Series 15 of this guilty pleasure has landed and its popularity is as strong as ever with its mix of murder, sunny beaches and long-running story arcs intersecting with new characters and plot lines.
The police department on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie have more than their fair share of suspicious deaths blotting the peaceful and sunny community over the years. This doesn’t dampen their mood though, and the team’s enthusiasm and happy teamwork is one of the reasons why the show has been so successful.
Another element is the revolving lead detective that is always a fish-out-of-water character from the UK, who at first treats the island with fear and distrust, but then inevitably falls in love with it and its people. Over the years this character, while being an excellent detective, is usually the main comic relief as they struggle to adapt to island life with its heat, bugs and slow pace. My personal favourite will always be Ralf Little’s Neville, whose awkward charm and gradual acceptance of Saint Marie struck the perfect balance between comedy and heart.
This has been tweaked with the return from last season of DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet), who is grumpy and much more grounded than the rather cardboard cut-out DIs that came before him. He seems much more “real” as a personality, which for me is a nice balance against the picturesque scenery and sunny disposition of everyone else.
A welcome addition this series is Sergeant Mattie Fletcher, played by Catherine Garton, who joins the team bringing fresh energy to the station. She fits in surprisingly quickly, balancing warmth with professionalism, and her early interactions with Wilson already hint at an engaging dynamic. Introducing new core characters this far into a show’s run is always a gamble, but so far Mattie feels like a natural part of the ensemble.
Apart from that, the makers haven’t changed a tried and tested formula. The guest characters are a who’s who of staple TV performers both recent and past, and it is fun to argue who is the most famous as that is probably the killer!
The plots remain formulaic, and the murderer reveal relies on the suspect, after quite often being presented with very circumstantial evidence, breaking down and admitting their crime. But this is not why we love the show. The mystery needs to be fun to solve and shouldn’t distract from admiring the scenery and sun. The music and atmosphere all add to that unmistakable holiday-crime vibe, making Death in Paradise one of those rare shows that feels like comfort TV.
The secret ingredient for me though is the relationships between the detectives, who might argue but remain friends and respectful colleagues. Long-running story arcs reward loyal viewers, while still making it easy for newcomers to jump in.
So, after episode one I am hooked once again. With these dark and miserable February days closing in around us, Death in Paradise is a welcome escape to a sunny island with sandy beaches and crimes that need to be solved. I’m looking forward to seeing how Wilson continues to settle in, how Mattie finds her place in the team, and whether Saint Marie will ever manage a quiet week.