I'm not an avid Poirot fan. Having watched the Marple series, I appreciate Poirot more. However, this is only season 2 so I don't have a lot of viewing experience.
Be that as it may, I thought this episode was EXCELLENT. There was stock market speculation talk between Captain Hastings and Miss Lemon that may not at first glance seem germane to the mystery. However it WAS germane to the commentary the screenwriters were weaving into the story. Which, btw, was intertwined with Poirot and Hastings playing Monopoly together.
When the story opens Poirot's POV is that Monopoly is a silly game of chance. The deep commentary is: those who "speculate" on markets are just playing another form of Monopoly. And they're engaged in a silly form of chance.
Cut to the end, when Poirot hits the punchline and says to Hastings, "About this game, you were right all the time. It is the skill that counts, in the end." Which, of course, is a joke because nothing has changed, other than Poirot has won. IOW: people who make money from speculation assume the same psychological posture: they attribute their gains to some mysterious skill they possess, when it is nothing more than the outcome of chance.
The writers contrasted this events determined by chance element with Poirot's bank account being continually off kilter. Which in the end was traceable to a specific (read: not random) event, the failure to deposit a check. So Poirot was not the victim of chance or "bad luck." His bank woes were the direct outcome of the poor administration of his funds.
The writers wove this wonderfully balanced script. Commenting on the things we cannot control but pretend we do vs the things we can control but don't. It was really BRILLIANT.
Some highlights of this episode were the generous amounts of the ambience of Chinatown. The luxurious atmosphere of the inner gambling den. And my favourite: The passport ruse used to flush out the murderer, played to perfection. TRULY a splendid Poirot moment!
I agree with the reviewers who said Poirot's knowledge of Lord Pearson's gambling routine seemed to come out of nowhere. But imho, that's small potatoes compared to the many wonderful qualities this episode has going for it.
This episode ISN'T just a mystery. It's a refined social commentary disguised as a mystery.
Be that as it may, I thought this episode was EXCELLENT. There was stock market speculation talk between Captain Hastings and Miss Lemon that may not at first glance seem germane to the mystery. However it WAS germane to the commentary the screenwriters were weaving into the story. Which, btw, was intertwined with Poirot and Hastings playing Monopoly together.
When the story opens Poirot's POV is that Monopoly is a silly game of chance. The deep commentary is: those who "speculate" on markets are just playing another form of Monopoly. And they're engaged in a silly form of chance.
Cut to the end, when Poirot hits the punchline and says to Hastings, "About this game, you were right all the time. It is the skill that counts, in the end." Which, of course, is a joke because nothing has changed, other than Poirot has won. IOW: people who make money from speculation assume the same psychological posture: they attribute their gains to some mysterious skill they possess, when it is nothing more than the outcome of chance.
The writers contrasted this events determined by chance element with Poirot's bank account being continually off kilter. Which in the end was traceable to a specific (read: not random) event, the failure to deposit a check. So Poirot was not the victim of chance or "bad luck." His bank woes were the direct outcome of the poor administration of his funds.
The writers wove this wonderfully balanced script. Commenting on the things we cannot control but pretend we do vs the things we can control but don't. It was really BRILLIANT.
Some highlights of this episode were the generous amounts of the ambience of Chinatown. The luxurious atmosphere of the inner gambling den. And my favourite: The passport ruse used to flush out the murderer, played to perfection. TRULY a splendid Poirot moment!
I agree with the reviewers who said Poirot's knowledge of Lord Pearson's gambling routine seemed to come out of nowhere. But imho, that's small potatoes compared to the many wonderful qualities this episode has going for it.
This episode ISN'T just a mystery. It's a refined social commentary disguised as a mystery.