Agatha Christie series hailed as 'one of the best TV adaptations ever' rockets up Netflix charts - and it's NOT Seven Dials
An Agatha Christie series branded 'one of the best TV adaptations ever' has raced up the Netflix charts - and it's not recent release Seven Dials.Christie's detective stories have been adapted for the screen on multiple occasions - such as her sleuth Miss Marple.Over the years, this legendary character has been portrayed several times on-screen.One iteration - titled Agatha Christie's Marple - has now found a brand new home on Netflix.The programme originally ran from 2004, with a total of 23 episodes airing across six series.Geraldine McEwan played the title role for series one through three, with Julia McKenzie taking over for the latter three series. A much-loved Agatha Christie TV adaptation has soared to the top of the Netflix charts Agatha Christie's Marple began airing in 2004, ultimately leading to six series comprising 23 episodes Geraldine McEwan (pictured) played Miss Marple for the first three series, before retiring from the roleViewers can also spot recognisable faces pop up in the show, including Joanna Lumley, Benedict Cumberbatch and Timothy Dalton.Other examples include Keeley Hawes, Brian Cox, Richard Armitage and Amanda Holden, to name a few.The programme experiments with Christie's work, with some episodes placing Miss Marple into stories where she originally did not feature. One viewer wrote on IMDB: 'I love the original book, and I love this adaptation. All star cast (best hits of the actors of Britain). 'Naturally it's very different to the original, but I enjoyed how it had been adapted, beautiful location as well!' Another added: 'I am an Agatha Christie scholar who has researched her work for years.‘Does that make me a better viewer? Not necessarily, but a more attentive one.‘I can honestly say this is one of the best TV adaptations and definitely worth 10 stars. 'It’s got everything and more. Please give it a chance and stop comparing it against other productions.'While a third chimed in: 'Agatha Christie’s Marple is a fantastically directed, wonderfully filmed, all-round SUPERB TV series that retains both the atmosphere and irresistible charm of the author’s source material, even when it deviates from the strict plots.' Viewers can also spot other familiar faces pop up in the ITV programme, such as Amanda HoldenEarlier this month, Netflix released a new adaptation of Seven Dials - based upon Christie's 1929 novel of the same name. It follows Lady Eileen 'Bundle' Brent (Mia McKenna-Bruce) investigating a murder at a 1920s country house.Joined by Scotland Yard's Superintendent Battle (Martin Freeman), these sleuths uncover dark secrets linking the death to the elusive Seven Dials society.Meanwhile, the cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter as Bundle's mother, Lady Chaterham.Although Seven Dials raced to the top of Netflix's charts, some viewers claimed it is 'putting them to sleep'.One wrote on X: ‘I’m not normally a book adaptation purist but Seven Dials on Netflix has taken out so much from the original that all the tension, intrigue and fun have gone, which in a murder mystery is quite important.' Based on Agatha Christie's 1929 novel of the same name, Seven Dials follows Lady Eileen 'Bundle' Brent (Mia McKenna-Bruce) investigating a murder at a 1920s country houseAnother remarked: ‘How is it possible to make an Agatha Christie murder mystery dull, bland and uninteresting?'A third branded the series as 'terrible' and argued that Seven Dials contained a 'creaky script and boring tropes.'Elsewhere, another Agatha Christie adaptation landed on BBC iPlayer for viewers to enjoy.
Originally released in 2018, Ordeal By Innocence stars British acting legend Bill Nighy as Leo Argyll and Morven Christie as his housekeeper, Kirsten Lindstrom, who he rapes as a teenager. In the original story, wealthy but overbearing mother-of-five Rachel Argyle (Anna Chancellor) is murdered by housekeeper Kirsten.But the conclusion to the BBC series unveils a different person as her killer.The show's IMDb synopsis reads: 'Christmas 1954. Wealthy philanthropist Rachel Argyll is murdered at her family estate Sunny Point. Her adopted son Jack Argyll is arrested for her murder. He vehemently protests his innocence.'Ordeal By Innocence has an impressive rating of 7.2 out of 10 on IMDb and an even more incredible Rotten Tomatoes score of 94%.
