A refreshing new mini series ‘Seven Dials’ penned by Agatha Christie is currently streaming on Netflix with three gripping episodes of approximately 52 minutes each. Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials – web series review…
What can one say about Agatha Christie and her mysteries, this vociferous authoress wrote 66 detective novels, 14 short stories collection besides plays, three generation of Indians grew up marvelling them. Who can forget the immaculate investigation work done by her more famous detectives, Hercule Poirot the Belgian detective and Miss Marple the aging spinster.
Since the late 19th and early 20th century there have been great writers of detective fiction novels like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, famous for his character Sherlock Holmes, Raymond Chandler for his Philip Marlowe and others however Christie was the only woman and just too good at her craft and a prolific writer at that. She has authored brilliant stories like Murder on Orient Express and Death on the Nile being the two more famous ones apart amongst others.
However Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is different from her other stories, set in early 1920s, the detection work is carried out by a spunky girl who has just come of age and gets involved in the goings on due to a personal loss. It has been directed in an unassuming manner however it has its misdemeanors too.
More than a murder mystery it’s an unravelling of the young women’s journey into detection, though addressed as Lady Eileen she comes with a sweet little pet name of Bundles.
The mystery revolves around people being bumped off for some magic formula which makes metal/iron absolutely non-corrosive and stronger than any other metal known on earth thus many people are after it, the UK government of the day too is trying to close a quick deal with the inventor, least the formula falls in wrong hands, wow, sound right out of a James Bond movie plot, it appears that’s where they have got some of their narrative.
The series is tout and engaging with a lot of twists and turns, also makes the viewer keep guessing whodunnit. Couple of unimagined twists lead to finally the mastermind being nabbed. About the scale of the series- it is mega, grandeur of the countryside British homes ( literally palaces) is shown in full glory what with butlers, handsmen and maids show their presence. The opening sequence of a deserted Spanish bullring for carrying out the first murder is a joy in cinematography. The operatic background score is good.
Everyone has played their parts well, though Helena Bonham-Carter is in great form and plays her part with finesse and stands tall.
As Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is only a three episode series, can be a candidate for binge watching. Definitely not to be missed, with a long weekend round the corner, if not for anything else then surely for dame Agatha.
Streaming on Netflix
– Review by PAWAN GUPTA
Cast of Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials:
Mia McKenna-Bruce as Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent
Edward Bluemel as Jimmy Thesiger
Iain Glen as Lord Caterham
Martin Freeman as Superintendent Battle
Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Caterham
Hughie O’Donnell as Bill Eversleigh
Nyasha Hatendi as Dr Cyril Matip
Alex Macqueen as George Lomax
Nabhaan Rizwan as Ronny Devereux
Corey Mylchreest as Gerry Wade
Dorothy Atkinson as Maria, Lady Coote
Mark Lewis Jones as Sir Oswald Coote
Credits of Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials:
Production companies: Imaginary Friends, Agatha Christie Ltd, Orchid Pictures
Producers – Joanna Crow, Rebecca Roughan
Based on The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie
Written by Chris Chibnall
Directed by Chris Sweeney
Composer – Anne Nikitin
Executive producers – Chris Chibnall, Suzanne Mackie, Chris Sussman, Andy Stebbing, Chris Sweeney, James Prichard
Cinematography – Luke Bryant
Editor – Emma Oxley
