Whodunits have always been a hoot on TV. Literally everybody enjoys a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out who the mysterious killer is. However, that holds especially true for one of the world’s greatest mystery authors, none other than Miss Agatha Christie. I remember when my interest in her grew after watching an episode of Doctor Who where her mysterious disappearance is used to give us a message in typical Doctor Who fashion. In the same way that the show is British, I find that anything remotely Agatha Christie screams Britain. And that’s the first thing I thought when I watched this 3-part show that adapts one of her unexpected titles.
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials tells the story of Eileen “Bundle” Brent, a young woman who finds herself trapped in the conspiracy surrounding a mysterious death that will forever change the course of her life. Bundle finds herself in the company of a man named Gerry while at a party at Chimneys. She and Gerry seem to get along marvellously well, so much so that he seems to “propose” an idea to her for a meeting a little in the future. Excitedly, Bundle goes to bed, only to be shocked the next day by the death of Gerry. What follows is a whodunit that subverts tropes, despite the story literally being set in 1925. It’s fast-paced, easy to read, yet hard to decipher and keeps you hooked from start to finish.
But I can’t lie and attribute this to the originality of the story or the way the show has been made. Because let’s face it, the show still feels very modernized thanks to the numbing effect of the OTT-fication of TV and film. I think this show works so well, almost solely because of the excellent cast that brings these characters to life. I mean, this is an incredible cast, with Helena Bonham Carter and Martin Freeman, Cory Mylchrest, Nabhaan Rizwaan and more. But it’s led by Mia McKenna Bruce. The actress won an award for her excellent performance in How to Have Sex, and this is the first time I’m seeing her since, and it’s clear from the start how much range the young actress has. She reminds me of a slightly younger Florence Pugh with her British twang and her husky tonality. No, don’t worry, she doesn’t have the frown, but she definitely has a personality as strong as Miss Pugh, making her a standout in everything she does.
I talk about this in my explainer, too, but Bundle is the heart of this show. She’s the reason this story can hold its head above water, and we are able to put the puzzle pieces together. Bundle isn’t just a protagonist, she’s the glue that binds what everyone is thinking, how the story moves forward and the whys of this plot. When you look at serial killer media or otherwise regular mysteries, we often get focused on who has done it. I mean, the genre here is literally whodunit, but this is the place where we focus more on the person looking at the mystery from the outside. Just look at Benoit Blanc of Knives Out. It’s the detective character that we always latch onto, because that’s who we relate to. Not the person that’s murdering people (unless you’re a murderer, eh?).
I know there’s a joy in figuring out the big reveal beforehand, but I’m the kind of person who enjoys watching things with my brain switched off. Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials allows me to do that without feeling stupid. It’s like watching a friend really get into something and cheering them on rather than feeling bad about yourself. Know what I mean? Really, the end result didn’t even matter that much. But the thing that I did not enjoy is the dull, washed-out appearance of the show and the shadows that take away from the lighting. It looks almost the same as Wicked, but this is meant to be set in 1925. There’s nothing glamorous about it, despite the whole thing starting with a party. Even the beautiful houses and the train feels like they’re backlit, as if we don’t want to see the characters clearly on purpose. I don’t like it at all. I wish we could see what actors really looked like again (sigh). But that’s a rant for another day. I can’t say the costuming is very fascinating either, and if you say it doesn’t matter that much because it’s a mystery, then I have a bone to pick with you. I’m not saying it has to be accurate to look like a certain time period, but there has to be something that makes it look unique, no?
But it’s not just the costuming and visual editing that make the show feel more modern. It’s also the way this story is told that doesn’t feel as if it were written back in 1929 at all. Change the dates of the film, and I’d easily believe it was made now. That’s the power of Agatha Christie, I suppose. It’s crazy how, after so many years, she still gets adapted so often and with such ease. I can’t say the show is perfect, though. I can definitely say that it might’ve done better as a film than a 3-parter because it could’ve just been a longer-length feature film that would feel well-balanced and well-edited. However, I’m not saying this to put you off the show. If you’re at all interested in whodunits, then don’t miss out on this one, especially because it’s got a woman as the centrepiece. With that said, I give Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials on Netflix, 3.5 out of 5 stars. Extra point 5 for Mia Mckenna Bruce, who is someone I’d like to see in many more projects.
