The End of an Era

This isn't about vintage, but it is about one of my lifelong adventures that I have been on in the past.

Last Wednesday the final episode of Poirot premiered in the UK. I lost track of time, and when I discovered this, I promptly watched Curtain with my sister. We have yet to see Dead Man's Folly and The Labours of Hercules, but since my sister and I are only together every now and then, we had to watch the final one together.

source
At the beginning of 1989 the first episode of the show with David Suchet premiered, introducing the jovial Captain Hastings, the fumbling Inspector Japp, and the orderly, though plain, Miss Lemon. It wasn't until about 10 years later that my family watched the show for the first time, by then more than 40 episodes had been produced. I would never forget that theme song...

Ever since then, Agatha Christie's Poirot is the only show that could get my entire family of seven in the same room at the same time. This is a feat, because we all have very diverse interests (from artist to engineer). Over the next few years, as all of us children went through teenagehood we lost touch with the show. When I was about 14 or so, my younger sister and I re-explored it together. This is when I began to read the books.

I became obsessed. I have yet to read all of the books, but I have read dozens over the past several years. Sometimes I take a break, because I feel that my mind is starting to over analyze every day life to see if a murderer is in my midst. (I suggest you go to Jeannie's Book Store on High Street in Portsmouth, right after Frederick, and just before London, next to the Goodwill, if you live in the area).

I began writing Murder Mystery Parties, casting each of my friends as characters that I had written expressly for them, choosing my murderer wisely. I would cook up a 5 course meal for 10-15 people, play the part of a servant, and let the games begin. There were times when I would even play the part of Poirot, casting my younger sister as Hastings, my older sister as Japp, and my dear friend Leslie as Miss Lemon.

 

My wine was poisoned and I collapsed on the stairs.

 I was not afraid to stuff my shirt for the role of Poirot!

Poirot has been a part of my life for over a decade and a half, and has been around for almost a decade longer (the television show). The era has ended, and the most luxurious portrayal of murder on television is gone. No one will ever be able to play Hercule Poirot as well as David Suchet, no one ever has. Not even on Murder on the Orient Express. His version strays from the book, but satisfied the true nature of Poirot. Poirot would never have let someone get away with murder; it is completely out of his character, but that version made it work.

source

The final episode culminates with the perfect solution to the perfect crime, solved by the most ingenious of all detectives. Goodbye, my dear Belgian friend, and all of your helpers!

source