Death in Paradise: Season 2

The small island of St Marie (fictitious), part of the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles (real), is beautiful and hot, with a vibrant culture that's a mix of several countries. As the Police Commissioner told Detective Inspector Richard Poole when Poole arrived on the island in Season 1: "Honoré was colonized by the French, who lost it to the British, who lost it to the Dutch. The Dutch lost it back to the French. The French then handed it back to the British in the mid-seventies. So, 30% of the population is still French."This fantastic mystery series follows Detective Poole as he and his 3-person staff solve murders and assorted crimes. Poole, being a buttoned up London Metropolitan Police Detective, has culture clashes that are usually funny and sometimes sad. On the other hand, Poole is a brilliant deductor, or is it deducer, and Detective Camille and Constables Fidel and Dwayne are great in their jobs. All of them are wonderfully portrayed by excellent actors. I particularly like how Poole occasionally demonstrates forensic labwork on a shoestring. I highly recommend this series. It's not necessary, but if you can, start with Season 1, to really get the flavor of how Poole has to struggle with his new position, and how the four of them forge themselves into a formidable team.Season 2 of "Death in Paradise" first aired in England in January 2013. If you haven't already seen either Season 1 or 2, I would gently suggest that you watch Season 1 first - to get the full flavor of Inspector Poole's fish-out-water introduction to the island. Death in Paradise Season 1 [Added to add] Season 3 is now available on Region 1 DVD! Death in Paradise: Season 3 (DVD) The Season 2 DVD set has two discs with four episodes each. That's 466 minutes of great mysteries, presented in 16.9 aspect ratio. English subtitles are available. There are no DVD extras, which is a crying shame, given the spell-binding history and culture of the real islands.The episodes aren't given any names when you view them. And on the discs, they're just called Part One, Part Two, etc. In my episode synopsis, below, I've added the popular unofficial titles.PART ONE: A Murder on the PlantationThe police are called out to the Seymour Plantation, established 1715. Roger Seymour, its 71 year-old scion, has been found in the original mill with a machete in his back. This place must have seen untold pain and misery in the days of slavery. Do you believe in psychic imprints? Retribution from beyond? Poole certainly doesn't, and he concentrates on the cast of disgruntled friends and family Roger had gathered on his porch for a big announcement.In a side story, Camille is pressed by her lively mother to pay attention to Honoré's week-long celebration of Erzulie, the Voodoo Goddess of Love.PART TWO: An Unholy DeathFather John prepares to lead a service at the Convent of the Sacred Heart. But young Therese, a postulate, has not arrived. The Mother Superior goes to Therese's cell to get her, but finds the room engulfed in smoke. Therese has died from smoke inhalation. Father John tells Poole, "It's a big transition to make. Giving up nearly all contact with the outside world. No possessions. No money. But the cigarettes. We knew it was a struggle for her. She always smoked when she was upset."They find Therese's hidden cigarettes, but they're a different brand from the case found on her bedside table. And that's not all that doesn't makes sense to Poole. It's another locked room mystery.PART THREE: Death in the ClinicA patient is found floating face down in the pool at an exclusive clinic specializing in cosmetic surgery. How exclusive? They are called to the scene by the Police Commissioner, dressed in a bathrobe. He was there for physical therapy for a sports injury. "Absolute discretion" is required, which is not Poole's strong suit.Trivia: See if you can catch it. The autopsy report says the patient had water in her lungs. But in his grand denouement, Poole says she was dead before she was put in the pool. Both can't be true.PART FOUR: A Deadly CurseIn 1563, the pirate François le Clerc (a real person) buried his booty from a captured Spanish frigate on St Marie. He never came back for it, and legend has it that it's still waiting to be discovered, protected by a curse. Not that a curse keeps out the treasure hunters. Poole is called out to the jungle campsite by the latest group to make the attempt. So far, one hunter was injured in a cave explosion. And one man has been shot through the heart with a flint-lock pistol. If it's not le Clerc, who is it?PART FIVE: Murder OnboardCamille is dressed to the nine's. She's on a party boat, supporting her close friend Aimee Fredericks. This is the ultra-talented Aimee's last performance before she heads to Miami and the record producer waiting for her. Right in the middle of her sultry song, Aimee collapses to the floor. She has been poisoned, but how? And how many jealousies can there be?Trivia: Aimee is played by Jamelia, and that is her own beautiful voice, though we don't get to hear much of it.PART SIX: A Dash of SunshineJune Anderson, a freckled redhead on vacation with her husband and sister, is confined to a wheelchair after a car accident. She's alone in the hotel room when someone creeps up behind her and strangles her with her own scarf.Poole is nearly pole-axed when he meets June's husband. Douglas Anderson is a Met police officer, and, as Poole tells Camille, "one of my most objectionable colleagues."The prior episode's murder was personal for Camille. This murder is personal for Poole: "That's just what bullies do, isn't it? They turn the pack against you by setting you apart from the group."PART SEVEN: A Stormy OccurrenceHurricane Irma is approaching St Marie. At the meteorological center, five people divvy up duties at the 5 weather stations set up around the island. One of them, though, is killed before the hurricane even arrives. Poole doesn't understand why everyone wants to interrupt the murder investigation for just "a little wind".PART EIGHT: A Deadly PartyPoole and Camille have been ordered to attend a reception fundraiser for the St Marie Marine Reserve. Schmooze. Make a good impression. Meet the movers and shakers. None of these come easily to Poole. But at least he's on hand when the host, the wealthy Mr. Powell, is shot in his study."No one can escape their past, can they?"A highly recommended mystery series!Happy Reader

