Don Gilet shines as Death in Paradise’s new sleuth in nonsensical special – review
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The latest Christmas special of Death in Paradise on BBC One marks a significant milestone as Don Gilet takes on the lead role of a British police detective for the first time as a Black actor. Set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie, Gilet steps into the shoes of DI Mervin Wilson, sporting a floppy green sun hat. In this enjoyable, longer episode, he faces the challenge of juggling multiple storylines at once.
To begin with, the episode needs to present DI Wilson as a well-developed substitute for the missing Neville Parker (Ralf Little). Additionally, it should bring a unique touch of holiday spirit during a weekend when the prime-time lineup is filled with a lot of festive content and cheer. And, of course, it should provide a thrilling murder mystery that resolves any lingering questions by the end.
That’s quite a challenge—maybe an overwhelming one. There are times when this special Christmas episode seems like it might lose its balance and fall flat, similar to Santa losing his grip on a slippery rooftop. The positive part is that Gilet brings a lot to the series. His calm yet grumpy character reminds us of the original Death in Paradise detective, Richard Poole, played by the cantankerous Ben Miller.
Poole constantly complained about life on the beautiful tropical island. DI Wilson shares a bit of that same quirky charm, expressing his discontent early on by saying that arriving in Saint Marie feels "like stepping back in time." However, beneath his gloomy attitude lies a profound sadness; it turns out he came to the island in hopes of finding his mother, whom he had never met. Additionally, he appears to lack friends in London, admitting to DS Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson) that he often chose to work during Christmas because he didn't have many other plans.
The episode is full of festive spirit. Since it was likely filmed months ago in sunny Guadeloupe, capturing the holiday vibe must have been tough. However, it succeeds beautifully, featuring a touching storyline where Danny John-Jules’s character, Dwayne Myers, goes above and beyond to spend Christmas with his elderly father, Nelson (played by Ram John Holder), whom he fears may not have many more holidays ahead. Dwayne then takes a significant step by deciding to resign from the police force to spend more quality time with his dad, marking Jules's second departure from Death in Paradise, as he had previously stepped away in 2022.
The main issue with the episode lies in its overly complicated murder mystery. It reminds me of that popular meme from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia where Charlie Day appears frenzied, surrounded by a corkboard filled with chaotic connections marked by red strings. That's the vibe of this Death in Paradise plot, where the vacationing Wilson is asked to postpone his trip back to London to assist local law enforcement in solving the bizarre double murder of two men, both wearing Santa costumes.
It appears that both individuals were shot with the same weapon simultaneously. Additionally, there's another person who almost fell victim as well; dressed as Santa Claus, he was also hit by a bullet right at the time when the other Santas lost their lives.
Figuring out the puzzle is quite a complex task, and I'm still not certain I grasp everything completely. I won’t give too much away, but let’s just say it’s a wild mix of Agatha Christie’s "Murder on the Orient Express" and Oliver Stone’s "JFK," featuring multiple suspects and a plethora of misleading clues that could fill a fish and chip shop on Christmas Eve.
It's all really confusing, and even DI Wilson doesn't seem to grasp all the details of the murder. However, in Death in Paradise, the crimes and the need for them to make sense are often secondary. What really matters is that the new DI forms an immediate bond with the team members, DS Thomas and Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (played by Don Warrington).
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The atmosphere is fantastic, the warm sunshine feels wonderful this time of year, and the Christmas cheer is just right. You could easily get lost in the intricate storyline, but there's no need for that. What's truly important is that Death in Paradise has an exciting new lead detective. Complaining about the convoluted plot would simply be an unnecessary level of criticism.
