The show's first case has Poirot (David Suchet) taking on a job that be believes to be beneath him. Having been involved in many "National Security" related cases before, the idea that Poirot would spend his time on a simple missing-cook case is absurd. That is, until one of the family members decides he shouldn't be on the case - and then Poirot is determined to get to the bottom of the disappearance. Luckily, it looks like there is a connection to an even bigger case - one that is fitting of the name of Hercule Poirot.
This episode not only introduces Suchet as the Belgian private detective but we also get to meet Poirot's friend and helper, Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser), his secretary, Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran) and the head of the local police, Chief Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson). Since Poirot is already an established detective by the time the series starts, the show doesn't feel like it has to actually present each of the characters to the audience. Instead, they are just there and the various roles and relationships are already established. Thankfully, the actors involved had such a good understanding of those roles that everything feels natural, right from the start.
Agatha Christie's Poirot: Series 1 goes on to have episodes relating to the murder of an artist that seemed to change his habits just before his death, as well as the kidnapping of a young boy by a villain who sent several letters to the parents warning them of the crime and even stating exactly when it would happen if they didn't pay up.
One of the episodes from this collection that I personally liked was "The Third Floor Flat" where a murder occurs several floors below Poirot's own apartment. Japp finds the fact that the death occurred so close to Poirot's abode very amusing, but it doesn't take long before the Poirot and Hastings are able to sleuth out what exactly happened and who the murderer was.
The episode following "The Third Floor Flat" feels a lot like a classic Poirot film called Evil Under the Sun where the vacationing detective was portrayed by Peter Ustinov, but the short story "Triangle in Rhodes" predates the other Poirot novel by several years and appeared in a short story collection called "Murder in the Mews" (the title story from this collection is also in Agatha Christie's Poirot: Series 1). In this particular case, Poirot finds himself at a waterfront resort with various British tourists. While he spends some time getting to know the various people, he is scheduled to depart before too long, that is, until one of them is murdered and Poirot has some passport issues.
Poirot then goes on another vacation where yet another murder occurs. This time, the woman is found dead in her cabin and appears to have been killed while no one was even on the boat. Another case has the government hiring the Belgian detective when top secret plans are stolen.
Series 1 wraps up with two interesting episodes. In one, a noble family appears to be covering up something when a murder is reported, but not all of the facts seem to match up with what they are saying. As always, Japp has one theory, this time involving the nearby gypsies, while Poirot heads off in a completely different direction.
In the last episode, "The Dream," Poirot is called upon by the head of a pie manufacturer. He tells Poirot that he has the same suicidal dream every night and the next day, he then actually carries out the death exactly as he described it. While there doesn't seem to be any way for the death to have not been a suicide, Japp and Poirot both agree that the recent deceased's call to the detective makes everything very suspicious. The question is, did the victim predict his own death or is something else going on?
While others have taken on the Poirot name, Suchet has been my Poirot (much like Jeremy Brett is my Sherlock Holmes). He is the performer who has portrayed the character the most in my memory. As a result, I have a certain fondness for these early episodes. I will say though, while they are cleaned up for the Blu-ray release, their age is apparent. The video isn't widescreen and there is a lot of grain in many scenes - especially darker ones. Even so, the mysteries, performances and the show as a whole really stand out in this collection. Too bad there aren't any special features to sweeten the deal.
Any fan of Poirot, Agatha Christie, or mysteries in general, should give this series a chance, and Agatha Christie's Poirot: Series 1 is the best place to jump in.
