Beyond Paradise

Was really looking forward to this death in paradise spin off, especially as Kris Marshal was one of my favourite DIs from the series, and also because being a West Country boy it's set in my part of the world.

Filmed in Cornwall but bizzatly set in Devon, obviously didn't want to be seen to be mimicking Doc Martin too closely, although actually it's just a police version of doc Martin with a less grumpy lead. Just like Doc Martin & other West Country based series such as the dreadful McDonald and Dodds the actors have been sent to the same school of generic West Country accent coaching, (clearly based in the middle of Bristol) and ridiculously unsubtle, over the top and of course spoken by every single resident.

The locals are depicted as the stereotypical dumb village idiots which is just boringly tedious, plane lazy and unimaginative writing.

You couldn't get away with depicting any other social group in this way these days but here we are yet again!

The police officers in death in paradise weren't written as being imbeciles so why are they in this, especially the incredibly irritating older female secretary character.

It's a shame because this stupidity really ruins what could be an acceptable series, the fact it's different mysteries rather than murders is an interesting touch and of course some lovely scenery and touching moments between Humphrey and Martha. However the tiring carrot crunching yokel routine just ruins it.

You can mix comedy with more serious issues as shown in Death in Paradise and other successful pats series such as Heartbeat, but beyond paradise just come across as being an idiotic farce than amusing light hearted police drama.

We cannot help but compare this series to Death in Paradise. DiP instantly showed its core identity and we were hooked. It was crime-solving with true friendship, joviality, trusted teammates and likeable characters. We enjoyed them in their off-time as if we were part of their merry making. The writers achieved a unique and tight balance; well written and a pleasure to watch, season after season.

I just finished season 1 of Beyond Paradise. I am disappointed at the product that has been delivered to a pre-existing captive audience! It struggles to find its identity: Is it a comedy, a comedy/drama or just a dark drama? BP has few likeable characters, it is thin on comedy. We want DI Goodman to be clumsy and endearing, to excel in his work and enjoy a home life - the formula we loved. Instead he is living a sad undercurrent at home. He has no reprieve from sleuthing. The best supporting character was supposed to be his fiancee. She instead offers nothing but pain. It is dark and depressing. We did not sign up for a soap opera home life. It distracts from the story and is a major disappointment that does not serve the series or its audience well. I would not be surprised if it is cancelled unless they change tack.

I'm a big fan of Death in Paradise and Humphrey in particular. I'm also a fan of Johnathan Creek and this series has the same kind of feel.

I've rewatched Death in Paradise so many times and the Humphrey episodes are just that little bit more fun, and now we have more of the kindest, most unintentionally funny, brilliant detective St. Marie ever had. What's not to love?

I'm really enjoying the series so far, the cases are weird and new and enjoyably confusing, and I love that they've found a way to bring it home but still base it in a small community. Plus they've actually kept the character, there's even been a couple of call-backs to the original series. So many spin-offs take a beloved character and throw their entire personality and history out the window, as if just the name and the actor are enough, they aren't. But this series is obviously created by someone who really appreciates DI Goodman in all his bumbling glory.

Until the ex-fiancé was introduced into the mix. She's that naive to think it's okay and it's strictly a business arrangement and it's going to stay that way. And Humphrey is okay with it. Humphrey is enough of a clueless dork who spends money on another useless boat, that we don't need Archie in the story to cause friction. Humphrey does that on his own well enough. Reverse the roles and let's see if she would be okay with an ex coming into the picture... Was interested in this to see if I would enjoy it as I was a fan of Death In Paradise, but it's more of the same predictable writing. Same old predictable tropes that are still prevalent in the year 2023. I'll pass if the writing doesn't improve.

This is a lovely gentle series of local 'whodunnit' crimes set in a rural village in Devon. The countryside and aerial coast photography is gorgeous, will definitely encourage more tourism! Kris Marshall is as good as ever, continuing his 'bumbling genius' detective role from Death in Paradise. The support cast are wonderful, the local accents are delightful to hear, and the stories are interesting and varied, without murder and other gruesome crimes. The humour is wry and amusing, I think, and it's just a lovely comfortable show to watch, especially for those of us from the 'colonies' hankering for our British entertainment, rather than the usual brash American stuff.