'Death in Paradise' Series 1 - TV Review

British Detective Inspector Richard Poole (Ben Miller) is sent to the small (fictional) Caribbean island of Saint Marie, where he makes it eminently clear that he doesn't want to remain. But after solving the murder he was sent for in the first episode, he finds out he's going to be staying anyway. He's a prat - despised by his own department in the U.K. and apparently both disinterested in and unable to make friends. But he's an intelligent man and a surprisingly good detective.

I find online that the series has been quite successful, with Season 6 currently going forward. It's also accused of being formulaic - and this is totally accurate, as Poole collects the seemingly unrelated facts, then at the 37 minute mark of the 57 minute run-time has an epiphany that he doesn't share with his colleagues or us, and at 50 minutes we have a gathering of the suspects and the big reveal.

His co-workers/employees Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) and Fidel (Gary Carr) are well written and a pleasure to watch. I have mixed feelings about his partner Camille Bordey (Sara Martins), who, while a well fleshed-out character, seems to primarily be a foil to follow him around to point out what an ass he is and turn his social awkwardness into comedy. She's intelligent and notices stuff, but never appears to be instrumental in solving stuff - it would be good if they'd give her the occasional Poole-free success.

Enjoyable, but too much the same and too "easy." I don't think I'll be tracking down the other seasons.