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!
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!