Beyond Paradise

DI Humphrey Goodman takes up his new post in Devon, leaving The Caribbean well and truly in the past.

If you're a fan of Death in Paradise, you should like it, if you were a fan of Kris Marshall's spell in Saint Marie, then I think you're going to love it.

It's different enough from Death in Paradise, to not just be DiP without the weather, but there's also something very familiar and cosy about it.

It's quite light, it's verging on afternoon drama, but it's engaging, intriguing enough, and has a few laughs.

Spinoffs don't always work, and very few seem to last, but there's enough here, providing it does well, for this to run.

I adored Humphrey, and he's as goofy here as he was before, but additionally he's as sharp, clever and observant, he's lost none of his quirkiness, none of his character, he's picked up exactly where he left off.

It's nicely produced, it's an area I know very well, mixing up Devon and Cornwall, that's going to rile a few people, hopefully it'll put both counties on the map.

It's a winner, 8/10.

We cannot help but compare this series to Death in Paradise. DiP instantly showed its core identity and we were hooked. It was crime-solving with true friendship, joviality, trusted teammates and likeable characters. We enjoyed them in their off-time as if we were part of their merry making. The writers achieved a unique and tight balance; well written and a pleasure to watch, season after season.

I just finished season 1 of Beyond Paradise. I am disappointed at the product that has been delivered to a pre-existing captive audience! It struggles to find its identity: Is it a comedy, a comedy/drama or just a dark drama? BP has few likeable characters, it is thin on comedy. We want DI Goodman to be clumsy and endearing, to excel in his work and enjoy a home life - the formula we loved. Instead he is living a sad undercurrent at home. He has no reprieve from sleuthing. The best supporting character was supposed to be his fiancee. She instead offers nothing but pain. It is dark and depressing. We did not sign up for a soap opera home life. It distracts from the story and is a major disappointment that does not serve the series or its audience well. I would not be surprised if it is cancelled unless they change tack.

Humphrey and Martha's relationship really drags the show down. I don't think they have good chemistry and none of their plot lines make a lot of sense. They are both a bit old for the baby storyline IMO. Humphrey is played by a 50 year old man, Martha is played by a woman in her mid-40s. They look their age, especially in the brutal lighting of this show. Shouldn't there at least be a line about how time is running out to have children at all and that's why they needed medical interventions?

Why is there a love triangle at all? The other man is also well into his forties. Their engagement was decades ago. It seems forced for drama.

Their relationship story just seems like it's written for characters around age 30-early 20s failed relationships are still fresh but they are thinking about settling down, deciding if they want kids but still have a lot of time left for these big decisions. These two don't have that time! Where is the urgency?

Why is her mom so against Humphrey? Wouldn't it be better for her to excited about her daughter getting married and maybe having a baby? Not that anyone has to do either but by your mid-40s having never been married or having children is still unusual in 2023, you'd think someone would remark on it. Finding love when you least expect it, a chance at grandchildren. Something!

The mysteries are cute and the team there is pretty solid. They all seem to get along well and have their own personalities. Why have the dragged out, downer, unrealistic personal life subplot? Why couldn't Humphrey move there and be happy? Do the writers realize their relationship is a bad idea/they don't have chemistry and that's why it gets worse every episode? Could they be writing Martha out? I can only hope.

When they said "Beyond" Paradise. I didn't know it would be completely different. I like a good Ole Cozy murder mystery. I know in real life murder is the most horrible thing. But Agatha Christie, Matlock, Murder She wrote, Death in Paradise are fun fake murder mysteries. That is what I love about them not too serious and fun acting and fun mystery.

I don't care about thefts of paintings and such. It's sooooooo not what I loved about Death in Paradise and its definitely no fun to have serious stories of not being able to have a baby... why? Why would you put in such a serious story line? It just makes Humphrey sad and it's not fun. Oh well just my opinion.

This is a lovely gentle series of local 'whodunnit' crimes set in a rural village in Devon. The countryside and aerial coast photography is gorgeous, will definitely encourage more tourism! Kris Marshall is as good as ever, continuing his 'bumbling genius' detective role from Death in Paradise. The support cast are wonderful, the local accents are delightful to hear, and the stories are interesting and varied, without murder and other gruesome crimes. The humour is wry and amusing, I think, and it's just a lovely comfortable show to watch, especially for those of us from the 'colonies' hankering for our British entertainment, rather than the usual brash American stuff.