Marple: Series 4
This is the first set of Marple mysteries with Julia McKenzie replacing Geraldine McEwan. It’s rather odd switching Marples with minimal breaks between, but the writers and actress thankfully don’t try to replicate McEwan’s take on the character. Joan Hickson played Marple as the sweet little old lady in the corner who you’d never guess was 10 times smarter than you, no matter who you were, until she suddenly explained everything you missed, while McEwan played her more as Evil Crafty Brains, and the Clever Young Things around her were scared of the evil brains (but respectfully so), but didn’t take her seriously because, really don’t all little old ladies think they’re clever? McKenzie is more motherly in the role, and much more direct, in a way that she doesn’t have the same disarming effect. You can’t really picture anyone dismissing her as a batty little old lady, or not taking any thoughts she has completely seriously. Which is actually a pretty refreshing take for female detectives in detective fiction, but very different. I like her (quite a bit) but it isn’t really what I associate with Marple.
Writing-wise, we seem to have reverted to series 1’s “more sex makes everything better” thought process. And it had improved so! Ah well, at least the writing in general seems to be better than the first series was.
Writing-wise, we seem to have reverted to series 1’s “more sex makes everything better” thought process. And it had improved so! Ah well, at least the writing in general seems to be better than the first series was.