“Agatha Christie’s Poirot” (1999 – 2000)

Television

Twenty-One Episodes

Created by: Agatha Christie

Featuring: David Suchet 

Poirot: “There are many things not called poison which can kill a man,” 

Hercule Poirot is a British television series based on the works of Agatha Christie. It stars David Suchet as the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. The series ran for 13 seasons and 70 episodes, and it was one of the most popular detective series of all time.

The series was praised for its faithful adaptation of Christie’s novels, its excellent cast, and Suchet’s masterful portrayal of Poirot. Suchet captured Poirot’s eccentricities and his brilliant mind, and he made him a truly memorable character.

The series also featured a number of other memorable characters, including Poirot’s faithful companion Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser), his secretary Miss Lemon (Philippa Lowthorpe), and his rival Inspector Japp (John Malkovich).

The cases featured in the series were all based on Christie’s novels and short stories. They ranged from classic whodunits to more complex psychological thrillers. The series also featured a number of guest stars, including Peter Ustinov, Joan Collins, and David Niven.

Hercule Poirot was a critical and commercial success. It won numerous awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series (1990) and the Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film (1991). The series was also a huge hit with viewers, and it has been broadcast in over 100 countries.

There are a number of reasons why Hercule Poirot is so popular. First, the series is a faithful adaptation of Christie’s novels. This means that fans of the books will be able to enjoy the series without any major changes.

Second, the cast is excellent. David Suchet is a brilliant actor, and he captures Poirot’s eccentricities and his brilliant mind perfectly. The other actors in the series are also very good, and they help to bring the characters to life.

Third, the cases are well-written and suspenseful. Christie was a master of plotting, and her cases are always interesting and engaging. The series does a good job of adapting these cases for the screen, and they never fail to keep viewers guessing.

Fourth, the series is visually appealing. The production values are high, and the series is beautifully shot. The locations are also well-chosen, and they help to create a sense of atmosphere.

Fifth, the series is timeless. The cases are still relevant today, and they offer a glimpse into the past. The series also features a number of social and historical themes, which make it more than just a simple mystery series.

Hercule Poirot is a classic detective series that is still enjoyed by viewers today. It is a faithful adaptation of Christie’s novels, it features an excellent cast, and it is visually appealing. The cases are well-written and suspenseful, and they offer a glimpse into the past. If you are a fan of Agatha Christie or detective series in general, then you should definitely check out Hercule Poirot.

In addition to the reasons mentioned above, I think Hercule Poirot is so popular because it is a comforting show. The cases are always well-plotted and suspenseful, but they also have a sense of closure. We know that Poirot will always solve the case, and that justice will be served. This makes the show a great escape from the stresses of everyday life.

I also think Hercule Poirot is popular because it is a show that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The cases are complex enough to keep adults engaged, but they are also simple enough for children to understand. This makes it a great show to watch as a family.

Overall, I think Hercule Poirot is a wonderful show that is sure to entertain viewers of all ages. It is a classic detective series that is still relevant today, and it is a great escape from the stresses of everyday life.

Episodes

Season Nine

Five Little Pigs: Lucy Crale enlists Poirot to investigate the 14-year-old murder in which her mother was hanged for poisoning her artist father.

Sad Cypress: Elinor Carlisle seems to be the obvious murderer of her ailing aunt and the beautiful romantic rival who broke up her engagement, but Poirot uncovers darker motives.

Death on the Nile: A wealthy American heiress honeymooning on a Nile cruise ship is stalked by a former friend, whose boyfriend she had stolen before making him her new husband.

The Hollow: Poirot stumbles on the murder scene of philandering Dr Christow in a country house as his wife standing next to him with a revolver in her hand.

Season Ten

The Mystery of the Blue Train: Poirot investigates the brutal murder of an American heiress and the theft of a fabulous ruby on the Blue Train between Calais and Nice.

Cards on the Table: The enigmatic, sinister Mr. Shaitana, one of London’s richest men, invites 8 guests, 4 of them possible murderers and 4 ‘detectives’ to his opulent apartment.

After the Funeral: When a man disinherits his sole beneficiary and bequeaths his wealth to others just prior to his death, Poirot is called in to investigate.

Taken at the Flood: A young widow is left in sole possession of her late husband’s fortune, and her brother refuses to share it with her in-laws – so they enlist Poirot to try to prove that the widow’s missing first husband might not be dead after all.

Season Eleven

Mrs McGinty’s Dead: A pair of photographs are the only clues that Poirot has to solve the murder of a village charwoman, and to prove the innocence of the victim’s lodger.

Cat Among the Pigeons: A foreign revolution, a kidnapped princess, and a trove of priceless rubies are linked to a prestigious girls’ school, where staff members are brutally murdered.

Third Girl: After a seemingly neurotic young heiress tells Ariadne Oliver and Poirot that she thinks she may have killed someone, her ex-nanny is found with her wrists slashed.

Appointment with Death: Syria 1937. While accompanying her husband on an archaeological dig, the abusive and overbearing Lady Boynton is found stabbed to death.

Season Twelve

Three Act Tragedy: When a vicar chokes to death on a cocktail while attending a party held by actor Sir Charles Cartwright, Poirot initially dismisses the idea of murder but reconsiders when another guest dies in the same manner.

Hallowe’en Party: During a village’s Hallowe’en party, a young girl boasts of having witnessed a murder from years before. No one believes her tale until her body is found later on in the evening, drowned in the apple-bobbing bucket.

Murder on the Orient Express: Poirot investigates the murder of a shady American businessman stabbed in his compartment on the Orient Express when it is blocked by a blizzard in Croatia.

The Clocks: Four clocks surround an unidentified corpse in a blind woman’s house, and a young typist is summoned to the crime scene. However, Poirot is convinced that the complicated setup is merely hiding a simpler solution.

Season Thirteen

Elephants Can Remember: Ariadne Oliver becomes an amateur sleuth when her goddaughter tasks her to find out the truth behind her parents’ mysterious deaths.

The Big Four: As the threat of world war looms large, Poirot seeks the help of friends both old and new when he is pitted against a dangerous group of dissidents responsible for a series of violent murders.

Dead Man’s Folly: Mrs Oliver is asked to devise a murder hunt for a Devon fête, but her sense of foreboding summons Poirot to the scene. Her fears are realized when the girl playing murder victim winds up truly murdered.

The Labours of Hercules: Poirot’s pursuit of an infamous art thief leads him to a snowbound hotel in the Swiss Alps, where he is met with a plethora of mysteries and the reappearance of a familiar face from the past.

Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case: An ailing Poirot returns to Styles with Hastings nearly three decades after solving their first mystery there in order to prevent a serial killer from claiming more victims.