richardmolenschot Reviews

Sex Education (2019–2023)

Season 4 review: after the shock...

[9/10 · 19 December 2023]

My partner and I were totally in shock going in into episode 1 of the last season (4). What happened to Lily, where was Ruby's posse, and many more characters we cared for were replaced by this over the top fantasy woke-school with so many new characters we were supposed to care about... 'Lazy writing!' I yammered.

We stopped watching...

For a week. And then we gave it another try. Episode 2, then 3 and then we got sucked in again. And boy, am I glad we did!

Eventually I loved the final season! The storylines were heartfelt as always, wonderfully acted, loved Gillian Anderson's storyline with her sister, we were team Ruby from s03 and stayed #teamruby in S04. Loved Aimee's storyline as well, Maeve's grieve and Eric's struggle with religion. And Adam's storyline with his father was golden. Luckily the school did not play a big part the rest of the season. As for the new characters: they grew on us, but it was still too short to really get involved.

Final opinion: For the totally unnecessary change of school -1 point. But the acting and storylines of the 'original' cast was superb! For me: 9 out of 10.

The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)

Wanted to love this, almost did, but the plotreveal was blatantly obvious, unfortunately

[7/10 · 25 October 2023]

First the good: I loved a lot of the actors. They played horrible people dying horrible deaths. Big fan of Samantha Sloyan, but nobody delivered a bad acting job. Really loved it. I also loved the tension of episodes 2 through 7 on HOW each of Usher's off-spring will come to an end. And the filming, the visuals, were really very atmospheric.

The mediocre for me: The first episode almost threw me off because of it's chaotic pacing. The last episode disappointed me because of it's slow pacing.

The worst: I guessed 90% of the plot in the first epdisode and I was hoping, no let me rephrase: expécting to be mindboggled at least a few times on the plot. That didn't happen. Two people who killed someone made a deal with some devil / godlike woman and they had to pay for it. That is what I thought in episode one. I was hoping that the very detached sexual relationships would lead to a revelation: something like that the oldest Usher son was conceived through sexual intercourse between brother Roderick and sister Madeleine. Or that Roderick and Madeleine had killed Roderick's first wife in 1980 instead Roderick's boss, because that would be too easy to guess, or so i thought. Or that Roderick's latest wife Juno would reveal a mindblowing plottwist. But, alas, that all didn't happen. The distant sex was there just to point out how horrible there people were, i guess. It WAS Roderick's boss who was killed and Juno was just a side plot, that was forgotten about too soon. So with every 'reveal' in the last episode I thought: meh...

Conclusion: I have to admit, I was binging episodes 2 through 7 because I really loved the mix of horror and mystery. I loved most of the acting. But I also have to admit I felt a big let down in the mystery at the end. So, I'd give it a 6,5, but let's wrap it up to a seven. It wasn't THAT bad either.

Criminal Minds (2005– )

Season 16: This is how you reboot! Awesome!

[10/10 · 1 October 2023]

I always liked Criminals Minds a lot. But there were oh so many episodes where the plotlines or the character building was only so-so. I'd say it's normal to sometimes walk a slippery sloap when producing as many as 15 seasons of the same format. So, rebooting a series after 15 seasons is a bit of a challenge, to say the least.

But the 16th season is extraordinary well done!

First of all they changed the format. That is a dangerous thing to do: fans of the series might be very disappointed with the new way the plot is narrated. To me, it truely paid off. It was refreshing to have a ten episode build up following one case. And cleverly intertwined with some other cases that could be solved within one episode, like we we're used to in the old format.

The characters have much more depth to them then before. Remember (i forgot which season) they did an episode on Garcia's past, where she was the dark queen? It was so out of character! Or JJ in love with Spence, just messed up so many things. But the reboot corrected many of those storylines: focussing on JJ's marriage and the hardships a marriage has to endure. A grieving Rossi, Garcia battleling not to fall in love, Prentiss fighting politics and Lewis struggling with a difficult relationship: it gives depth to the characters we love. And one might forget Luke Alvez, his storyline wasn't as insightfull as the others, but first of all: his positive attitude and humerous side made him a very helpfull collegue and friend throughout this season and secondly: i wouldn't be surprised if this season was a setup for his uncovered feelings for Penolope Garcia. We'll have to wait for season 17. Also the main villain has a very strong character development. Love the fact that this psychopath does have a soft spot, even seems to genuinly care for his familiy.

