Death in Paradise (TV Series) Death of a Pawn (2022) User Reviews

An ok end to the series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 25 February 2022]

A renowned chess player dies at the table during an important match.

They definitely opted to conclude the series with a low key affair, and this really was low key. It wasn't a bad watch, but for a finale, it was just a bit.... pedestrian.

No denying the presence of Orla Brady, and she did her best to elevate the whole thing, I think the best of this episode were the scenes between her and Selwyn, who's definitely been more present this series, and that's been good. It was nice to learn a little more about the good commissioner's personal life.

There's something just not right about the current setup, and I don't know what it is, Marlon apart, there's just a little bit of sparkle missing, it always came from Camille, Florence, JP and definitely Dwayne, it feels flat somehow.

A few lines resonated about the current situation in The Ukraine regarding Russia, comments about the country's past, and now sadly present.

It's not been the best series, it started off really well, but Florence's moving on has been felt, I think a bit of a shakeup is needed to get it back to where it used to be.

Not bad, but a bit slow, 6/10.

Low energy season ender

[markymarc-1 · 7/10 · 27 February 2022]

It appears that the actors and crew took a vacation in Terre-de-Bas Island as the entire episode was filmed there. Although the characters referred to the ficticous Saint Marie as the location, it was obviously not the same location as the rest of the series. The establishing shots and all the scenes were focused on the hotel where the crew stayed.

It was refreshing to see a new location but it didn't help with the fact that none of the characters seem to "gel" anymore. Granted that they are all replacements from the orginals there was no banter among themselves that did not include the DI. It felt like everyone was tired and just going through the motions as compelled by the script. Maybe next season (series) the writers will have some character development (especially with the DS) as it's sorely needed. It's makes the show enjoyable when it's filled with characters you love and with which one can identify.

This episode itself gets a 7/10 in my opinion. Despite suddenly introducing Selwyn's ex and a daughter, it didn't feel like a dramatic season ender. The story was however eerily coincidental with respect to current events with Russia.

Here's hoping that next season the camaraderie among the characters that we have come to expect with DIP returns. Side note that Catherine is always a delight. The actress that portrays her does a fatastic job even with a few lines and makes her such a loveable character.

A poor season ends like a damp squib

[boxyfella · 6/10 · 1 March 2022]

There were quite a few parts of this episode that didn't stack up. It was totally out of character for Selwyn to sleep with his ex wife, knowing that she was a suspect, although I did like the scenes between them. But the bombshell that he was a father wasn't an exactly subtle way of introducing a new character for the next series.

Unfortunately for the mystery side of things, there was only really one person who could have been the killer, the much repeated fact that the chess pieces were under close scrutiny for much of the time negated many of the suspects being responsible.

My biggest gripe with this episode though is the fact that the completely plausible theory about the 'murdered' dissident still being alive and getting his revenge was dismissed out of hand by the team as being laughable. Why?

In my opinion there's only been one really good episode this season and it has definitely gone downhill since Florence left.

Episode 11.8

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 4 March 2022]

How appropriate that at a time when Russia invaded Ukraine. Here is an episode that references the old sinister ways of the old Soviet Union.

Lucas Rotfeld is a British chess grandmaster who suddenly called it quits in 1987. Now he has come out of retirement to play a game in Saint Marie.

The game has aroused worldwide interest and will be streamed live.

Rotfeld dies during the match. It allows DI Neville to go full steam ahead with the chess puns.

Journalist Maggie Harper interviewed Rotfeld. She has an interest in Rotfeld's activities as a possible informer for the Soviet Union, something that led to the death of a dissident.

Harper also a past with Commissioner Patterson but Neville thinks she is hiding something.

The mystery was enjoyable but it all felt very low key. I noticed that some very different locations of the island was used.

The end of season 11

[safenoe · 6/10 · 6 July 2022]

Checkmate is what this episode is all about, along with love, murder and chess of course. We also meet Commissioner Selwyn Patterson's former wife, and we learn (shock horror) that he's a daddy, yes a father to his former wife's child.

The ending was okay, but somehow Death in Paradise has changed since Ralf Little came on board. This season saw Florence (Josephine Jobert) leave Death in Paradise for the second time. It was quite an emotional episode seeing Florence leave again, but please spare a thought for Aude Legastelois who played DS Madeleine Dumas after Josephine left the first time towards the end of season 8.

Just recently Aude admitted that she didn't have much on-screen chemistry with Ralf Little, unlike Ardal O'Hanlan who shared chemistry with the whole cast even though he was the lead.

Maybe justice can be done and Aude can return to replace Josephine for a second time please.

Or maybe Ralf Little can be replaced by hard man Danny Dyer to shake things up I guess.

Losing a bit of the magic

[wmaryquinn · 6/10 · 28 August 2022]

Starting to lose the magic this show once had. I don't like the new cast. The cases are not as interesting as when the show started and I don't like the drama they have begun writing in the scripts. I really miss Dwayne, he made the show. The original DI had quirks, but he wasn't whiny and unlikable. The assistant DIs are all the same, French, black, thin females. Can't tell the difference anymore. Marlin is okay, but the chunky short haired lady is not a good fit. I hope this season they make some changes for the better. I'm not as excited as I used to be for a new season. It would also be nice to see some more creativity in the murders. I love the episodes that have the plot intertwined with the customs and traditions of the islands. The last few years have just been blah, I want a new DI. The current one makes my skin crawl a bit.

The End

[CanadianCanard · 3/10 · 26 February 2022]

This is a harsh review, not a synopsis.

Cinematography and scenery 2/2.

