Partners in Crime

 

 I freely admit, I am not that fussed when it comes to obsessing over the works of Agatha Christie. I agree that she should rightly be entombed amongst the legends of literary greats, but I do not carry any slants or preconceptions when it comes to seeing interpretations of her work. Therefore, I felt cautiously optimistic when watching the BBCs latest interpretation of Christie lore - Partners in Crime, starring David Walliams and Jessica Raine. Sadly I was quite dissapointed.


What started as quite a nice, pleasant little period straightish, light-hearted, ham-fisted, comedy drama in episode one had become a total limp-wristed farce by episode six.
The plots were way way too drawn out - I realise that they wanted to convey a sense of a long, intricate epic mystery storyline but mostly the result was sheer drawn out boredom. As a result, after episodes three and six (the supposed "climaxes" of each storyline) watching it you just felt cheated and fobbed off by a rushed, and poorly thought out ending. If this really is based verbatim from Christie's books, then I certainly shall not be reading them.


And its not like casting power and personal charm made up for the lack of plot punch either. Individually, Walliams and Raine as Tommy and Tuppence Beresford might have scraped along through the laboured plots fine, yet together they were completely unconvincing as a married couple. What's more, as the plots tried to play so much on this apparently solid union, the result was massive gaping holes in individual character too. Jessica Raine was believable on the surface as crime-obessed Tuppence and she did have a certain alluring charisma about her, but go any deeper and her character just came off as obnoxious, arrogant and selfish. Opposite her Walliams seemed to almost completely fluff his lines both when trying to play it straight and dramatic and when attempting the romantic lead; he only ever looked half-believable when embodying the bumbling nature of the Beresfords.
Sadly their supporting cast was not that grand either. Vicar of Dibley star James Fleet was OK at best but lacked any edge or watchability as Carter, and Matthew Steer did well as likeable boffin Albert but he was not given nearly enough screen time or any decent plot or character depth to get into.


It seems to me the period detail and feel to Partners in Crime are the only saving graces about it. Yet people are heralding it as a pleasant Sunday night drama that is worth a second series. I am sorry but I do not concur. I don't find it nice, and even if I did I would still want more about a programe than that if I was going to continue watching it. Instead I sadly found it an immense dissapointment and I certainly wouldn't give it another series.