The art direction shouldn't go unmentioned. Much more realistic then the previous format. It's like the BAU finally has some air to it. Instead of feeling like the set of a hollywood studio it felt like a real building. The same goes for all the other locations. Really well done.

And last but not least: the writing. Every promise that was made throughout the episodes was kept: the only date that Garcia and Alvez had, mentioned in the first episode, Rossi's grief over Kristall, Lewis' new troubling relationship, and many more breadcrumbs that we're layn out throughout the first episodes all had a dramatic function in the end. To me: that's good story telling!

Love, love, love to see season 17!

Criminal Minds: Truth or Dare (2019) Season 14, Episode 15

So Krystall doesn't have any friends

[6/10 · 21 September 2023]

I hate sloppy cheap tv-weddings where there are barely any relatives and friends. So only the BAU got to go, one two spouses, two daughters and a famous singer. Well, talk about bad make-believe.

Do like Gail o Grady as Rossi's new wife. And for a wedding or final episode NOT to end in blood. For that reason 6/10.

But for a season finale, boy, it was a very mediocre storyline. Especially the truth or dare scene with JJ. I would've expected something like 'I sometimes enjoyed killing', or 'i have a dark criminal side nobody knows about' but not the soft and unbelievably confession she made now.

Sloppy writing, cheap productional choices, luckily decent acting saves the episode from a very low score, but overal: meh...

Criminal Minds: Elliott's Pond (2016) Season 12, Episode 6

Strong team, nice twist and emotional episode

[10/10 · 8 August 2023]

It's still sad to see Hotch go as a character, but this episode made up for all the cast changes before. It's a well plotted mystery, the interaction with the crew-member is solid and strong. The 'new' team rocks: the diversity of characters, their interaction, their personal takes on their job. I loved it. Glad to see at least till the end of season 15.

Storyline about the missing children good: it's actually a bit more of a mystery story then a manhunt this time. And that a nice variation. The acting of the unsub or unsubs (i shall not spoil) is believable, the outcast of the village (the brother of two previous missing children) is heartfelt and leads up to an emotional ending, where i actually shed some tears.

And very glad Prentiss is back!

Elite (2018–2024)

Season 6 is EXCELLENT!

[10/10 · 19 March 2023]

First to debunk a lot of reviews that complain that after season 3 it only gets worse: not quite the case. Yes, in season 4 we viewers had to adapt to the enormous cast change. The transition went a bit too fast, agreed, but the writing was still at the same level of the seasons before. After getting used to the new cast, especially newcoming characters Mencia, Ari and Patrick turned out to be a great addition to the cast. Season 5, I have to agree there with a lot of reviews, slacked a little. Especially in writing storylines for some characters: Omar's storyline was almost completely forgotten halfway through the season or the introduction of new character Bilal went nowhere. New characters like Cruz, Ivan and Isadora made up for some of the messy scripting, but there I have to agree, season 5 might be the worst season.

But then season 6 got started. And I was totally blown away. For me this might be as good as a season as the first one, maybe even better.

First of all: great storytelling. The mystery every season has, leaded up to some great and very believable plot twists. All actions from all characters mattered throughout the whole season leading up to great endings of every story-line of each character.

Second of all: the dramatic storylines of the writing in combination with some great acting performances made for a season with al lot of dramatic impact. I do agree with other reviewers that some of the young actors are a bit inexperienced, but that's the case in every season. But there every season also has some great acting talents (in season 6 Manu Rios, Carla Diaz, André Lomogila in particular). What I loved about the writing was that every character build up, their actions, thoughts and decisions we're very believable, complex and emotional. And best of it all as a stated before: every emotional development of each character leaded up to the revelation of the mystery. That is some very good writing!

