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.

Mervin just doesn't work for me, we need a really charismatic, endearing and funny lead in the detective role. The rest of the cast are good and somewhat wasted.

They need a 4th person as well

I actually think the Mevin character has a lot of potential. Bear with me…I think he’s going to go on a brilliant journey of self discovery about his brother and have a great character arc. He needs a proper side kick though. Someone who gets him.

There are four of them.
wonder if Solomon will show up and move Mervin on from his grump/lost boy phase?

Remind me who Solomon is

The half brother who is in Antigua

Mervin's long lost brother

I thought the bullet thing (persuading the guy to prise it out and replace with another) was over egging the pudding - even by DIP standards. Wouldn't it show up on the post mortem that someone had cut the tissues around the bullet?

In any case why bother? Why not take the £500K and use Ashley's passport to a non-extradition country and change name back name on arrival? It would likely have taken months to work it out - if they ever did - if she hadn't flitted backwards and forwards to Saint Marie.

Seb is growing on me ... although not as much as Seb the snowman on BP

I really liked the other young officer who was murdered on his first day

and apparently a "senior management team" of 4 that could swan off to Saint Marie at short notice

And apparently only one other member of staff who didn't get to go!

Oh yes the brother - duh

who is the 4th police

I hope Mervin and the sergeant don’t have a ‘thing’, like the usual DiP inspector and sergeant will they, won’t they.

I agree the explanation at the end was a bit ridiculous but it was a really enjoyable watch for me.

I enjoyed it! It was mad and very silly but it always is. I’m looking forward to the series. I’m hoping Solomon will bring some light relief. Mervin is quite serious but I hope his character will lighten up a bit.

The BP episode was very dull. I just can’t get on with that spin off. I want to like it but it’s very twee.

I like the Australian one but I’m not sure about the main character. maybe im just after beautiful scenery from far away lands…

Oh I’m kind of hoping for that!

Bloody hell no.
Perhaps he doesn’t look it but Don Gilet is about 25 years older than Shantol Jackson. Darlene is ‘mothering’ him at the moment but she’s about his age….no, can’t see it.

Exactly. I really hope not.

I really like Mervin. Robert Poole was just as buttoned up and grumpy. <glances at Mr Gasp> < considers certain aspects of his personality and very happy 40+ Yr relationship> < lightbulb moment>

We have 4 in the station
Mervin
Naomi
Sebastian
Darlene - although her role in this episode was to squawk down the phone at Mervin like a demented fishwife

Plus Selwyn - who played a bigger role in this episode than Darlene

I thought this. It had only been going 5 mins and I knew it would be Jodie Lawrence playing the down trodden middle aged woman.

Oh darlene. Forgot about her

the care Worker /nurse who became a police lady in what seemed weeks

Yes - seems like being friends with the Commish pays off

I liked the other young one before him. Can't remember his name - JP had trained him. He didn't seem to stay long.

I wish the writers of DIP would write some better parts for the women - the whole of the last season had Catherine, Darlene and ever Naomi often appearing just to give Mervin a drive by scolding.