John Malkovich plays Hercule Poirot as older and greyer, and the series leans into that age from the start. The BBC One production runs three episodes, airing over three nights starting 26 December 2018. It is based on Agatha Christie’s 1936 novel.
Trailer, via BBC.
The Setup
Poirot receives letters signed only as “A.B.C.” The sender threatens murder, and Poirot takes the letters to the police. The threat is not idle: the series moves quickly from warning to death, with the first victim appearing early in the first episode.
The second victim follows, and the pattern becomes clear. Each killing takes place in a town whose name starts with a letter of the alphabet, moving through the list in order. That device gives the story its title and its shape.
The Cast
Rupert Grint plays Inspector Crome, the officer who investigates alongside Poirot. Andrew Buchan appears as Franklin Clarke, a man caught up in the case. Tara Fitzgerald plays Lady Hermoine Clarke, and Bronwyn James plays Megan Barnard. Anya Chalotra appears as Lily Marbury, and Freya Mavor appears as Thora Grey. Eve Austin plays Betty Barnard, and Suzanne Packer plays Capstick. Jack Farthing plays Donald Fraser, and Conrad McCroddan plays the Beautiful Young Man.
Shirley Henderson also appears in the series, though her role is not described in the available source material. The cast is large, and the series moves between several characters as the investigation spreads across England.
The Case
The murders are the engine of the story, and they are staged with care. Each scene sets up a suspect, a motive, and a place to hide. The killer’s signature is the letters themselves, and the series tracks that signature across the three episodes.
The investigation moves from one town to the next, following the alphabetical order of the locations. The series keeps the audience guessing about which direction the killer is heading next, and that tension holds the middle episode together even when the pacing slows.
The Direction
Alex Gabassi directs, and the series has a look that matches its tone. It is shot with a sense of dread, and the settings are dark and closed off. The production design draws on the period, with trains, stations, and country houses all used to build the sense of a nation under threat.
The adaptation was written by Sarah Phelps, and she has made choices that set the series apart from the novel. The story stays close to the book’s outline, but the details differ in places.
The Final Episode
The third night delivers the solution. The method behind the killings is explained. The reveal depends on the alphabetical pattern itself, and the series builds toward that moment across the entire run.
The ending ties the case back to Poirot’s own history, and it gives the older detective a chance to show what he still brings to a case.
What Works
The performance stands out. Malkovich plays Poirot with a weariness that fits the character’s age, and the series treats him as a man who has seen too much. Grint plays Crome with a steady presence, and the chemistry between the two detectives drives much of the middle episode.
The series also benefits from its cast. Buchan, Fitzgerald, and James all get moments to carry the story forward, and the supporting roles are filled with actors who know how to play a threat.
What Falls Short
The pacing sags in the middle. The second episode spends time establishing suspects and motives, and some viewers may find the stretch between killings less compelling than the threats themselves. The series also leans heavily on the alphabetical pattern, and some viewers may find the repetition wears thin.
The adaptation differs from the novel in places, and fans of the book may notice those changes. The series is not a faithful retelling.
Key Facts
- Title: The ABC Murders
- Network: BBC One
- Seasons: 1, 3 episodes
- First aired: 26 December 2018
- Last aired: 28 December 2018
- Based on: Agatha Christie’s 1936 novel
- Adapted by: Sarah Phelps
- Directed by: Alex Gabassi
- Starring: John Malkovich, Rupert Grint, Andrew Buchan, Tara Fitzgerald
Broadcast Order
| Night | Date | Episode |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 December 2018 | First episode |
| 2 | 27 December 2018 | Middle episode |
| 3 | 28 December 2018 | Final episode |
Our View
The ABC Murders is a solid adaptation with a strong cast and a clear sense of dread. Malkovich’s Poirot is the center of it, and the series knows how to keep him at the center of the action. The alphabetical pattern gives the story a shape that holds attention, even when the middle stretches.
The pacing drags in places, and some viewers may find the middle episode slower than the threats deserve. But the final episode pays off the setup, and the series ends on a note that respects the character’s history.
This is a worthy addition to the screen adaptations of Christie’s work, and it stands as a solid, if uneven, entry in the genre.
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