A third: I also liked that the overall theme of Elite was very impactful this season: adolescents struggling with becoming adults, struggling with decisions adults make for them, not wanting to become like the adults they know, yet sometimes the adoscelents are left with some very hard decisions to make themselves. In season 6 this theme couldn't have been told any better. Especially with Ari's (Carla Diaz) storyline.

And last but not least: the cliffhanger ending. The best set up for season 7. Shakespeare's Romeo and Julia, here we come!

Uncoupled (2022–2023)

A lot of potential

[8/10 · 13 August 2022]

Very nice start, but not quite there yet. Funny sometimes, sweet yes, over the top: definitely (you can not hook up that fast as a 40 something gay man with some random guy on the street) and Marcia Gay Hayden's character and performance is an absolute treasure. Nevertheless all the characters need more depth, but luckily the last episode of season 1 did a good job getting there. If that continues this could become a new gem. I also had to get used to the cast, but in eight episodes i must admit i can't wait for more. So 7,5 stars for now (rounded it up to an encouraging 8)

Only Murders in the Building (2021– )

Funny, enchanting but also a little underwhelming

[8/10 · 7 November 2021]

To be honest, i'd give it a 7,5. But Steve Martin and especially Martin Shore (exclamation mark) made it worth my while, accompanied by the endearing Selena Gomez, who -indeed- cannot open her mouth very well when speaking, but still the mix of these three works like a charm. The series has a lot of quirky and funny characters and it has a lot of mysteries.

For a mystery-junk as myself the mysterie is ok-ish with lots of red herrings, but overal the plot doesn't exceed a decent Murder She Wrotes plot. Which is ok, but i hoped it would excel more.

The biggest problem with the plot to me is not the story itself. The clues are actually quite clever leading up to the solution: the trash bags, the 'sextoy', etc. It's the pacing and timing that undermine the big reveal. When at the end of episode 9 a shocking conclusion to a possible murderer is drawn, i as a viewer hope that the last episode will reveal that the murderer is shockingly not the suspect of episode 9, but somebody we've overlooked the whole time. Another twist is expected. But there it doesn't deliver. And it falls somewhat flat.

Another problem lies within the acting of the murderer. When the murderer is exposed, and his / her / their masks falls off, the murderer's acting ability to make the motive and inner state believable falls a bit short and that makes the conclusion almost feel as an afterthought. I also think clues for the motive of the murderer could've been planted a bit more in earlier episodes. For instance in the silent episode. But in that episode the creator's made the choice to make the whole episode silent (which is a whole other story) And i think it costs us a good lead up to the motive. We could've gotten to know the murderer and his / her / their realm a bit more up close and personal. Having a better storyline to the reveal. And even making it easier and more believable to act for the actor / actress.

But overall the realm of the Arconia is enchanting, the characters are interesting and i would love to have my own appartment there. Martin, Short and Gomez do deliver a great storyline about loneliness and friendship. And there are some very mentionable guest appearances: Nathan Lane, Jane Lynch, Sting have great character traits and storylines to work with. All in all: definitely worth your while.

Dream Home Makeover (2020– )

Instagram on Steroids

[5/10 · 5 November 2021]

I really want to like this show. But the truth is: there aren't many alternatives design shows on demand, so that makes me stuck with this one. And it's not all bad, but the fake-happy-instagram-life of the designer and her clients is unbearable at times. Everything is happy, clean, conflict-free and instagram picture ready.

The Good:

• I like the McGee Design esthetic: it's perhaps not mayorly innovative, but it has a good taste level. Shea knows what she's doing and i think her work is inspiring.

• Shea has good design tips which is educational: at what height lamps should hang, how to make a cramped space look bigger or ceilings higher. Really good stuff. Could be more!

The Bad:

• The husband: he does absolutely nothing! At least nothing we see him do. I imagine him running the business at the back-end, but that isn't featured, so we are stuck with a lazy surferdude with a Peter Pann complex behaving like a student who laughs about everything.

