REVIEW: Poirot Series 1 (S1)

©ITV

So, here we are at the beginning of a legend. I thought that with all of the seasons that comprise solely  of  shorter films, I would review them as a series. After all, there are 70 episodes and I haven't the time or energy to review each one.

Episodes 

• The Adventure of the Clapham Cook
• Murder in the Mew 
• The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly 
• Four and Twenty Blackbirds 
• The Third Floor Flat 
• Triangle at Rhodes 
• Problem at Sea
• The Incredible Theft
• The King of Clubs 
• The Dream 

Story 

The first series plays it safe by going for a selection of 10 short stories that are relativity unknown.   None of the famous cases appear, which is the safest way for a new series to play. All of them have good solid plots that create 50 minutes worth of entertainment. There's several murders, a couple of disappearances, and two exotic trips abroad.

In Clapham Cook, an arogant Poirot is annoyed that the only case in the whole of London is a petty search for a missing cook. In Murder in the Mews, on bonfire night, there's a mysterious murder, or is it suicide? Poirot helps to track down a missing child in The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly.

Poirot is intrigued by a man he sees in a restaurant, particularly as he is supposed to be dead in Four and Twenty Blackbirds. In The Third Floor Flat, Poirot finds murder on his own doorstep and in Triangle at Rhodes, Poirot solves a murder on his holiday.

Whilst on a boating trip in Problem at Sea, one of the passengers is murdered, The Incredible Theft sees Poirot investigating the stealing of an important document. The King of Clubs brings Poirot into the world of the film making industry and in The Dream, a mysterious dream culminates in murder.

Direction, production, location

For a first series of a show, not knowing whether there will be another series, it's surprising that there are two episodes set in exotic locations. There must have been a relatively large budget, and I'm sure the beautifully filmed locations boosted the start of the series. The first series shows us Florin Court as Whitehaven Mansions, now an icon and generally known as Poirot's residence.

Cast and characters 

I really like the way we are introduced to the great and diverse character of Hercule Poirot in the first series. We see his shoes, and we gradually get to see his iconic mustache as the camera pans upwards. All of his little eccentricities are wonderfully mastered by David Suchet, who clearly relaxes into the role even in the first series.

We get to meet all of the regular 'family' of Poirot's: Captain Hastings played by Hugh Fraser, Chief Inspector Japp played by Philip Jackson and Miss Lemon played by Pauline Moran. We get to meet them all and the relationships between both characters and the actors are strong and have helped the series to be the success that it is.