Agatha Christie's Poirot (1988-2013)

David Suchet as Hercule Poirot

Hercule Poirot is a creation by Agatha Christie. She created a Belgian detective, who came to England during WWI. Here he met good friend captain Hastings and together they would solve many crimes.

Poirot has a certain way of behaving, he loves symmetry, is a bit vain and using ‘his little grey cells’ is more important that running after clues. He also has strong moral values and a strict sense of justice, although he also has a deep compassion for people and an understanding of why they do certain things.

Poirot has been played by many actors, but the best is David Suchet, who played the little Belgian detective in 13 series over 25 years. All the short stories and the books about Poirot were covered.

In the first series Poirot is joined by captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser), Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson) and Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran), but in later series Poirot receives help from others.

Hugh Fraser and David Suchet as Hastings and Poirot

As always the attention to details in the costumes and the sets is perfect. I also enjoy very much the different English actors who play minor roles, these are either actors who stood at the beginning of their careers and became very famous later, or these are famous actors already who just loved to play a part in Poirot. I especially love Zoe Wanamaker as detective writer Ariadne Oliver.

In later series the script writers sometimes changed things and this has not always been for the best. Simplifying a storyline or write out some characters are things that are understandable, but you do not change plot or even the identity of the murderer. There is no need to improve on Agatha Christie in this respect.

Cards on the table, The mystery of the blue train and Appointment with death are not very good or even quite bad because of this.
On the other hand often the result is amazing, like in The ABC-murders, Cat among the pigeons or Mrs. McGinthy’s death and of course Poirot’s last case, Curtain.

David Suchet and Zoe Wanamaker as Poirot and Ariadne Oliver

Agatha Christie’s Poirot is a great series, with often the ingenious plots by Agatha Christie, played with a subtle humor and respect for the original. In short, I love spending an afternoon with Poirot, often with a cup of tea.