• Shea's staged personal life in general: the kids, the husband, EVERYTHING IS STAGED. From family fun time on a bouncy castle so Shea can claim she really savors precious moments with her fast growing kids (as if she has time!) to a staged and unfortunately not very effective pedagogical didactic conversation with their daughters about telling lies. Everything is sugarcoated, staged and acted. Or as Shea's daughter putted it, after she was "reprimanded" for lying: "We do it for the camera's". Yes, even this four year old sees through the continuous shenanigan. It's hard to watch.

• Last but not least: the astonishing blindness to their privileged lives. "Oh, i saw a bouncy castle so i bought one." Or clients who build an enormous baseball hall on their own enormous terrain, to 'give something back to the community'. Yeah right.

So what would make it better?

I believe it would be so much better if we could see Shea for real. Let us see she is angry at times, a tough cookie, manipulating at times. Let us see she's human. And don't stage that! Let it just slip in the montage. Stop with the personal life instagram campaign and focus on the actual make-over proces. Her personal life is way to perfect to be interesting. Her design work on the contrary is.

So season three: please cut back on the instagram on steroids. Let us enjoy Shea McGee for what she really is. I'll bet that'll make this program a much bigger succes.

Nine Perfect Strangers (2021)

Love, love, loved it

[10/10 · 25 September 2021]

This mini-series is one that needs to take the time to develop. I think a lot of the bad reviews we're written after only seeing 2 or 3 episodes. And, if you expect a good horror or thriller: this isn't for you.

But when you go on the trip of nine perfect strangers you're gonna fall in love with the wonderful acting and heartfelt (and -broken) story lines. Kidman, McCarty, Cannavale, Evans, Shannon, Keddy, Hall, And others deliver authentic and beautiful performances. McCarty stands out because of this genre: it think she hasn't been funnier before and yet so lovable and real. Kidman adapts a thick accent, one could argue about it, but one could also see that she is again giving a wonderful character with emotional depth.

A smart choice of the series was the way suspension was build. Not only does the viewer want to know what is keeping the characters stuck in pain, who shot Masha (Kidman), who is sending the threats, but also the series takes you to a point where you wonder if this kind of therapy is more damaging then healing and might even demand innocent victims. And who could imagine that at the end you would root for one of the more debatable characters. That's good storytelling to me. Love, love, loved it.

Selling Sunset (2019– )

It's terrible i say. TERRIBLE!!! (Terrible i like it so much)

[8/10 · 23 September 2020]

But that's why it's so nice to watch. Superficial almost forty something barbiedolls who are offended in an instant by nothing. But they all look glamorous and the party's are insane, especially Christine's. RHOBH goes real estate. I LOVE it. Makes real people so much nicer.

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Snatch Game of Love (2020) (2020) Season 5, Episode 5

Painfull and awkward at times: time to rethink the format

[4/10 · 4 July 2020]

Is it me, or is this season painfull and awkward to watch at times? A lot of the jokes aren't landing, yet Ru is laughing his ass of. Snatch game of love was underwelming, though Jujube and Shea had a nice rapport going on. There we're some funny jokes, but the awkwardness of the other ones made it painfull to watch at times.

I do like the human side of the contestants: Shea had a struggle with who to believe, yet she chose to vote off the weakest contestant instead of her biggest threat. I think that is the more admirable choice to make instead of the pity full choice Naomi Smalls made last year by sending Manilla home. But i do feel: letting the winner of the week choose who goes home is such unnecessary drama. We want the best to win, not the most social one.

All Stars 5 stands in the large shadow of the strong contestants of season 12. Maybe the All Star format should need to be rethought: less frequent, so that you can really create a strong cast and skip the drama of letting the queens decide who goes home.

Interior Design Masters (2019– )

Stopped watching after Nicky's exit. Flabbergasted.

