I mean, come on: it’s a Christmas episode, which makes it pretty firmly review-proof for lots of folks, and why not? I’ve always cut holiday-themed episodes a little slack, because the priority is usually to evoke a specific feeling or … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S03E09 “The Theft of the Royal Ruby”

With a stylish cold open on a sepia-toned flashback sequence of two men in fencing gear dueling over what one claims was “merely a joke”, this episode announces itself as yet another in what’s rapidly becoming a long line of … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S03E08 “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest”

Chief Inspector Japp is in a pickle: over the last three weeks there have been three jewel theft at high-society events, and the pressure is on to prevent another – so much so that our dear Japp of the Yard … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S03E07 “The Double Clue”

Alas, I feel the shame, non? Real life intrudes most agresivement and your faithful chronicler has but a few wee minutes to jot down some items around this week’s episode, with further thoughts in the comments below post-publication. The Good: … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S03E06 “The Tragedy At Marsdon Manor”

As we’ve been enjoying the series together, one of Mrs. Marlowespade’s constant refrains is that for all his intellect, thus far in the show M. Poirot is far better at not preventing murders than he is in preventing them, and … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S03E05 “Wasps’ Nest”

Mon Dieu! I’m super sorry about this, but Ye Olde Work Crunch (not a fun breakfast cereal) has gotten the better of your faithful chronicler this week (serves me right for taking a vacation), and I’m going to have to … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S03E04 “The Plymouth Express”

Sacre bleu! Your Man Marlowespade is taking a vacation this week, but didn’t want to go without posting a few thoughts on this episode, the third in what is rapidly becoming the Season of Strychnine. Short version: a bank sends … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S03E03 “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery”

At the Russian Embassy in London, a woman named Katrina (Catherine Russell) meets with a diplomat and passes an envelope to him. Inside: a ticket to a flower show (hilariously stamped with “WTF” in big letters across it). Also at … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S03E02 “How Does Your Garden Grow?”

I wrote and rewrote the beginning part of this article about four times, because as soon as I started getting into plot details, I ran into a wall I just couldn’t get around. See, here’s what we’ve got in this … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S03E01 “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”

Erghhhh…. look, gang, it’s not a great episode this week. I mean, to borrow the title of a much more interesting episode we’ll see in the future,  cards on the table here: the plot is at once too complicated and … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S02E10 “The Adventure of the Western Star”

Chief Inspector Japp, Sir Bernard (Ronald Hines) and a detachment of police wait anxiously at a train station for the arrival of none other than the Prime Minister, who’s due to leave for a conference in Paris where he’ll convince … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S02E09 “The Kidnapped Prime Minister”

In which the chief mystery is why Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were able to rent a nice, high-end flat no questions asked while others have been repeatedly turned away. Who are… the Lucky Renters?!? 1936 London housing crises aside, the … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S02E08 “The Adventure of the Cheap Flat”

Je suis desole, mes amis! Real-life 21st century concerns kept me from our weekly check-ins with our favorite expatriate Belgian last week, but this week find us back in the saddle with a tale of… well, I… um. Poirot is … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S02E07 “Double Sin”

Mathew Davenheim (Kenneth Colley), a successful bank owner, arrives home for the weekend and prepares to receive a guest – one Gerald Lowen (Tony Mathews), another banker with whom Davenheim has a contentious relationship. As Mrs. Davenheim (Mel Martin) locks … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S02E06 “The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim”

On a rainy afternoon in London, Mrs. Alice Pengelley (Amanda Walker) asks M. Poirot to meet her in the park to talk about the fact that she’s being poisoned. Although the village doctor Adams (Derek Benfield) insists it’s nothing more … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S02E05 “The Cornish Mystery”

Alas, mes amis, your faithful chronicler is under the weather this week, so a much-abbreviated writeup (which honestly, is about what this episode deserves). The Good: Poirot and Our Man Hastings play Monopoly constantly during this episode, appearing to do … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S02E04 “The Lost Mine”

In a cold open, a shady character robs a jewelry store in a crowded marketplace. The next day, as Poirot is bemoaning the lack of criminal ingenuity, Japp recounts the crime to Poirot and Hastings as the three of them … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S02E03 “The Veiled Lady”

Poirot and Hastings take a weekend vacation to the town of St. Looe (“Queen of the Cornish Riviera”), and while complaining about the service at the Hotel Majestic meet young woman Magdala “Nick” Buckley (Polly Walker). She’s the owner of … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S02E01/02 “Peril at End House”

Pie magnate Benedict Farley delivers a speech at the opening of his new factory, while his trusted secretary Hugo Cornworthy, his wife Mrs. F and his daughter Joanna look on. Farley, who looks like he just walked straight out of … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S01E10 “The Dream”

Hastings and Poirot are visiting a movie studio at an invitation from Hastings’ friend director Bunny Saunders. His latest picture – some sort of colonial desert romance – stars Valerie St. Clair (Niamh Cusack) and Ralph Walton (Gawn Grainger). Val … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S01E09 “The King Of Clubs”

Tommy Mayfield (John Stride) and Sir George Carrington (John Carson) are watching a test flight of Mayfield Industries’ newest fighter plane, the Mayfield Kestrel. Although it outclasses the German ME-109, Sir George explains that the government isn’t too keen on … Continue reading Poirot (Classic): S01E08 “The Incredible Theft”