A few weeks into the latest season of BBC One’s Death in Paradise and DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and the Honore police team are called in to investigate the death of a runway model, who is killed during a fashion show where everyone appears to have a cast iron alibi.
“Can you think of a reason why someone might want to hurt her? Had she fallen out with anyone since she’s been here?”
Initially, the dead model Zoe’s obvious frictions are with the volatile designer, Nelson Benedict (Jason Barnett), who is seen arguing with her the night she was killed and has a history of assaulting his models. Of course, as is the case with most Death in Paradise episodes, the first person highlighted is rarely the killer. That said, Barnett puts in a very entertaining performance before being sidelined for more sly enemies.
Multiple strands and subplots keep things interesting. These include a bogus stalker who turned out to be Zoe’s friend Sadie, so desperately in love with her that she sent the letters to make Zoe want her protection and love, as well as a genuinely layered drugs storyline played out by bitchy co-model Eloise (Poldark star Heida Reed).
“You’re not accusing me of killing Zoe, are you? I’m not saying she didn’t damage me but she did the right thing.”
One thing that doesn’t help Death in Paradise is when an episode has really only got one major star in its episode, as the quality of the guest star often leads to the assumption they have an integral role (i.e. the killer).
Here it is the same. Aside from Reed, still relatively new despite the success of Poldark, Paul Nicholls (EastEnders, Law & Order: UK) carries enough acting weight that even his relatively secondary role as photographer Jay makes him the obvious culprit. That said, the motive and execution of the murder this week is more in keeping with the plot twists we have come to expect from this show.
“My advice,” Florence states to Humphrey, now on the hunt for love, “just be yourself.”
“I’ve been myself for the past thirty odd years. It hasn’t brought me much success”
Marshall has Humphreys awkward comedy down to a fine art by now. Luckily it is still endearing, rather than irritating, and none more so than here. It’s nice to see that he has moved on from his infatuation with Camille (ex-regular Sara Martins) that dominated the first half of last year’s episodes and that the relationship he has with female partner Florence is friendly, rather than romantic. Had they just repeated this pattern it would have seemed like lazy storytelling.
Faring better in the romance department is JP (Tobi Bakare), who reacquaints himself with model Rosey (Fola Evans-Akingbola) after a childhood infatuation. Sadly this brings out a rather unlikeable jealousy to Danny John-Jules’ Dwayne. The writers should remember that while Dwayne is a little shady, he’s never been unlikeable. Here, he is unnecessarily bitchy and it does the character no favours.
An improvement on last week’s slightly basic story, the necessary twists and turns are abundant here, making for another great hour of sun-drenched murder mystery television.
Aired at 9pm on Thursday 21 January 2016 on BBC One.
> Buy the complete Season 1-5 boxset on Amazon.
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