Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Big Four

November 2, 2022 10:11 AM - Season 13, Episode 2

With the world on the brink of the Second World War, there is more political turmoil when it appears that the famous Peace Party is in fact a cover for the war-mongering organisation Big Four. This complex investigation reunites Poirot with his old friend Japp, as they investigate a case marked by deception, disappearances and death.
posted by Carillon (3 comments total)

This one was a real mess. I certainly enjoyed having Japp, Miss Lemon, and Hastings all back, but the plot was all over the place, and very little made sense. From reading around, I understand it was a huge trial to adapt, and people said it couldn't be done, and yeah, I certainly can see why from the outcome. Maybe one of my least favorite of the series.
posted by Carillon at 10:14 AM on November 2, 2022

Agree- just too much book there, for a TV-length adaptation that allows for all the necessary detail.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 3:01 AM on November 3, 2022

Me, I kept seeing the allusions to current paranoid conspiracies and it was disturbing. Also, knowing that this is the last season of Poirot, the death announcement and reuniting the old gang foreshadowing the finale was very sad. The plot, that little insignificant man, killing some victims, drugging others, under the guise of a plot to terrorize the world because he was obsessed with a woman who doesn’t remember him, just ludicrous. It’s a variation of the “murder random people to disguise the true victim and then inherit a fortune” except this guy didn’t show up to claim his inheritance, very suspicious. My biggest criticism is Hastings had that great scene after the funeral, then stomps out and delivers the heartbreaking line, “so what do I do now, old chap?”. And does nothing. My cher Hastings deserves better. Bloody scriptwriters.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:16 AM on November 3, 2022