Jonathan Creek (TV Series) The Three Gamblers (2000) User Reviews

The End of Maddy Magellan - Hurrah!

[seymour_sp · 7/10 · 12 October 2021]

I think I've always liked this show more in principle than in practice - far too many weak and overly convenient plot points and too-far-fetched "reveals", the likes of which a real-life Jonathan would never countenance - but far and away my biggest bugbear has always been the obnoxious Maddy Magellan character.

The writers could surely have made far more effort to produce a more sympathetic and likeable character who was still flawed and a bit rough around the edges; but the only thing they ever did to mitigate her awfulness - and then barely perceptibly - was the sketchy bit of backstory they gave her that related to her "traumatic childhood" in The Scented Room episode. I can only imagine that her "feistiness" played well with the focus groups, assuming there were any.

I'm going through all episodes again now, and much of it up to this point has been with gritted teeth during almost every scene involving the appalling Ms Magellan. Now I can relax and enjoy the continued silliness with no further intrusions! (There's still plenty of, uh, feistiness yet to come, I know; but at least there'll be no more teeth-gritting.)

Not the best episode

[lm_work · 7/10 · 24 October 2021]

I usually love Caroline Quinn's work, but the character of Maddy Magellan is not worthy of her skills. She does her best, but I just can't warm up to this character. Constantly yammering, chewing open-mouthed as she endlessly stuffs her face, constantly needling Jonathan, pathetically horny - I can't understand how or why such a brilliant series needed such an unsympathetic foil for the delightful Jonathan Creek. This is my 2nd time viewing this series, and I'm just skipping this final Maddy episode to spare myself the annoyance. Sorry Caroline - it's certainly not your fault.

The Bigger Picture

[ygwerin1 · 8/10 · 22 March 2020]

Low life, 2 lame brains, and girlfriend = idiot crooks + murder + Voodoo. The girlfriend is desperate because her boyfriend is gradually going off his chump. She latches onto Johnathan as possibly her only chance, to get some answers to the nightmare.

Adam Klaus offered Johnathan Creek a special treat on his birthday of "any show you want". Jonathan's choice is an avant garde magic extravaganza, at a London nightclub. With a favourite comic Hattie Hayridge (Red Dwarf computer Holly) as Magician Lizzie Gillespie.

The one I remember the most

[dominicparis · 8/10 · 16 April 2024]

This episode is not the best, not the cleverest, not the best written but it is the one I remember the most. Why? Because the first time I saw it I worked it out from minute one. As soon as they asked 'how does a corpse climb a flight of stairs?', well, to me, there was only one solution; it was in a basement, it had rained, it must have flooded and the corpse must have floated to the top of the stairs and when the water subsided it stayed there. I was astounded and pleased with myself when it turned out I was correct; the first time I'd ever worked out any type of mystery on tv. That's why it's the most memorable episode of this show and indeed any mystery show for me. Not for any other reason unfortunately.

A decent end for Maddy.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 7 December 2022]

Having been shot dead and dumped in a cellar, criminal Frank Geiger somehow manages to climb a staircase, sending the man who put him there close to the edge.

It's not my favourite episode from the first three series, but overall the good outweighs the bad. The main issue I have, is that I just don't particularly care for the storyline, or the crime itself, it's a little unimaginative when compared to the earlier years, and I always felt that Maddy deserved a much better and bigger send off.

It starts off a little slowly, but ends brilliantly, it's a wonderfully dramatic and heavy ending, it's not like the usual type of conclusion, some elements of it are way too far fetched, including the moment with the card.

Loved John Bennett and Lee Ingleby, the pair did a fine job here, Harry Peacock and Nina Sosanya were good also.

I just wish Quentin had left on a much more dramatic note, she just seemed to vanish, she would be referenced later on, 6/10.

A real dud

[Sir_Oblong_Fitzoblong · 2/10 · 28 April 2021]

All concerned seem to be going through the motions in this one. Grim and grimly uninteresting characters in a non-plot; Adam desperately unfunny in a desperately unfunny sub- plot; Jonathan and Maddie barely speaking half-a-dozen words (and even those with a comatose air); and John Bird looking and sounding bored to death (as well he might). It is utterly devoid of charm, wit, invention, and dramatic interest.

Up the creek!

[Aroura64 · 4/10 · 16 May 2022]

Jonathan Creek was mostly an enjoyable series, Alan Davies and Caroline Quentin worked really well together. I tend to agree with the other reviewers about Maddy being an unsympathetic character, but Caroline's likability manages to rise above the awfulness of her character.

I have watched the older episodes of the show many times, but this one seems to have slipped through the net. Its not hard to see why,, unsympathetic characters and an uninteresting story. Series three seems to have had this recurring problem.