Agatha Christie's Seven Dials Is a Capable Murder Mystery That Doesn't Waste Time

Agatha Christie's Seven Dials, now streaming on Netflix, is basically the television incarnation of that now-pat meme: Hey viewer, you can have a little murder mystery, as a treat. The three-episode series is wholesome and satisfying, and then you can move on. Does that sound like I'm ragging on it? It shouldn't — this is actually the highest praise. Murder mysteries have always been in abundance on television (and movies, and books, et cetera, et cetera), but thanks to the boom in obsession with true crime, the past few years have really inundated us with a whole host of whodunits that are not only dark and depressing but feel woefully like they are being stretched across too much time, attempting to fill specific episode orders with infuriating, often nonsensical red herrings. Seven Dials offers the exact opposite. It's not changing the game or even looking to leave a mark after you've binged it in its entirety — but you will have a good time while you're there. 

With just three episodes to unfold and then solve the mystery surrounding the deaths of civil servants Gerry Wade (Corey Mylchreest) and Ronny Devereux (Nabhaan Rizwan), who also happen to be dear friends of our curious and resourceful protagonist, Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent (Mia McKenna-Bruce), the show gets right down to it. Instead of obviously misleading clues and episode after episode of manipulative cliffhangers, we have a small group of suspects who are more or less logically whittled down as we go. We get to watch Bundle investigate and draw rational conclusions rather than having to feel like the show is pulling one over on us. It's all quite straightforward, and honestly, it's very refreshing. There are of course some twists and turns, but they all feel both earned and believable. Sure, some reveals are so obvious you see them coming from the first episode, but there are several genuine, satisfying surprises along the way. 

As someone who has grown weary of bleak, nonsensical mystery series, finding a confident, capable one that is uninterested in the frilly bits feels like a gift. And honestly, that's the thing that should come as no surprise, since this series comes from such accomplished hands at the genre. One set of such hands belongs to one of the most famous mystery writers in history, Agatha Christie — the series is based on her 1929 novel The Seven Dials Mystery. But the other set belongs to the series' creator, Chris Chibnall, who also happens to have created Broadchurch, one of the best modern mystery series to ever do it. 

Using words like "straightforward" and "logical" and "capable" feels like maybe I'm doing Seven Dials a disservice, because while those adjectives don't exactly scream exciting new TV show!, the series is a complete charmer. Set in both the English countryside and London in 1925 (with a few flashbacks to Ronda, Spain, in 1920), its production design (by Sarah Hauldren) and costume design (by Amy Roberts) are reason enough to check out the show. The visuals (with Luke Bryant as cinematographer) are lush throughout. 

But the real reason to watch, if you're looking for more than just a solid mystery, is Mia McKenna-Bruce's performance at the center of the show. As Bundle attempts to get answers as to why her friends have been killed and how the case is tied to some mysterious chemical formula that could change modern warfare — and history — McKenna-Bruce completely owns the story and the screen. One character describes her character as having an abundance of pluck, and there's not really any better way to put it. Bundle is smart, resourceful, brave, and oozing in mettle, and McKenna-Bruce gets all of that across with such efficiency and believability. There's no weak link in the ensemble, really, though McKenna-Bruce's scenes with the professional detective hanging around, Superintendent Battle, played by Martin Freeman (no stranger to mysteries), especially crackle. And Helena Bonham Carter as Bundle's mother, Lady Caterham, is, well, as great as you'd expect Helena Bonham Carter to be. Could anyone deliver the line "Oh good lord. Youth" as scathingly and hilariously as she? 

ALSO READ: The complete guide to winter TV

The bite-size series manages to remain light on its feet and briskly paced without being devoid of depth. This is post-World War I England, after all. But the pall of grief cast over the series doesn't drag it down into bleakness; rather, it's well used to add some layers to character arcs and motivations. Agatha Christie's Seven Dials doesn't purport to be anything profound or to desire to reinvent the genre, but it does stand as an example of a mystery done endearingly and entertainingly well. It all leads to a succinct and definitive ending with a fun little surprise of a button that could make room for follow-up installments, should people (and Netflix) be craving it. So go ahead and watch Seven Dials, as a treat — you deserve it.

Agatha Christie's Seven Dials is now streaming on Netflix.