[5/10 · 18 June 2020]

Dear god, how is it possible one judge decides to eliminate a contestant with such good taste, great workethics and a good run so far. I decided to read the reviews after Nicky's elimination to see if i was the only one who couldn't grasp what just had happened. But in the back of my mind i thought: well, the at least i can watch Ju win. But she didn't even made it to the finals? The best two designers weren't in the finals. How can that be?

Well, i don't care what the reasons are: it just doesn't sit well with the audiance. Next season better judges (plural!) cause till this epide, i loved the show.

House M.D.: Body and Soul (2012) Season 8, Episode 18

Levitating without explaining... oh boy.

[4/10 · 15 May 2020]

Well, if you know magic, you know no one can levitate (when lying on a bed) without a construction of some kind. So the story line of a boy who might be possessed, inexplicably levitating, doktors confirming they couldn't find any wires is utter bull in the realm of House, we're everything is explained. So please do some research as a writer if you'd like to incorporate some magic.

Four stars for the rest of the storylines.

Knives Out (2019)

Meh. Not a good whodunnit nor a funny comedy, and the great supporting cast doesn't make up for it.

[6/10 · 23 April 2020]

First of all: hooray for Tony Collete. What a gifted actress. And then Don Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon: great picks and good actors! But i'm sorry to say Ana de Armas wasn't a great match with this role and this director. Her acting is not very believable (stop with the constant sighing! It's tiring and your director should've stopped you from doing so). Double oh Graig has a painfull accent and other then that not very much to play with.

And then there is the mystery... oh boy. Agatha Christie for beginners. First rule: it's always the butler. Or better said: someone that isn't acting suspicious, but cooperative. Second rule: if halfway the movie the mystery seems to have been unravelled, the mystery is definatly not unravelled. And third: never forget the emphasized details: they always lead to the solution of the mystery.

Agatha Christie for the advanced: play with the expectation of the seasoned mystery reader, play with those three rules and mix em up. That unfortunatly didn't happen here.

And finally: Yes it had a few laughs, but not enough to be a comedy. And yes it was suspensefull at times, but not enough to get me on the edge of my seet.

So as a big fan of murder mysteries: the average British dectective series has better plots. And blaming Star Wars expectations? That's just not very good arguing. In my case: not a Star Wars fan. This was just not that good of a movie.

Midsommar (2019)

A horror feel good movie about belonging

[8/10 · 27 February 2020]

First of all: if a movie receives very low and very high scores then you know an art-film or new classic is born. And despite the sometimes gory shots, as a horror movie it actually doesn't really fit in the genre. Which is refreshing.

The movie delivers in the acting, as has been said many times before. And it is a psychedelic trip on one level. On the other hand, this movie is all about belonging somewhere. Having an environment that is caring and loving and healthy.

And that's what's so good about this movie to me. If your environment is toxic, uncaring and unhealthy, like Dani's is, it is actually a lot better to be included in a society that has it's brutal rituals but definitely is loving and caring. At the end of this movie i was rooting for the Swedish commune instead of Dani's friends.

What did help in this proces was the fact that the horror scene's weren't really scary, and, as a critical note, the special effects / grime wasn't that convincing and sometimes a bit laughable. If the effects we're of a higher level, i think i would've been more conflicted in the end.

Nevertheless, if you love cinema or theatre, and liked to be inspired by an out-of-the-box kinda movie, I'd definitely recommend Midsommar.

How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020)

Messy: great plot twists, but character building seems off

[5/10 · 18 January 2020]

I tried. I really tried. I just ended season 4 and i don't dare to go on anymore.

Loved the first season. Acting: great. Viola Davis: liberating. Plot twists: i loved them. Accuracy: not so much, but in the universe of HTGAWM very believable. And we've learned that one of the main characters is capable of murder.

Season two: all of the above, but the wrap up of the cliffhanger of season one was a bit fast and left me with a lot of questions. Why did this main character commit the murder? How does this character deal with murdering. Now there are two main characters capable of murder.

