or whatever it would be called of so many classic Agatha Chritie tv series or films.

Lots of lovely scenery, clothes style I would never have thought I would like.

Thought most of the cast were good and thought that Matthew Rhys again showed how versitile he is.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m0028c7p/towards-zero

I enjoyed it but the novel had many more twists and turns

I’m halfway thru second episode and bored shitless! There hasnt even been a murder yet!

Is nobody going to mention the oral sex scene halfway down the staircase!! Good job Miss Marple wasn't in this version - she used to blush at the mention of pregnancy!

I have a question, and this is for some reason really bothering me.

SPOILER AHEAD. Not an important plot point though.

In Episode 2 they go to the beach and faff around there for ages and swim. They're expected for lunch with Lady Tressillian. Yet they decide to go dancing, and still plan to be back for lunch. So I'm recalculating the times in my head, and thinking maybe they did the beach early, and now it's perhaps 11am. But where are they going for this dance? They drive across empty countryside and then rock up to somewhere with a wild jazz band playing, and lots of people dancing, drinking, smoking. Where on earth is this, that they can find such an event going on at about midday in the countryside (Devon?)

Where on earth is this, that they can find such an event going on at about midday in the countryside (Devon?)

I think it was the dodgy hotel across the bay.

But because of inlets, rivers of whatever, they have to drive inland to get to it.

That's why there is a ferry. Or is the "ferry" just for people at the big house.

And yes the timing was odd. going dancing at 11am.

And suddenly having apparently been absolutely following the Lady Tressillian rule book, they just forget.

Good job Miss Marple wasn't in this version - she used to blush at the mention of pregnancy!

Its alright, she wouldn't have understood what was going on!

I think it was probably one of the most glaring attempts at we must make this more contemporary, and was so implausible it didn't work.

I thought it was slow and ponderous- too self consciously trying to create an atmosphere. Anjelica H v good though. Good cast, but am on the fence about the casting choices and the sex scene.

I agreed to it too slow with the first murder. Neville looked a lot older than Audrey so them meeting when she was 11 years was a bit confusing 😕 😳

The friendship between the detective and the orphan was interesting, and I'd watch a series about how they manage, with the help of the housekeeper.

All in all I thought it was beautiful but forgettable.

I agreed to it too slow with the first murder.

But wasn't that the whole point of the plot. It isn't the murder itself but what had happened that led to a murder.

That's why (which could have been a bit shorter) it started with that dinner party scene when the talked about what Towards Zero means.

I only realised after it was over it was a clue to us the viewers to remember these earlier scenes as a hint to us as to motive, likely killer.

SPOILER AHEAD. Not an important plot point though.

When I replied to this I didn't want to add a spoiler but in fact them going to the hotel - just across the bay from the house - was all part of the plan by the murderer.

I'm just watching the first ep & what a load of bollocks!

@diddl if you felt like that with the first episode, I wouldn't bother with the rest. I actually thought the itv one was better.

It was quite slow and I really didn't get th epoint of the suicidal detective and the delinquent ward. I thought Lady Tresilian and Mr Treves were both brilliant. Not that keen on the rest of them and the ex wife was totally and unrealistically OTT at the denouement

No I really don't see the purpose of introducing the depressed detective and pickpocketing orphan. Neither of them were in the book. (The suicidal man in the book had a very different role to the detective in this series.)

I just don’t understand why writers that want to change Agatha Christie so much don’t have the wit to write an original and brilliant murder mystery themselves instead of just using her name to garner good viewing digures but completely disrespecting her brilliant plotting and motives. Some if the characters weren’t even in the original novel and others were very different.
Liked Anjelica Houston, very imperious, wonderful costume and background, but some of the other acting seems so awkward and unconvincing. Also lots of ‘menacing’ silences and dim lighting seems all too contrived. So disappointed as fantastic novel, brilliant setting and could have been done so much better in my view.

Usually I am upset by the hijacking of the original to make something different.

But this time didn't mind as much.

But suspect my standards have dropped having been astonished how appalling bad Kenneth Branagh's two AG films were.

And liked this better than the cloying Miss Marples which I think if my life time I have seen 3 totally different versions of.

Was that the one with Greg Wise & Julian Sands that had Miss Marple in?

@diddl that's the one. It's been a while since I watched it, but I think it made more sense. Not as moody and atmospheric as the bbc one though. Depends what you like.

It sounds awful but looks/attitude wise this doesn't work for me.

Audrey is too made up & confident.

Kay doesn't seem to have anything going for her-looks or personality!
(I blame the make up for the looks!)

I thought it was all fairly pointless - the photography was great and the fashion but it just seemed really disconnected - and that scene that mumtojakie mentioned was just shocking and strange.

Watched episode 2 last night - it dragged rather.

What annoyed me here is, the slow build up is justified by the idea that you have to go back to zero hour where it all starts. But they've made the back story and the plotting of the murder far far less interesting.

The villain was utterly chilling in the novel. Here they're just a bit pathetic.

In reality it doesn't take long to walk from the mainland / beach to the hotel in low tide. burghisland.com

I thought the series was ok and yes the swim from the hotel a twist related to the location.

I think they put that kind of thing in so they can't be accused of doing cosy mysteries - the horror.

And the couple played at desire and seduction really well without needing that scene. A kiss or embrace on the staircase would have done it without the indecency. (Which annoys me because sometimes you want to recommend/ watch with someone too young or likely to be put off by this kind of scene).

Yes - Audrey looked wrong from the beginning and I thought maybe they are just being really clever, but in practice they were messing with the back story.

I started re-watching the BBC version of Ordeal by Innocence as it was late and I just wanted something mind numbing.

And seem to remember when I watched it originally that the plot had been really messed around.

But why I am posting here is that there was a strange "sexual" scene on a staircase in a big house. Am now wondering if whoever writes these adaptations for the BBC has some sort of fetish about this, and puts in a staircase scene irrespective of orginal plot, and likelihood for the time period.

If I was being a real tv nerd I suppose I could check writing credits for both series. But very strange.

And also like Towards Zero, lots of lovely "frocks", a big house, and terrible family relationships.