Beyond Paradise, BBC One, series 2, review: Kris Marshall's golden age Agatha Christie whodunit

Last year's British TV drama, Beyond Paradise (BBC One) caused a stir by drawing an impressive audience of 7.4 million viewers, making it the third most-watched show of the year. Some may turn up their noses at this popular choice, but it shouldn't come as a shock. Beyond Paradise is a spin-off of the hit series Death in Paradise, which came in second with 7.7 million viewers. Kris Marshall, who acted as the lead detective in the Caribbean murder-mystery, quickly became a fan favorite in Beyond Paradise. The delightful location of Devon only adds to the recipe for a perfect nighttime escape.

When we revisited the stunning seaside town of Shipton Abbott for the second time, a member of the community theater group was discovered with a genuine knife in his back - not a fake one used as a stage prop. Murders happening during plays have become a bit of a cliché, but this one happened on a classic steam train right in front of two detectives. It was a chilling incident that rivals the dreaded phrase, "replacement bus service."

Detective Humphrey Goodman, played by actor Marshall, and Detective Sergeant Esther Williams, played by Zahra Ahmadi, were present at the scene of the crime, but they faced criticism when the incident gained national media attention. They were uncertain if they could solve such a high-profile case without interference from the bigshots at police headquarters. Meanwhile, PC Kelby Hartford portrayed by Dylan Llewellyn investigated a Peeping Tom case in the area. It seemed unlikely, but what were the odds that these two cases could be linked? Given that this is Beyond Paradise, the possibility was quite high.

During the first series debut, people complained that there weren't enough deaths, which made the show less exciting. However, the newest episode addressed those concerns immediately. Although there was only one victim, the plot was still captivating as the victim had actually been killed twice, in response to their own wrongdoing.

Anna Crilly was fantastic in portraying the feelings of a mother who had gone through a lot of trauma in losing her child. It felt like her life ended on the day of her child's burial. Humphrey and his fiancée, Martha (played by Sally Bretton), tried to become foster parents, which was a touching storyline that Marshall cared deeply about. Marshall's mother was a regular foster parent before he was born, which gives him a personal connection to the story. Domestic drama ensued as a result.

At the same time, Anne, Martha's mother who lost her husband, tried online dating which Martha didn't like. Anne's initial date was discarded because he made loud noises while having soup. Finding a genuine connection is not easy. Our clumsy protagonist added comedic relief as he got stuck on a moving train, not only one but two times. I guess if a joke works, it should be repeated. The train and carriages gave a sense of Agatha Christie's golden era.

This blog post is a trip down memory lane to a time when detectives were quirky and their investigations were more lighthearted. The main character even had a peculiar companion, a pet duck named Selwyn, which is reminiscent of Death in Paradise's Harry the lizard. It's safe to assume that Selwyn had a feeling that something suspicious was going on.

The only negative feedback was about the intrusive traditional music that seemed to have been taken from a Guinness beer commercial. Apart from that, Beyond Paradise seemed to have everything organized perfectly.