With each Agatha Christie adaptation that is released, any fan of the author may hold their breath in anticipation or for what changes will be made. With the recent adaptations, stories that have not been given proper attention, such as Ordeal by Innocence (that was plagued with re-shoots due to an actor being ‘cancelled’), Murder Is Easy, Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? and Towards Zero, these all followed a 3 episode pattern, that is arguable too long for the novel adaptations, especially with some being changed from the source. These were also previously adapted to include Miss Marple in the ITV series, and although she’s a fantastic character, doesn’t appear in the original books, so it was great to see these novels adapted, shall we say, correctly? But The Seven Dials Mystery, having been adapted into a TV movie back in the 80s, had yet to make its more recent significant debut, making its appearance on Netflix most intriguing. Though the book did not receive high praise, this adaptation does make rather large changes, including the end and possible extension into further possible stories. We are introduced to Bundle, or Lady Eileen Brent, who discovers the close family friend Gerry Wade, murdered in his bed after a party at her family’s home. This leads her to follow a trail as to how this happened and why, getting tangled up with her friends in the Foreign Office, as well as Superintendent Battle (who appears in other Christie novels) who starts to investigate the case as further bodies show up.
The Seven Dials, unlike the more recent Christie adaptations, is indeed a murder mystery but one that is more focused on espionage. There are several characters from the government involved and hints to the coming world war two despite everyone still healing from world war one. Murder mystery is the genre but this could very well fall into the ‘spy’ genre as well.
Having read the original book, it's very clear as to why changes were made. Though this story could have been far more effective with just two episodes, a delicious cliff-hanger in between. Though the initial story is intriguing but frustratingly paced, Bundle, played by Mia McKenna-Bruce is delightful, she is perfectly cast, balancing being the pseudo-detective as well as still grieving for her close friend and lost romance. Bundle skates through dangers and equally challenging social obligations with charm and courage, stealing the show entirely. Battle, played with a little less gusto than you’d hope for by Martin Freeman, is meant to be her official counterpart but doesn’t even appear until episode 2, which was slightly disappointing. Most of the excitement (and murders) happen before he even really gets involved. The two leads have an awkward start but soon fall into a rhythm you’d expect from a Christie unlikely duo, with mutual respect to follow.
However, the story doesn’t quite know what it really wants to be and doesn’t quite pull itself off as a blend of genres. The spy elements provide intrigue but then we are pulled into a stereotypical whodunnit setting that feels jarring. Bundle’s own investigation seems to lead somewhere, only for the story to throw in red herrings precisely where you really don’t want them. This all being said, it's the over dramatic climax that was the most disappointing. With three long episodes to go through, you would hope the build up would not be so predictable.
The ultimate end to the story at least provided some hope we’d see Bundle and Battle again, maybe solving another case, who knows, but the characters being the highlight, maybe a juicier story next time too!