DEATH IN PARADISE XMAS SPECIAL - sun 28 - bbc 1 - 830pm

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Death In Paradise
Christmas Special:

The Caribbean-set crime drama returns with an office Christmas party taking a sinister turn, when four co-workers wake up to find a stranger dead in the pool of their villa.

DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) and the team identify the murder weapon, but are left baffled when they find it was locked in a drawer when the murder took place - thousands of miles away in Swindon.

Meanwhile, Mervin anxiously waits to hear back from his newly discovered brother, hampering his efforts to get into Saint Marie's Christmas celebrations.

With guest appearances from Josie Lawrence, Kate Ashfield and Pearl Mackie.

I loved it! Hilarious Seb moments and I like Mervin! I liked the patching up aspect of the plot and the various office machinations.

When the detectives have to spend 10 minutes at the end explaining exactly how everything was done, and why, it’s a sure sign that the plot is too far-fetched and convoluted!

I agree @RockaLock 🤣 still enjoyed it
And joy
Selwyn is sooo back🤣

I enjoyed it, just easy watching with beautiful scenery and sunshine. I love Beyond Paradise too but couldn't get on with the Australian spin off.

How does that work though, Selwyn coming back? Didn't they force him out?

And him being in his 70s!

I assume some of the convolutions are because Don Warrington wanted or needed to spend more time in the U.K. - maybe Selwyn should retire to Devon. It’s a pity he didn’t meet his (female!) namesake on his brief visit.

Easy watching?? Maybe I hit the last of the Bailey’s too hard, but I had to rewind the denouement several times to understand what the heck was going on!

I did guess the murderer early doors (as did many), but I still don’t understand why she wanted the bullets swapped and then didn’t move Ashley’s gun from the office in Swindon - or did she not know it was there?? I’m obviously still confused. What did I miss?

All that absurd guff about the gun being in one place at the same time the murder took place somewhere else entirely - like a badly-done Jonathan Creek.

I think any forensic examination of the body would have revealed an untrained hand had dug the bullet out. Totally ruined the ending for me. As if anyone could do that without medical training. Even medical students find it hard to cut into their first cadaver and they have been prepared for it.

I'm still wondering how someone could conjure up a false passport they didn't know they needed and smuggle a handgun onto an aircraft, but there you go.

The fake passport thing was utterly ridiculous.

But as for the gun, there was no smuggling I think. Two guns: one in St Marie, owned by and used to kill the bloke whose name now escapes me; the second (Ashley’s) locked in the office draw in Swindon. Gavin removed the bullet from gun 1 from the body (as PP said, also ridiculous), and replaced with bullet from gun 2 which he conveniently always carried around with him.

Oh yes the age too 😂

It must have been poor, because I got the murderer very quickly. They may as well have put a sign on her forehead.

Beyond Paradise was delightful.

Well exactly!!

I have to say I’ve got a soft spot for Selwyn!

Agatha Christie could get away with it but in her case (once all the explaining was done), at least the ending was plausible.

Why did Selwyn sit on the station platform all that time was my main question

At first the train wasn't cancelled, just late. Then it was cancelled, to be replaced by a replacement bus service. Which was late. Then that was cancelled as well. By which time, there were no taxis, no car hire available, nothing and nobody around. Not even any other similarly-stranded passengers.

Like a miracle it was, her turning up at the railway station the way she did.

Yes

i know I wouldn’t have sat there all that time but when have these shows been realistic in any shape or form

also Darlene needs to wind her neck in a bit, why didn’t she narrate the nativity instead of p*ng off elsewhere and barking orders to Detective

Still... I am now somewhat reassured that the murder mystery novel I'm writing is positively Shakespearean by comparison.

I was more impressed that the assistance button actually worked!

And amused by how little assistance the assistant who answered it was able to offer?

That little scene was probably the most plausible thing to happen in the entire programme.😂

Finally seen and read the replies

I thought it was her as well. That she went for revenge but couldn’t get the bullet bit

and yah the commissioner is back

I am still confused about Ashleigh's body - was it found? What did Marjorie do with it? I much preferred Beyond Paradise the week before.

It's also obvious who the killer is from the off because nine times out of 10 it's the best known actor