Season three. Yep. Another main character commits a murder. And here's my problem: when you commit murder the only question in this series is how to get away with it. And okay: motives are also explained. But if you want the audience to care for the main characters, you have to ask the question: how does a murder change a main character. And in this series the characters all seems unaffected by it. And that's why i'm very hesitant to continue.

The Handmaid's Tale: Heroic (2019) Season 3, Episode 9

Transformation

[9/10 · 23 July 2019]

To me this is good writing, if... if the expectations are going to be fullfilled in the next episodes. If i'm not mistaking, this episode is needed because June needs to hit rock bottom, and she needs to be pubished for her behaviour. June is getting too nasty and her mean-girl tactics only get her petty victories, not helping her at all. She needs to realise her stategies are not working. She needs to stop acting out of frustration and find a bigger goal. Dr. Ally-Mc-Beal-Billy helps her with this transformation and she finally realises she should work in different ways. Not antagonising the people around her. I am so excited to see the next episodes: i think a new and way more brave June is born in this episode! Loved it.

The Handmaid's Tale: Unfit (2019) Season 3, Episode 8

Building up characters

[9/10 · 23 July 2019]

If you love the Handmaids Tale because it gives you insight in how supressed people act in dire circumstances, then don't listen to the critics: this episode is yet another wonderfull chapter in character development. I totally get this season. June loosing it. Serena not willing to give everything up, wanting to believe this new world actually works. And in this episode more insights in Lydia Clements.

The Good Place (2016–2020)

Fresh, funny, full of surprises and a philosophical

[10/10 · 17 October 2017]

Wow, just finished episode 3 of season 2. Season 1 ended with a big plot twist and I was worried that the twist meant the more meaningful premise of 'how to become a better person' suddenly was thrown overboard. But that wasn't the case. In season two the plot twist gives us so much surprise and fun and they actually found a way to give the premise even more meaning. Characters are more layered as the series evolves. Really so much fun to watch, great acting banking between grotesque and yet every character gets his or her depth, great fun cast, wacky story lines, but in the universe that's called the Good Place, all blends in splendidly. I'm hooked!

American Horror Story: Magical Thinking (2015) Season 4, Episode 11

WOW. What a mess.

[5/10 · 16 August 2017]

Halfway through Freakshow I started suspecting the story lines weren't coming together as they should in a good story plot: the need to be necessary, unavoidable and the cause-and-effect of character's actions should build up to an climax. In this episode its clear that freakshow isn't going to be a great example of storytelling. In the end new characters are introduced to kill of main characters, some story lines stopped episodes earlier, not building up to a climax. Boy, it really is a mess. The acting is great, though. That's what keeps me watching. But there we're some better seasons (1, 2 and even 3).

Midsomer Murders: Small Mercies (2009) Season 12, Episode 5

With a madman any motive will do

[1/10 · 20 August 2016]

Oh boy. Where to start. I can't believe people actually think this is a creative episode.

First of all most of the characters are boring the viewer to death. Further: after 30 minutes i knew who the murderer was, not because of any logical deduction, but because the character obviously wasn't entirely sane and nobody adressed this. Then falling almost asleep i fast-forwarded to the end, to discover i was right and the motives for 3 murders we're unrealistic and random. People where murdered because the madman just didn't like them very much due to minor unsocial behavior. What a non-sense episode.

Playing a sudoko brings more joy.

Marple: Miss Marple: Nemesis (2007) Season 3, Episode 4

Alteration is Nemesis' middle name. AND IT WORKS! For the most part...

[9/10 · 24 February 2016]

Suspecting this review will not be getting a lot of thumbs up, i want to present a different take on this episode then all the other reviews. Most of them really HATE this adaptation. For plausible reasons: never has an adaptation altered so much from the book as this episode. So if you love the book, you'll be very disappointed watching this episode.

But who really loved the book? To be honest i think the book is a mediocre Christie at its best. Way to many characters that aren't connected to the murder, way to many loose ends and though the idea of a hunt for the truth is a great idea, it's not very excitedly portrayed in the book. And the motive is not really believable, not unless you consider the love for Verity by the murderer a lesbian love. Not saying it's a bad motive either, but it's wobbly. Also consider the lack of clues: there are very few which lead to the discovery of the murderer.

