"They Do It With Mirrors" centers on the estate of Stonygates and its owner Carrie-Louise Serrocold (Penelope Wilton). From the first glance it is another mystery involving a large amount of people converging on a large house. However, there are several major differences from the conventional form, which make this episode so interesting. The first is the inhabitants, aside from the incredibly complicated family (more on them later), the estate is used as a center for juvenile delinquents, which adds an interesting dimension to the proceedings. But seriously, let's talk about this family. We have a wife who has been married three times, she has two children from each of her husbands, and an adopted daughter. All members of the family are somehow involved in the arts. They are the Royal Tennenbaums of the Marple world, and they're so much more interesting than your average manner house crowd. Of course, this is aided by the fantastic ensemble of actors, these productions always get together. Only here they are used to much greater effect than usually. Penelope Wilton and Brian Cox mesmerize as the central couple, and the complexities of their relationship dictate the proceedings that unfold. Ian Ogilvy is very charismatic as Carrie-Louise's former husband. His presence evoking a greater blow, than the first murder victim's (Nigel Terry), but despite the harm he presents the central couple he remains a likable character. Of course, Julia McKenzie holds it all together as Marple. I prefer Geraldine McEwan, but McKenzie has grown on me a great deal (this might be her best outing, though I haven't seen them all). I also really liked Alex Jennings as the inspector; just like Richard Hope in "Poirot: Taken at the Flood" I wish he'd recur in the series. Speaking of "Taken at the Flood", Elliot Cowan is in this, and I don't hate him. His American GI character is very likable, and his accent is very convincing (but would it have killed them to cast a real American for once). The direction and camera are also of note. The opening scene involving many mysterious doings at night, which actually shifts from one point of view to the other is masterfully staged, as is the scene where Marple reads a letter from Ruth van Rydock (Joan Collins), and her head appears in the reflection of the train window. The actual execution of Gulbrandsen's murder is fantastic, and all the clues fit together in the end. So what didn't I like. Well, the second murder was completely unnecessary to the plot, and the ending was sadly awful. This could have been the story of one murder concluding with an arrest. Instead we have a second murder committed by a second murderer, and both murderers die at the end. This could have been really tragic, but the relationship dynamic between the two murderers was not shown, and that robbed the scene of its tragic impact. When re watching this I will probably shut off, after the culprit is revealed. That does not make the previous hour and 15 minutes any less worthwhile.
Review of They Do It with Mirrors
Brilliantly staged and fantastically acted, with a clever solution but a few serious defects
31 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers