Fans loved the finale to The ABC Murders – except one Poirot revelation…
The latest Agatha Christie adaptation from Sarah Phelps seemed to win over viewers, but one detail about John Malkovich’s Belgian sleuth didn’t sit right with some
The concluding part of Agatha Christie mystery The ABC Murders had been eagerly awaited by fans on Friday 28th December, and it’s fair to say the final episode didn’t disappoint those who’d been enjoying the series so far.
https://twitter.com/simonblackwell/status/1078751366154240000
After chasing him round the country, Poirot (John Malkovich) and Crome (Rupert Grint) seemed to have finally tracked down serial killer ABC (Eamon Farren) – but the Belgian sleuth wasn’t so sure they had the right man, eventually working out that Franklin Clarke (Andrew Buchan) was the real killer, using alphabetical murders to hide the death of his brother.
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Frankly, the whole thing was pretty tense, with fans breathing a sigh of relief when it was concluded and taking to Twitter to express their admiration of screenwriter Sarah Phelps’ work.
https://twitter.com/LindaAspey/status/1078772954056589317
https://twitter.com/hayleyrosanna1/status/1078783820458004482
https://twitter.com/antbird87/status/1078759185368694784
https://twitter.com/DrMatthewSweet/status/1078791556067459078
https://twitter.com/harrisimo/status/1078772226952970240
https://twitter.com/Brassylassy/status/1078772066566967298
https://twitter.com/Valamist/status/1078765313527894020
https://twitter.com/FrancescaCanty/status/1078941217591832576
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Many also took the time to defend the series against accusations that it was too dark or removed from the core of the Christie story, or slating John Malkovich’s turn as Poirot, which some viewers had suggested couldn’t hold a candle to Davd Suchet’s iconic take on the role.
https://twitter.com/stoneflowerjane/status/1078934694727745536
https://twitter.com/uk_haj/status/1078922841100353537
https://twitter.com/Seanoftheshed/status/1078919831150305281
https://twitter.com/magrait/status/1078814894999388160
https://twitter.com/michaelhogan/status/1078773766883364865
https://twitter.com/maria_ogborn/status/1078767789127729154
https://twitter.com/ninastibbe/status/1078604643385724928
One such defender was Phelps herself, who responded directly to many criticisms after the episode aired.
https://twitter.com/PhelpsieSarah/status/1078784213145583616
https://twitter.com/PhelpsieSarah/status/1078795035242577920
https://twitter.com/PhelpsieSarah/status/1078795442937315328
https://twitter.com/PhelpsieSarah/status/1078798269596221442
Because of course, not everybody had loved the series, citing various reasons for their dislike of the new adaptation – though for many, the new revelation that Poirot had been a priest in Belgium, not a policeman, was a step too far.
https://twitter.com/nickfthilton/status/1078774989325848576
https://twitter.com/magicsuitcase/status/1078947892344303616
https://twitter.com/Bexbel/status/1078820231508828160
https://twitter.com/Mabel_Wright/status/1078772368879816711
https://twitter.com/ajs5473/status/1078772299917152258
https://twitter.com/8MichelleJones/status/1078772036057657345
For now, anyway, Malkovich is hanging up his hat as Poirot, but who knows? After the new Agatha Christies already planned for 2019, he may be persuaded to return – and he can divide audiences all over again. Chin-chin.
The ABC Murders is available to view on BBC iPlayer