The Seven Dials Mystery:  Netflix’s another average ‘whodunit’? 

Netflix has been on a murder mystery streak this year with the release of Run Away, His and Hers, and the latest Agatha Christie's Seven Dials Mystery. While the previous shows have somewhat garnered mixed reactions from critics and audiences alike, the Seven Dials Mystery, penned by the 'Queen of Mystery', holds out some real promise for both suspense and period drama lovers. 

Created by Chris Chibnall and directed by Chris Sweeney, this 3 part series dazzles the screen with a great array of stars, including Mia McKenna-Bruce as Bundle, Martin Freeman as the superintendent, and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Caterham. With them, we are all taken back to the world of period costume pieces, British high society with snotty behavior and lavish profligacy. 

The show opens as we witness a British man gored to death by a bull in foreign soil. He leaves behind a piece of paper featuring a clock striking seven. This recurring motif, marked by the ding-dong sound, is evident throughout the entire series to the point where it becomes more of an eyesore than a mystery. 

We are then moved to the party at Chimneys, where the young lady Eileen, referred to by everyone as Bundle, is having a pretty good time. Her beau, Gerry Wade, asks her out for dinner and implies that he is going to propose. We are also informed that particular negotiations are going on between the Foreign Office and the Northern Industrialists– the Cootes,  and that is the ulterior motive of this jovial party. 

The next morning, Gerry does not wake up. Oddly enough, there are seven clocks neatly arranged on his mantelpiece. After further inspection, the police conclude that he has committed suicide by overdosing on a sleeping potion and close the case. Grief-stricken, Bundle struggles to accept this loss and searches for evidence of foul play. 

She reaches out to her friend and Gerry's co-worker, Rony, from the Foreign Office, to help carry out further investigation. They both notice that a man is following them. Rony warns Bundle of caution and promises to look into the matter, but the mystery is further complicated as Bundle discovers another body shot to the ground– another dear friend this time. 

In his dying breath, he also mentions seven dials. Despite having a metaphoric gun pointed at her, Bundle, with great vigor, continues to work on the mystery that connects all the deaths to the seven dials, a masked secret society. 

Even though the pace did pick up a bit later in the series, the series proves to be too staggering and uninspired to be considered a pulsating thriller. The adaptation has attempted not to deviate from the original source material, and only the climax and solution were rewritten. Aside from changes in specific plot points, this adaptation portrays it as an urban chase as we hunt down the culprit through cars and trains to add more action, intensity, and tension. The faithfulness to the original story hindered the ability of the show to explore character-driven mystery.

In terms of performance, only Martin Freeman as the Inspector seems to embody his character ingeniously, and watching him on screen was an absolute delight. On the other hand, Mia McKenna-Bruce's performances fluctuated throughout; her character felt rather forced and unnatural than effortless. The script did not do justice to Helena Bonham Carter, as her enigmatic character did not even bring half of the awe it was supposed to. The rest of the cast did a decent job, but they are severely underused, especially Corey Mylchreest. His short-lived, captivating presence lingers long enough. 

As a period piece, one may place high hopes in the show regarding stylish costumes that would pay tribute to the 1920s. Some of the costumes do a decent job serving as a testament to the period, such as Mrs. Coote's flapper dress at the party. On the other hand, Bundle's styling reflects more of the 21st-century minimalism, which feels quite odd and misplaced. 

As a period drama, the stunning visuals will mesmerize the audience. Some of the shot such as the opening scene by Iain Glein were taken in the historic Royal Cavalry of Ronda, Spain. The confrontation at the bridge and the Spanish street shots give rise to an intense environment that would have been found in a studio set. The Chimneys estate, the home of our heroine, was in reality the Badminton  House in Gloucestershire – the ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort. The grand house with its lived-in interiors was perfect to represent  Lady Caterham's careworn but still splendid abode. 

In the end, this may not have been the most efficiently adapted story of Christie's, as it is missing her light-hearted charm, but is surely a bigeable watch for anyone who is into old school detective mysteries.