DEATH IN PARADISE, SEASON 2. This welcome second installment of the BBC television series, made with the support of the French Caribbean region of Guadeloupe – and filmed there—is a quintessentially British mystery. In a light-hearted, humorous crime drama that has been playing on some PBS channels in the United States, stalwart strait-laced English Inspector Richard Poole, in season 2, is still trapped on the stunning fictitious Caribbean island of St. Marie. He was a fish out of water when Scotland Yard sent him to the tiny island to solve the murder of his predecessor in the first place. He did so successfully, only to then find himself seconded to this hot little island. Unfortunately, he hated the sun, sea, sand and seafood: the island isn’t really paradise for him. Nor is he suited to the pace of life on the island, which, while fictional, reminds me of St. Lucia.And, at this new post, Poole has encountered a very different type of policing than what he is used to: it challenges his more buttoned-up sensibility. The rest of the local fictional Saint Marie police force – two cops! -- has their own unique way of doing things. But, though Poole would never admit it, together, they make a perfect team. The season 2 box set consists of two DVDs, each holding four new mysteries, totaling about 466 minutes of entertainment. And thank goodness, and the BBC, subtitles, for who would want to miss a moment of this delightful lilting Caribbean-accented dialog. Though, wonderfully enough, the sound quality is quite good; even I was able to make out the entire dialog, without shaking the house on the volume meter.Ben Miller, PRIMEVAL, makes the role of Detective Inspector Poole, the hapless, cranky, yet brilliant detective, his own, endowing it with charm and affection. And Sara Martins, PARIS, JE T’AIME, as his gorgeous new partner Detective Sergeant Borday, is fine. Other series members live up to the standard, including Danny Jules-John as Officer Dwayne Myers; Gary Carr as Officer Fidel Best; Elisabeth Bourgine as Catherine, Camille’s lovely and charming mother and Don Warrington as Police Commissioner Selwyn Patterson. Both series are also packed full of new pretty faces, British and Caribbean. And many, many well-known British stars/supporting players: I clocked, among others Colin Salmon, (PRIME SUSPECT); Adrian Dunbar, (LINE OF DUTY); Robert Pugh, (GAME OF THRONES); Philip Jackson, (POIROT); Sharon Small, (INSPECTOR LYNLEY). Also Gemma Jones, Joanna David, Julie Graham, Phil Davis, Claire Holman, Cherie Lunghi, Nicholas Farrell, Rupert Graves.The episodes are:A Murder on the PlantationDI Richard Poole struggles to muster that loving feeling for the local voodoo festival.An Unholy DeathDI Richard Poole is perplexed by a fatal fire at the island convent.Death in the ClinicDI Richard Poole is baffled by an apparent suicide at a plastic surgery clinic.A Deadly CurseCamille attempts to persuade Richard to take an interest in the folklore of Saint Marie.Murder OnboardThe pressure is on for DI Richard Poole and his team to solve a murder on a party boat.A Dash of SunshineThere is a blast from the past for Richard when an old colleague turns up in Saint Marie.A Stormy OccurrenceIs a storm to blame for a death at the university, or is something more sinister afoot?A Deadly PartyDI Poole and his colleagues find themselves up against a daring and elusive opponent.Hot, hot, hot, that’s the location, location, location on the screen, and I adore the soundtrack, as I have apparently always adored Caribbean music. You can any time give me an interlude of doing the Rock Steady to Blondie’s “The Tide is High,” of which we hear snatches here. The mysteries: well, they’re not down, dirty and depressing in the latest British style, more old-fashioned fun Agatha Christie’s Marple and Poirot style. Some might consider them a bit clunky. But rather original, some even unique in my experience. And multi-layered. We also get some of the most charming interludes, local color mostly, that seem to have been trimmed from the broadcast versions. If you’ve the patience for an entertainment that moves more slowly than most police procedurals, certainly more slowly than most American cop shows, but offers plenty of entertainment along the way, this might just be for you.

