Woman Tressillian’s will, and the adjustments she’s making to it, are of curiosity to the “brood of vipers” – as she calls them – writhing round her ankles. Her fortune creates a contest between its varied claimants, however the actual rot of those characters was set in lengthy prior to now. A narrative unspools of childhood rivalry and hidden secrets and techniques that you simply’ll overlook by the point the credit have rolled. What endures of In the direction of Zero is its glittering type, and Matthew Rhys’ Inspector Leach.
Leach (a brand new composite character primarily based on a number of in Christie’s 1944 novel) is In the direction of Zero’s essential success. His journey from disillusionment to perception is the story’s emotional foothold, because of Rhys’ poignant depiction of a person destroyed by the First World Conflict and casting about for a cause to proceed. With out him, this three-parter concerning the horrid wealthy would have all of the pathos of an episode of Actual Housewives – nice outfits and enviable decor, however the place’s the humanity?
It’s a glam story of the sort you’d carry dwelling from the store in a crisp-cornered bag with ribbons for handles. There’s not one of the grime or sweaty deviancy of Sarah Phelps’ recent Christie adaptations (for context, I liked each sordid syllable of these), and none of their politics, regardless of being set within the Thirties – a time when no aristocratic nation home was full with out no less than one resident Fascist. The looming Second World Conflict apparently casts no shadow on Gull’s Level.
As a substitute, it is a conventional head-in-the-sand Christie adaptation from screenwriter Rachel Bennette and director Sam Yates, yet one more inquisitive about beautiful Thirties tailoring and simmering seems exchanged over the fish course than it’s in 20th century historical past. It’s diverting and scorching, however doesn’t fairly get underneath the pores and skin of its twisted characters. Nor does it ship on the promise of a lighter Christie. Huston, Hyland and Vasan, all gifted comedians in different contexts, are straitjacketed by the calls for of a melodramatic plot and unable so as to add lightness to this intense story. Clarke Peters as household lawyer Mr Treves does handle to chop by way of the turgid ambiance with a twinkle and the sort of sonorous voice any TV present would kill to have as its narrator.
Deal with it as a homicide minibreak: three hours in sunny Devon that you simply actually gained’t remorse spending, however – Rhys’ poignant efficiency apart – gained’t bother you a lot after they’re over. Bon voyage.
Towards Zero begins on Sunday March 2nd at 9pm on BBC One. All episodes shall be obtainable on BBC iPlayer.
