Miss Marple: Nemesis

If one takes the show on its own, it is not bad. In fact, it's rather good. But other than the fact that there is a tour bus involved, there is absolutely no resemblance to the book. So, if you are to watch this keep your Agatha Christie predilections behind and think of this as a completely new story, which in fact it is.

Should have followed the original story...I don't mind the actress playing Marple, but the script..dear me, why nuns?

The most remarkable thing about this TV-film is probably the name of the director. The undeniably multi-talented Danish prodigy Nicolas Winding Refn had already made a few cult-films before his odd career-detour via "Agatha Christie's Marple", like "Fear X" and the "Pusher" trilogy, but his major breakthrough came right after with first "Bronson", and then of course the Ryan Goslin hits "Drive" and "Only God Forgives". Refn is known and acclaimed for his raw, realistic and nihilistically toned thrillers, so his choice to direct a "Miss Marple" is curious, to say the least.

It's a rarity, but I haven't read the Christie novel on which the episode is based, and neither had I seen a previous TV-adaptation, so I was in for a full surprise! The set-up is quite original. For once, it's not the regular routine of Miss Marple visiting a friend and, all of a sudden, a vile murder gets committed. Instead, it's reminiscent to "And then there were none", with a big of group of people - including Miss Marple and her nephew - receiving tickets for a guided tour where a previously committed crime will gradually become exposed.

So far so good, but regrettably "Nemesis" became one of my least favorite instalments of the three seasons thus far. Strange as it may sound, I don't like it when I can guess the killer's identity, the modus operandi, and his/her motives. Usually, this is never a problem with Agatha Christie, as her plots and denouements are extremely convoluted and surprising, but this one was rather transparent. Maybe I've seen and read too many Christie-stories lately, I don't know.

My exposure to Miss Marple is strictly through the TV and movie adaptations. I adored Joan Hickson (Agatha Christie's preferred Miss Marple), who somehow was able to pull off a mix of mildly dotty old lady, mysterious Sybil, and avenging angel, all while employing the instincts of a superb detective. The 1987 series also tried to convey a reasonably realistic picture of post-war Britain, which was fascinating.

To me, Geraldine McEwan's Miss Marple strains too hard to be ingratiating (maybe it's the direction).

I've watched a couple of installments from this new Miss Marple series, and I found "Nemesis" to be the most logy and confusing of all.

The supporting performances were very good, but it is a mystery series after all and the only mystery I really cared to have solved was, When is this going to end?

I did think this was a poor adaptation of the book by Agatha Christie, and I did think it is one of the weaker Marple adaptations. Honestly, sorry but the Joan Hickson version was much better. There is some very nice period detail and some lovely camera-work and costumes, there is some nice music and the supporting performances from Amanda Burton, George Cole and Richard E.Grant were fine. And you are left asking questions throughout, like a whodunit expects you to. However, the story was a mess, it bears little resemblance to the original story, and most of the plot changes were unnecessary. Also I have never quite been convinced by Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple, she just isn't my idea of the character. Miss Marple is very clever and very wise, not fussy. That is the main reason why I keep saying see the Joan Hickson versions instead, because Hickson was born for Miss Marple, and her interpretation was the truest to the Marple in the book. The script was quite poor, even for an Agatha Christie adaptation,the pacing was off and I am the only one probably who found the final solution confusing, and there was a lot of overacting going on in some parts. Overall, very disappointing, could have been so much better. 4/10 Bethany Cox