The BBC’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy has caused much debate, drawing both praise for its attempt at modern relevance as well as criticism over deviation from the novel, garnering both admiration and condemnation from viewers alike. Based on her 1939 work, Christie’s Murder is Easy was expected to feature intricate plot twists, deep character relationships, and social issues not present in its source text – yet its 2023 adaptation stirs controversy due to bold reimagining that touches upon new subjects not explored in its source work; in this review we look into what worked and didn’t work and compare this adaptation with previous Christie stories by looking back over previous Christie stories and author Barbara Leyland!
The Novel: Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy
Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy is not as well known, yet still follows the familiar formula of a small village with dark secrets that unfold over time. Luke Fitzwilliam returns home after retiring police work in India, where he meets Miss Pinkerton; an elderly lady convinced that several deaths in her village weren’t accidents but murders before reporting her suspicions to law enforcement; unfortunately, before this can occur, she is shot and murdered, leading Fitzwilliam into an investigation of whodunit in this village.
Though this novel doesn’t stand up against Christie’s other works, it still retains an appealing quality. From its setting and characters to unravelling its mystery – often surprising the reader who becomes its source – everything about it fits within the Golden Age of detective fiction, where even seemingly unlikely figures often turn out to be behind crimes committed against innocent parties.
What Is Different About the BBC Adaptation?
The 2023 BBC adaptation of Murder is Easy took creative liberties that not all fans approved of, most notably casting Luke Fitzwilliam as an African civil servant instead of being played by a retired British police officer (David Jonsson). While this decision aimed at adding diversity, it also opened up opportunities for social commentary not present in Christie’s original tale.
Modern Themes in a Period Piece
This adaptation addressed issues related to colonialism, race, and social justice, which are far removed from its original plot. Fitzwilliam was accused by both his own family for working at a “colonial butcher,” as well as by his cousin’s wife of being self-colonized – concepts relevant today but somewhat forced into an original mystery plot which did not necessarily center around these topics.
Fans of Christie might have been taken aback by the series’ focus on contemporary themes. Though Christie’s works usually reflect their time period and audience context, she rarely deals directly with social justice issues in her works – which made the BBC’s choice to introduce this into its narrative both bold and controversial; some found it added depth while for others it felt out-of-place in what should have been an old-school whodunit!
Character Analysis
One of the strengths of the show was the acting, with David Jonsson making an outstanding mark as Luke Fitzwilliam on screen. Although at times his portrayal felt overdone – shifting from retired policeman to Nigerian civil servant felt sudden and forced – Jonsson managed to hold viewers’ interest despite its shortcomings in script and character evolution.
Morfydd Clark was outstanding as Bridget Conway, Fitzwilliam’s partner in his investigation. Her dynamic with Jonsson kept the narrative moving along even during slower moments; unfortunately though, in terms of character development she wasn’t given enough screentime and so became mostly just another sidekick instead of an active participant as in the original novel.
Penelope Wilton’s short yet impressive turn as Miss Pinkerton was met with high praise by audiences. Miss Pinkerton’s tragic demise serves as the impetus for this investigation, with Wilton imbuing her performance with eccentric charm that left audiences wanting more. Unfortunately, her appearance was too brief; viewers wanted more quirky presence from this character.
Murder Is Easy’s Plot: Does It Work?
Murder Is Easy‘s main plot hinges around an investigation that determines that several deaths in a small village weren’t accidental deaths but were instead premeditated murders, with Christie using her signature technique of misdirection, false leads, and an unexpected ending. While its adaptation received praise for being straightforward yet intriguing, many viewers found itself becoming lost during its lengthier journey to its conclusion.
Pacing Issue
A major flaw of the BBC adaptation was its uneven pace. While the novel progresses from suspicion to revelation gradually, its adaptation seemed slow at times with two episodes instead of just one; some viewers felt this could have been reduced even more without loss in plot. Viewers who expected an intricate mystery found certain sections difficult to bear as nothing much occurred therein.
