Original Airdate: 30 October 2013 Written by: Nick Dear Directed by: Tom Vaughan Recurring cast: Ariadne Oliver Based on:Dead Man's Folly
Tropes:
Adaptation Deviation: The incident that led to James Folliat's disappearance and presumed death en route to Nairobi is changed from him deserting the military to an unspecified incident involving a young milk maid. It's left ambiguous as to what he did, but it was certainly horrifying enough to cause his mother to disown and exile him.
Adaptational Job Change: Alec Legge's occupation is changed from a nuclear physicist in the book to a biochemist in the adaptation. Justified, since the series' Setting Update to the 1930s would mean that nuclear physics was still a novel discipline in that time, whereas it was far more commonplace in the 1950s the novel was set in. His side job as a spy was also Adapted Out.
Better to Die than Be Killed: At the end of the adaptation, two shots ring from within Nasse House. It's left ambiguous whether it's a Murder-Suicide or a double suicide, but either way it's implied both Amy and James Folliat are now dead.
Breather Episode: Played with. While the episode was still a typically dark adaptation of a Christie novel, it was the last episode to be filmed so that production would not go out on a sad note had Curtain been the final episode filmed.
Composite Character: Mr Masterton the MP and his agent Mr Warburton are merged into a single character, Captain Warburton.
Contrived Coincidence: Poirot runs into Marlene Tucker's sister Gertie by happenstance on the quay, where she tells him that her grandfather John Merdell's now dead and she adds some more information about Marlene's involvement.
Death by Adaptation: The novel originally ended in the middle of the denouement before anyone can be arrested. In the series, Poirot allows Amy Folliat to kill her murderous son James in a Murder-Suicide.
Deliberate Values Dissonance: Alec Legge's eugenicist leanings are more understandable, though by no means palatable, within the 1930s setting of the adaptation, given that this before World War II's aftermath began discrediting the eugenics movement.
Frame-Up: George Stubbs frames Etienne de Souza for the disappearance and presumed murder of Stubbs' wife Hattie by planting her emerald ring within his jacket. This combined with Hattie's behavior upon reading de Souza's impending arrival at Nasse House immediately paints him as suspicious.
I Need a Freaking Drink: The normally teetotal Ariadne Oliver is so shaken by Marlene Tucker's death that she accepts a drink to calm her nerves, on Poirot's advice.
Ironic Echo: Poirot is summoned to Nasse House by his friend Mrs Oliver through a telegram that reads "Please come. Urgent. Nasse House.", kicking off the events of the story. Later on when Poirot is on the verge of a breakthrough, he summons Mrs Oliver from London using the exact same message.
It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: The Stubbs' arrival at Nasse House one year prior to the events of the story is shown to take place during a very stormy evening, during which Hattie Stubbs is quickly bundled up the stairs to recover.
Leave Behind a Pistol: Downplayed. Although Poirot doesn't leave behind the pistol himself, he does allow Mrs. Folliat the opportunity to give her son and herself this option.
Once More, with Clarity: During The Summation the scene of the Stubbs' arrival at Nasse House is shown again, but while Hattie Stubbs' face was hidden in the original scene her face is now shown during the flashback, showing that the Hattie Stubbs we've been following was an impersonator all along.
Profiling: One reason the police are rather sure of Etienne de Souza's guilt is that he's Black and a foreigner, which makes him stand out among the otherwise white cast of characters. Of course, it turns out that he's innocent all along, and the murders were committed because his presence would cause the Stubbs' charade to blow up in their faces.
Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Alec Legge's marriage breaks down because of his rather extreme views, which caused even his wife to balk at them.
Two Scenes, One Dialogue: Exaggerated into "Multiple Scenes, One Dialogue", in which Detective Inspector Bland interviews many people one by one, all with the same dialogue.
Vorpal Pillow: James Folliat smothered Hattie Stubbs in bed with a pillow so as not to let his true identity be known, as well as to make sure that no one discovered his marriage to Hattie was a sham due to him being already married to another woman, who moves in the next day and takes on Hattie Stubbs' identity.
Where It All Began: In a meta sense, the adaptation is one since it was filmed at Greenway Estate, Christie's country home from 1938 until her death, and was the inspiration for settings in several of her novels.
