I may be biased in liking this episode, as I have always loved Agatha Christie and the Poirot series in particular. The King of Clubs is not one of my favourites, I always admire it for how interesting it is but the ending has always underwhelmed me, mainly not only because the culprit is left unpunished(not a problem as such, but I do prefer it when he/she gets his/her comeuppance) but there have been more ingenious and suspenseful build-ups before and since(of season 1 Four-and Twenty Blackbirds and Third Floor Flat were very simple yet were still effective because of it). However, it is interesting for its look at the movie industry from the era and for the use of the filming through painting on glass technique for the effects of the opening sequence. It is as ever sumptuously made and hauntingly scored, with an on the whole clever story and intelligent, humorous dialogue("you're the matter you skunk" is another gem of the episode as well the one above). The acting is of the usual high standard, not just from the outstanding Poirot of David Suchet but also the amusing Hastings of Hugh Fraser and Japp of Phillip Jackson, Niamh Cusack as Valerie and especially a suitably tyrannical David Swift as Reedburn. Overall, a very good episode, if not quite a great one. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Review of The King of Clubs