This adaptation makes all a lot of those wrongs right: all characters are connected to the main story line and the road trip is really exciting and the murders get a lot more clues (like the scarecrow, brilliant). So for viewers who do not know the book: it's a fun and exciting ride with a lot of puzzling and great story lines, and thanks to the added clues the audience can actively participate in solving the mystery.

On the downside: some of those new story lines are a bit far fetched, i agree with some of the reviewers. And the motive for the murders itself is still not stronger then the book.

But the episode is a lot more exciting and congruent then the book. For that this adaptation deserves kudos!

And Then There Were None (2015)

Finally: it's been done! A marvelous adaptation of Christie's masterpiece

[10/10 · 31 December 2015]

Undoubtedly 'And then there were none' is Agatha Christies best work. Dark, thrilling and a genius plot. Yet there had not been an adaptation thus far which could capture the dark atmosphere of this classic murder mystery and leave the story in tact. In all previous adaptation's there had to be a happy end. But such ending had always ruined the dark atmosphere of this masterpiece.

But finally: it is done. And how! Even better then in the book it is their guilt that haunts the characters on Soldiers Island. The island and it's house is filmed beautifully: staring as a mysterious island, becoming more dark and haunted as the plot evolves and from time to time the atmosphere is also like a cleansing breeze at a resort. Add to this great cinematic experience a formidable and definitely well casted cast and you have the new classic adaptation of 'Then there were none'.

I can't think of any actor that didn't deliver an intriguing and believable character. Who'd taught that Emily Brent could be vicious and pitiful at the same time? Miranda Richardson ensures the viewer of that. Charles Dance is perfect as judge Wargrave: sympathetic and righteous at the same time. Philip Lombard and Maeve Dermody make a 'romance' in these bitter circumstances more then believable and Dermody does what is one of the most hardest aspects of 'And then there we're none': she makes suicide totally believable. And what a pity that Anna Maxwell Martin has to die so soon. She is epic as Ethel Rogers. Sam Neill delivers, Noah Taylor does. Douglas Booth makes the first murder even a well deserved one. And last but not least: Stephens and Gorman make the paranoia complete until the very last second. They all make their character's dubious past more than believable.

And of course a lot of credits should go to Sarah Phelps. Wow, what a script! Cudoos! She took every element of the story and there where Christie might lack in giving her characters a credible motivation, Sarah brushed it up with just the right amount of alteration, to make the story believable from a psychological point of view. Especially through the background stories of the characters Sarah makes Christie's masterpiece not only a murderous who-dunnit, but a psychological thriller.

I think a classic movie is made.

Marple: A Murder Is Announced (2005) Season 1, Episode 4

McEwan and Wannamaker are marvelous!

[10/10 · 28 December 2015]

I have to admit: it took me three episodes to get McEwan's interpretation of Miss Marple, but in the finale of season 1 it finally hits me: she is marvelous! Having Joan Hickson on one's mind, it just takes some time to let the new McEwan's version in. But I have to say: I have grown very fond of her and I like her version a lot more then Hickson's one. In retrospective: Hickson to me is a bit dated and therefor boring in comparison to the frivolous, fun and clever version of McEwan. And that energetic vibe goes through the entire first season. It really brings Miss Marple into the 21st century. Well done!

And this episode is definitely the best of the season and well worth a 10. With many thanks to Zoe Wannamaker who is doing a great job as Mrs. Blacklock. The story is translated very well to the screen. Wonderfully filmed. The episode is brought to live with lovely and rich characters, well played by a great cast: Cherie Lunghi, Robert Puch and a notable performance by comedienne Catherine Tate.

SPOILERS I do think the mystery has to many classic Christie elements in it: if you've had your share of her murder mysteries you can see through certain red herrings. For instance: when a character is victimized, but not killed he or she is almost always the killer. But since that element is in the book itself, i still think this version is worth a 10 out of 10.