18 October 2004

Why didn't they ask Jeeves? Why???

The thing about crime/mystery/detective shows is that nowadays there seems to be no history to a show. First of all, no one would live in Mt Thomas or Midsomer if there really was all them murders what was done there. No one in these otherwise sleepy and pleasant burghs ever seems to bang the table impatiently when reading the morning news and yell, "What, another bally murder? Marjorie, pack the bags; this place is fit for neither man nor beast!"

But the main thing is that no matter how brilliant the detective on the show is, and even though show after show proves them to be right, their partners and bosses are always sceptical, even a little wary of their detections. They never say right at the beginning when the corpse is discovered, "Quick, get X on the phone." X being the local genius crimesolver. Yet even the most dull-witted viewer can see that X will have the whole case neatly wrapped up within the hour, or within two hours if the case is spread over two gripping weeks.

Hercule Poirot never had to ensure such indignities. Even though he may have got it wrong once.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good point about the poor choice of neighbourhood made by those who feature in detective shows.

I was always surprised that anyone would go on holiday with that woman from 'Murder She Wrote'. If I was at some swish resort and I saw her show up I'd be on the next plane home.

hazelblackberry said...

Agreed. Particularly if I'd just committed a murder.

I would have got away with it too, if it hadn't been for that meddling old bag.