The BBC lit up screens on Boxing Day of 2015 with the debut of their new adaptation of Agatha Christie novel, And Then There Were None. A charming, romantic tale of love, passion and overcoming the first World War. Just kidding. The three-part series was full to the brim with murder, mystery and suspense as a real-life game of Cluedo played out on screen.
Credit: BBC
Picturesque and atmospheric settings lure the viewer into a false sense of security, with a beautiful cast including Maeve Dermody, Aidan Turner and Douglas Booth elevating their surroundings. The perfect musical score only adds to this, as our 10 characters arrive on the island they're all invited to by a mysterious unknown. The light and charming introduction by production means there is little dialogue exchanged in the first 10 minutes, but still it allows those watching to settle in for just under three hours of chaos, intrigue and excitement. Those keeping an eye on the weather conditions however, may notice that it looks as if a storm is on the way...
Saying much more about the antics which take place once everybody has arrived on the island would really give the game away. There is death, deceit, lies and more. Subtle clues pave the way for a dramatic finale which you likely won't see coming. By the end of episode two, I had four theories about everything that had gone on. One of them - the one I was least convinced by - turned out to be mostly correct. I think however that this was simply luck - the series isn't predictable by any means.
What I can say is that each character you meet have their own issues, their own insecurities, their own weaknesses or addiction... and their own grisly secret which could come back to haunt them.
A touch unbelievable at times - why wouldn't the entire group just stick together if there was a murderer on the loose? - the viewer really has to lose themselves in the drama of the show to fully enjoy it. Sitting around a table, playing cards and keeping watch for a killer wouldn't make the most exciting show now, would it?
Standout performances come from Turner, Dermody and the masterful Charles Dance, but this is a true ensemble cast. Every character brings something new and fresh for the viewer to sink their teeth into, and after viewing you'll be hard-pressed to think of anybody who could have done a better job.
And Then There Were None is out now on DVD, featuring behind-the-scenes features.
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