He's back. Poirot has returned to Masterpiece Mystery in "The Big Four." It apparently is quite different from the book.
I have been watching the earlier Poirot episodes recently, and I couldn't believe how ancient everyone looked in this episode. The actors aren't even that old! I'm wondering if it was the makeup.
That aside, this is an odd story.
Set in Europe in 1939, as war approaches, Poirot attends a party given by the head of the Peace Party, Abe Ryland. Ryland is going to play chess with a very famous Russian grandmaster, Ivan Savaranoff. Unfortunately, Savaranoff dies a couple of chess moves in, presumably of a heart attack.
Poirot is suspicious and he helps his old buddy, now Assistant Commissioner Japp, in his investigation. Then two other members of the Peace Party go missing. An ambitious young journalist is sniffing around, claiming to have inside information that these crimes are the work of the Big Four, an organization that is the cause of terrorist attacks and much of the upheaval going on in the world.
I found the motive for these crimes pretty silly, which spoiled it for me. However, I loved seeing Hastings, Japp, and Lemon reunited with Poirot, and as usual, the production values were opulent.
Disappointing, but I'll watch David Suchet as Poirot any time.
