Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials Review
What could be better than an Agatha Christie murder mystery? Although many have tried, no one quite comes close to the style and craftsmanship of the queen of detective novels herself. Netflix seemed to think in a similar way when they decided to adapt Christie’s 1929 novel The Seven Dials Mystery into a three-episode miniseries of the same title. Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is a murder mystery through and through that fans of the genre will undoubtedly enjoy for its clever writing and excellent acting ensemble.
Set in 1925, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials follows Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent (Mia McKenna-Bruce), a young lady who has recently lost both her older brother and her father. She is currently living with her mother, Lady Caterham (Helena Bonham Carter), who is attempting to save their family home and lavish lifestyle, despite financial difficulties. When Gerry Wade (Corey Mylchreest) is killed at a party in her home, Bundle starts investigating on her own and tries to untangle a very complicated and dangerous web of lies.
The show is cleverly written in a way that will keep the audience guessing and investigating hand in hand with its main character until all is revealed in the final scene. But until then, the Netflix adaptation will have viewers at the edge of their seats, surprising them with twists and turns they would have likely not saw coming. It does a very good job at throwing the audience off the scent with its action and plot twists while also making everything fit with the story and relationships between the characters.
The costumes and production design work together to create the 1925 atmosphere and setting brilliantly, taking the audience back in time to England in the 1920s, with its declining aristocracy, lavish balls and gatherings, and secret societies. The social themes it touches are very key to the era in which it is set, but also seem to reflect modern sensibilities and issues. Overall, the Netflix adaptation proves to have high production values thanks to its cinematography, made up of beautiful shots, a non-static camera, and the return of some key visual motifs, such as the clocks and the titular seven dials.
While some performances are overall less convincing than others, Mia McKenna-Bruce leads the star-studded cast of this Netflix adaptation, proving her ability to play a charming and witty leading lady. The ensemble cast works really well from the very beginning as various players are introduced – or even removed – as the episodes go on. Despite limited time to introduce them or set up their relationships, the show does an excellent job at immediately giving us all the necessary information about the characters, their backgrounds, and their feelings towards each other.
Admittedly, it is very satisfying to see the 1925 storyline led by Bundle and the past plot from 1920 finally come together in the last episode. Until then the two had felt too disconnected for the audience to actually be invested in the past sequences, which receive a lot less screentime and attention. The show thankfully never falls into the trap of overexplaining its plot, but at times could do with some further explanation rather than letting the audience work certain elements out for themselves.
Overall, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is a successful adaptation and an intriguing murder mystery thanks to its talented cast and excellent cinematography. Fans of the genre will be excited to watch a compelling detective story with twist and turns that will only be revealed in its very final scene, thus keeping us guessing and investigating until then.
★★★★
On Netflix now / Mia McKenna-Bruce, Edward Bluemel, Martin Freeman, Helena Bonham Carter / Creator: Chris Chibnall / Netflix / 12
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