A Satisfying Climax
One of the hallmarks of Christie’s writing, such as this adaptation, is an unexpected twist in its solutions – often at great personal cost to its protagonist (Kimberley is dead! or is she?). At any rate, one of its great achievements in terms of entertainment value was creating such an unexpected but yet satisfying conclusion that stands up well to repeated viewing. This finale delivers just such an experience!
Though its buildup may have been slow, the final moments deliver on its promise of classic Christie twist. Some viewers would argue that watching even with its slow buildup is worth their while; even though the journey towards the ending may have been tedious at times.
Social Commentary in Murder is Easy
One of the most controversial aspects of Murder is Easy‘s adaptation is its social commentary. Casting a Black actor as the lead and exploring topics of race and colonialism was intentional by its creators to modernize and keep pace with today’s audience; some critics saw this decision positively and saw this inclusion as making the adaptation more relevant than ever to modern audiences.
Others, however, found Agatha Christie’s social commentary distancing; while her works do reflect contemporary issues that she lived through at times, her stories are generally not known for conveying political or social messages as strongly as what was done here by the BBC’s dramatization of Christie stories. Some fans found this decision by the BBC to focus so heavily on these subjects a surprise and seemed out-of-character from what makes Christie stories beloved classics.
Ultimately, whether this aspect of the show met your expectations will depend on them. If you were hoping for a straightforward adaptation of an old mystery novel, its social commentary may have felt out-of-place; on the other hand, its attempt at adding depth without altering its core narrative could have added something special that otherwise wouldn’t exist.
Aesthetic Decisions: Hits and Misses
Murder is Easy was a source of considerable debate; some viewers found the cinematography excellent while others felt its production design left much to be desired. In comparison with previous BBC adaptations of Christie’s work, which are frequently celebrated for their lavish visuals and period-appropriate details, Murder is Easy seems to fall flat here.
Hits
One of the major criticisms was that costumes, cars, and settings didn’t feel authentically vintage; rather they had an anachronistic appearance as though trying too hard to look old-fashioned without taking into account subtle details that make an immersive world–resulting in a show which looked vintage without engaging audiences like other Christie adaptations have managed.
Misses
On the upside, this series provided some stunning shots of England’s countryside using drone footage capturing rolling hills and village life so central to Christie’s work. These scenes added depth and perspective that helped ground the narrative even though other aspects were less than stellar.
Conclusion: Murder Is Easy
Murder is Easy is ultimately an uneven film with strong performances, a satisfying conclusion, and questionable creative choices. Neither the best nor the worst of BBC’s Christie adaptations, for those who appreciate mystery series, it provides enough intrigue that makes watching worthwhile even if its pace drags and its social commentary feels out-of-place.
Casual viewers and fans of classic Christie adaptations might prefer other options instead. There are numerous classic adaptations of Christie stories available such as And Then There Were None or The Murder of Roger Ackroyd which offer similar mystery without modern distractions.
Murder is Easy offers some intriguing storytelling during the holiday season but may leave viewers unfulfilled. If you’re interested in how modern themes can be added into classic tales, this might be worth viewing; otherwise, it might fall flat for fans hoping for an authentic Agatha Christie experience.
FAQs
1. How Does Murder is Easy Differ from its Original Novel?
The BBC adaptation takes several creative liberties with respect to the novel; these include changing its protagonist to Nigerian heritage as well as including modern themes like colonialism and racism that weren’t present before.
2. Is Agatha Christie’s work accurately represented in Murder is Easy?
While its adaptation captures some elements that harken back to her style, its adaptation introduces elements which deviate from Christie’s original vision; fans of her may find the social commentary distracting.
3. Is Murder is Easy worth watching?
That depends entirely on your expectations; if you like modernized takes on classic tales, Murder is Easy may appeal. On the other hand, traditional-minded viewers might prefer something else altogether.
4. How did David Jonsson fare as Luke Fitzwilliam?
David Jonsson gives an effective performance; some viewers find his transition from retired cop to Nigerian civil servant too sudden and abrupt.
5. How does Murder is Easy compare with other Christie adaptations?
Unfortunately, it does not live up to other classic adaptations like And Then There Were None or The Murder of Roger Ackroyd when it comes to quality of cinematic adaptation. Although its mystery remains engaging and current references might appeal to certain fans; modern additions might not.