'Les Petits Meurtres D'Agatha Christie' is a very interesting and generally enjoyable series, as long as one doesn't mind that almost all the episodes are very loose adaptations and use her work as basic frameworks while never disgracing Christie. Mostly a good one too, though wasn't a fan of some of the episodes, none are terrible really. For fans of foreign detective/mystery series and wanting to see less famous ones, this is well worth the time.
Did think that the Laurence/Avril era started shakily and that for Larrosiere/Lampion was more consistent and their chemistry settled much quicker. Their episodes were by now much better and their chemistry more harmonious, with Laurence more relaxed now. "L'Homme au Complet Marron" is the second (loose) adaptation of 'The Man in the Brown Suit', very much readable but nowhere near a Christie classic. The first adaptation being the made for television film from the late 80s, which was a very mild diversion but a long way from great really.
Pacing occasionally could have been tighter and had more suspense. It is an episode where there is not much wrong and of the two 'The Man in the Brown Suit' adaptations (or at least adaptations inspired by) it is the infinitely superior one.
As always with 'Les Petits Meurtres D'Agatha Christie', "L'Homme au Complet Marron" is a sumptuous looking episode. The colours are both vibrant and atmospheric and the photography is stylish. The music continues to match the light-hearted and at times very atmospheric tone without any jarring. The writing thought provokes and intrigues, also on the most part entertaining.
Was not a fan of Laurence at first and it took a while for me to warm to him. Just found him obnoxious and stiff and that his chemistry with Alice (always a far more interesting and likeable character, who is consistently one of the bright spots of the series) didn't gel. He is now much more relaxed and is actually surprisingly very funny. Really enjoy Marlene, warm, good natured and funny, and Elodie Frenck brings that out very well.
Even if the pace is not consistent and it is a touch conventional, the mystery does have enough compelling and twisty, which keeps one on their tones and guessing, parts and is respectful. The ending does shock. The humour is plentiful and is not overdone, the light-heartedness endearing and genuinely amusing. The supporting cast are solid with nobody overacting or underplaying, just doing what their roles ask of them to do.
Altogether, very enjoyable. 8/10
Did think that the Laurence/Avril era started shakily and that for Larrosiere/Lampion was more consistent and their chemistry settled much quicker. Their episodes were by now much better and their chemistry more harmonious, with Laurence more relaxed now. "L'Homme au Complet Marron" is the second (loose) adaptation of 'The Man in the Brown Suit', very much readable but nowhere near a Christie classic. The first adaptation being the made for television film from the late 80s, which was a very mild diversion but a long way from great really.
Pacing occasionally could have been tighter and had more suspense. It is an episode where there is not much wrong and of the two 'The Man in the Brown Suit' adaptations (or at least adaptations inspired by) it is the infinitely superior one.
As always with 'Les Petits Meurtres D'Agatha Christie', "L'Homme au Complet Marron" is a sumptuous looking episode. The colours are both vibrant and atmospheric and the photography is stylish. The music continues to match the light-hearted and at times very atmospheric tone without any jarring. The writing thought provokes and intrigues, also on the most part entertaining.
Was not a fan of Laurence at first and it took a while for me to warm to him. Just found him obnoxious and stiff and that his chemistry with Alice (always a far more interesting and likeable character, who is consistently one of the bright spots of the series) didn't gel. He is now much more relaxed and is actually surprisingly very funny. Really enjoy Marlene, warm, good natured and funny, and Elodie Frenck brings that out very well.
Even if the pace is not consistent and it is a touch conventional, the mystery does have enough compelling and twisty, which keeps one on their tones and guessing, parts and is respectful. The ending does shock. The humour is plentiful and is not overdone, the light-heartedness endearing and genuinely amusing. The supporting cast are solid with nobody overacting or underplaying, just doing what their roles ask of them to do.
Altogether, very enjoyable. 8/10
