Poirot: Elephants Can Remember Review (S13.E1)

With the release of the rest of the final series, starting with The Big Four, next Wednesday, I thought I'd post a review on the first episode of the final series of Agatha Christie's Poirot! (So far we know The Big Four will air on Wednesday 23rd October and Dead Man's Folly on the 30th)

Story 

©ITV

 Eccentric crime novelist Ariadne Oliver (Zoe Wanamaker) is pressed by the scandal-fearing Mrs Burton-Cox (Greta Scacchi) to uncover the secrets of a cold case that involved the deaths of General and Mrs Ravenscroft. Mrs Burton-Cox claims to be concerned because her son Desmond (Ferdinand Kingsley) is about to marry the dead couple's daughter, and Mrs Oliver's Goddaughter, Celia Ravenscroft (Vanessa Kirby) 

Meanwhile, Hercule Poirot is too busy to help his friend, he's preoccupied with the murder of Professor Willoughby. 

However, after investigation, Poirot realises the cases are connected and they must join forces to stop a present day killer from seeking vengeance...

Nick Dear's script stays relatively close to the original novel, except for one major point. He adds the present day murder of Professor Willoughby and makes the two cases intertwined. This is a sensible change as it allows for more tension, for with a cold case, nobody else is likely to die (like Five Little Pigs, for example). Now, we have a more likely reason to suppose Poirot can't help Madame Oliver as well.

Direction, locations and soundtrack 

As usual with the later episodes, Elephants Can Remember is very dark. John Strickland's direction adds to the foreboding atmosphere of the piece, as well as the series, as it shows that the end is near.  Equally as good is Christian Henson's soundtrack. Another dark,  tense piece of music adds to the atmosphere perfectly. Some of the locations uses are Grey's Court, Netherwylde Equestrian, Shepperton Film Studios, Pinewood Studios and The Park Lane Hotel, as well as new scenes shot a Florin Court (Whitehaven Mansions).

Cast and Characters 

It's great to see Ariadne Oliver and Poirot back together again in their penultimate case. David Suchet and Zoe Wanamaker have an amazing chemistry and banter that is so believable. Greta Scacchi (Brideshead Revisited) is brilliant as the loathsome Mrs Burton-Cox, Caroline Blakison (Miss Marple) is fantastic as Julia Carstairs, one of Mrs Oliver's old friends and Ferdinand Kingsley and Vanessa Kirby play the young Desmond and Celia very well too.

All in all, as successful episode.   

NEXT WEEK: The Big Four sees the return of Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson and Pauline Moran

Wednesday 23rd October 2013, 8pm ITV (9pm ITV+1)