Why can't we have more funny, charming, uplifting shows with heart, just like this one?!! Can't wait for next season. ❤️

I found this program years ago and quite enjoyed it. Then it disappeared. If you are looking for a tropical mystery show, this is the one to watch. Worth buying it to be able to watch whenever I like

Series 2 of this show is more of the same, with things developing as PC Fidel Best studies to take his sergeant's exams and personal relationships seem to be developing. As with Series 1 there is a plethora of well-known guest stars. At the end it finally seems that Richard Poole and Camille Bordey are starting, however tentatively, to come to terms with the fact that there is more than a professional relationship between them - there are what "Friends" fans might call "Ross and Rachel" moments appearing. Again, well worth watching over and over and works on several levels.The pity of it is that for Series 3 onwards, and in reality because of the wishes of the actor, Ben Miller's character was written out and a new DI from the UK appeared in the form of the appalling Kris Marshall, someone who looks like an overgrown sixth-former and has nothing of a detective about him at all as he bumbles and stumbles about incompetently. I gave up after that. Now they have even, in true BBC style, shoehorned an Irish actor in to play the DI. I wish Ben Miller had stayed; I think there were great possibilities there. I cannot get interested in the later shows.

George Taylor. On his knees in the Ste. Marie surf, and every bit as miffed...Both series 1 and 2 were very good, and always will be. Nothing edgy or radical or po-faced like most modern detective serials. In fact it was comfortingly old fashioned. They also appear to have found directors and cameramen who can film a scene without shakey-cam and non-stop dizzying zoom lens action. Cameras should be on tripods. That's all there is to it.Normally I'd run a mile from cosy stuff. Midsomer really does nothing for me, yet I can watch this any time. The plots are decent, yet very secondary to a cast that are really on it. They have a proper ensemble feel and are all excellent actors and fit their roles perfectly.However, I'm with George on this one, and will NOT be buying the third series.Which bit of "Love Actually" do you ALWAYS fast-forward through?Exactly.(Edited)(Having seen the series, I feel quite bad. I'm not keen on his other stuff, but, fair's fair, Kris Marshall did very well with this, and will keep me watching. It would have been a significant loss, since I watch relatively few shows.)

Having watched series one, I was interested to see if series 2 would live up to the same quality of storyline and I was not disappointed. Ben Miller is superb in his role and could almost be described as a modern-day Poirot. The sets are magnificent, the lure of the tropical paradise that is St. Marie is simply entrancing. The slowly growing empathy and depth of feeling Miller begins to feel towards Elizabeth Bourgine as his beautiful sergeant combines emotion with empathy, and there are some wonderfully touching moments as the straightlaced British detective struggles to show his emotions while remaining what he feels is the right amount of emotional detachment from his colleague. The storylines are great, and the whole supporting cast adds to the overall enjoyment of this wonderful series. I am truly sad that Miller will not be around for series 3, and I do think it will be hard for anyone to successfully follow in his footsteps in what is really a unique programme, a hard act to follow, for sure. Thoroughly recommend this great series.

Ben Miller's back as the fish out of water English detective still stuck on the fictional island of Saint-Marie in the Caribbean.He still insists on wearing a suit and tie in 100 degree weather and drinking tea. The rest of the cast are also brilliant playing his fellow detectives and their families.There are also some great guest stars. Don't know if it's just the chance of filming in the warm that drew them in, but they're very good. Stories are clever, usually revolving around strange murders that don't seem to have a reason behind them. But the stalwart English detective, with help from his colleagues always finds it!Can't wait for series 3, which has been approved for production this year.

No really, the plots are good and the cast once again produces a wonderfully eclectic mix of detective skills, compassion and humour. Of course the scenary is a bonus as is the inclusion of well know TV personaliies in minor roles. An impression forms of actors queing up to get in an episode for two weeks out there.This is one of those series like 'Kingdom' that would be a crime to curtail after three episodes. It is to be hoped that the loss of Richard in series 3 will not spoil the flow and lead to it being cut. Meantime...waiting for series 3 with much anticipation.Bet the tourist trade has had a boost out of this but getting there via Paris is a bit of a bind.