Writing 0/2 Acting .75/2 Writing 0/2 Directing .5/2

This season has gone downhill from the start. It is abandoning the usual fan base. Too many new, inexperienced actors (reading que cards?) and WRITERS. Rediculous plots.

Inappropriate dress and behavior from police officers who have no credibility in their roles. Unbelievable empathy to murderers (S11E7). And worst of all.... NO comedy, zippo all year.

This episode: Don Warrington (2/2) asked to step out of character first time in 11 years. Ralf doing his best to hold things together (all season too, 1.75/2). But he displays a significant lack of authority (in behavior and voice compared to prior DI's). Elizabeth (2/2) always great, classy. Ms. Brady (2/2). The best actor.... Harry (2/2).

Why does the writer have the DI dismiss a 30+ year old relationship with a woman(?) as a motive, but solves the case immediately when he finds out it was really a homosexual relationship? Forensics work getting rediculous and most of the characters are becoming out-of-character.

I know not where this is going. Cheap productions, first-time writers, many new unbelievable supporting actors, no comedy. Very sadly, I think this episode was/should be the final nail in the coffin.

An okay episode!

[harrykivi · 5/10 · 5 July 2022]

The 11th season of "Death in Paradise" has been quite good with only few exceptions. The ending to this season is plain average at best, it's not bad, just uneventful.

Let' s start with the good aspects, shall we?

. The production values of this episode are great as usual. The direction's gorgeous and the music fits the scenery. The acting is rather good. All of the regulars are lovely, especially Don Warrington and Elizabeth Bourgine. Out of the fine guest stars Paul Bown gives the most interesting performance, though Orla Brady comes close.

. The mystery has some intrigue, the humor mostly works, quite liked the subplot about Selwyn and Maggie. The solution (Maurice turning out to be the killer) was satisfying enough.

But...

. The murder mystery could have been much better. The pacing of this episode is pedestrian agreed and the mystery would have benefitted from more twists and turns. There definitely was a bit missing from this episode, I agree. Some charm or ingenious plotline....

Overall, an okay episode .

5/10 HK.

What Planet Is This?

[miketypeeach · 1/10 · 27 May 2022]

Where did Death in Paradise go? One knows it's off when theme music is changed/"updated". Well, there were some decent seasons. Ben Miller remains the boss. Some may disagree, but I prefer Ardol O'Hanlon to Kris Marshall any day of the week. The episodes worth missing are those when Goodman fawns over Camille, and also when this current DI couldn't keep his mind off Florence. Now, there is neither chemistry nor humor. Where are all the islander extras? Where is the character development? The kid cop is the biggest slacker I've seen in quite awhile. Ralf Little is utterly miserable. Why is he an actor? He's rubbish! Don Warrington seems to have little energy left, or simply couldn't care less. This season's writers know nothing of crime scene evidence. When someone is shot, there is evidence they've been shot where they were standing or sitting. These writers aren't the least bit concerned with that. It's plainly apparent that Death in Paradise, as I've known it, is gone. Should Little appear next season, I won't bother watching. Oh, and I don'tcare about the Commissioner's daughter. What, is she to take over his role? At this stage, who really cares?

The Preposterous episode

[Baltambre · 1/10 · 26 February 2022]

That the KGB would murder somebody in 1986 in the UK by kidnapping a dissident at gun point with the main organiser of the present tournament having witnessed it, and having testified to it, without this to immediately come up in the story right at the beginning, is utterly ridiculous and truly unbelievable.. Even if the journalist had erased the name of the dissident in her interview, (why does she erase it again? For fear it would compromise what again, her article, her research...) it would have been public knowledge at this point, it makes no sense that she'd want to erase this part of the interview.

There was a press and television, and broadcast at this time you know. Such an event would have been more than extensively covered!

Everybody would have thought about it, especially if all these big chess masters names had been associated with the event at the time in 86.

They seem to live in a parallel universe where there seem to be no Wikipedia, no access to any archives, either from newspaper or the Mitrokhin Archive (which would most certainly have mentioned this assassination of a dissident by the KGB and the fact that there was a witness to the kidnapping), no phone, no emails.

Aside of that, there are several other points in this episode that are really, really bad, the least not being Commissioner Patterson sleeping with his ex-wife against any common sense after a couple of drinks. Knowing she is involved in the enquiry, it just does not add up with his personality and his sense of duty. Oh and, his ex-wife's daughter is his? Really? Planning on introducing us to her in the next series are we? That's a parachute drop !

Also, there is no chemistry either between the members of the team or between the team and Neville. Naomi, Marlon and Darlene give a glimpse on what could be their personalities on their own, but there is no sense of a team, no history between themselves which leads to curiosity about their future in the series. It's always caricatural, it lacks deepness, and the humour is terrible. Neville who seemed to have matured in the latest episodes is back to his shallowness and clownish self, which is probably why the writers have decided to reactivate the animosity between him and Selwyn.

It's SO bad, it doesn't even deserve 1 star. But the landscape is, as usual wonderful. And Catherine always lovable.

Death has hit

[southgatekid · 2/10 · 25 October 2022]

My wife and I never missed this, and binge again. But this season, it JUMPED THE SHARK. The writing and plots are stale and predictable. The new characters being brought in are irritating, and show how bad things are.. there's been a lot of changed before now, but always the quality never suffered. I don't know if the production staff, is bored, or but the bottom fell out quickly. We will give episode 1 next season a chance, but am probably done . The trend here is indicative of programming in the US, which is why we rarely watch any of it. I'd seen that a spin-off is coming, and it's doubtful.,we check that out. Sad ...