From the opening art deco-like credits and opening music, I knew I was going to like this series - and I still do after 20 years, but especially the early shows. The original producers made some really good decisions: 1) casting David Suchet as Poirot, 2) having all the shows set in the 1930s and 3) having the shows include Hastings, Miss Lemon and/or Japp. The shows with them are much more entertaining and engaging than the later feature length shows without them. This show has the usual high production values although the plot line is a bit unnecessarily convoluted. My favorite scenes were those with Poirot and the young, naive and not terrible bright housemaid. Poirot was kind to her and did not appear to be looking down her - he displayed no signs of snobbishness. The second thing that struck me was how sad a situation the missing cook was in. After a lifetime of toil, her ship finally comes in (she thinks) and she inherits a very small and modest house in the country. She is so happy and proud of her little, rather shabby house. And, of course, it's not really hers and her dream world will soon come to an end. Poirot knows this and shows a bit of sadness about it - he's not yet a complete cynic.
Review of The Adventure of the Clapham Cook
