Return to Paradise boss explains ‘nightmare’ challenge of new show

As a long-time fan of crime dramas, I eagerly anticipated the premiere of “Return to Paradise“. Having grown up binge-watching “Death in Paradise” and its spin-off “Beyond Paradise”, I was thrilled to see another installment in the series. However, what intrigued me the most was Peter Mattessi’s revelation that writing for this genre can be a “nightmare”.


Peter Mattessi, co-creator of “Return to Paradise”, revealed one part of the series was particularly challenging to perfect, describing it as a “headache” or “difficulty”.

The second spin-off from “Death in Paradise,” titled “Beyond Paradise 2,” focuses on Detective Inspector Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson), who hails from the Metropolitan Police and is back in her hometown of Dolphin Cove, Australia. Her mission is to unravel a peculiar enigma.

Prior to its debut in the UK on November 22nd, Mattessi (co-creator along with James Hall and Robert Thorogood) shared insights about the project with RadioTimes. He mentioned that there was one particular aspect of production that presented some difficulties.

Return to Paradise boss explains 'nightmare' challenge of new show

He admitted candidly, “Writing for this kind of genre can be quite a nightmare.” He continued, recalling painful memories of sitting in the story room, struggling to understand how to get the plot puzzles working correctly. “The viewers for shows such as these are incredibly involved and passionate,” he added.

As a dedicated fan, I must admit that they have an uncanny knack for mastering genres; they grasp the intricacies, the subterfuges, the art of hinting and revealing – they’ve got it all down pat. You’d best be aware of this, as they won’t let you off easy if you slip up.

“If the puzzle is overly simple and solvable with little effort, it might leave them unsatisfied. On the other hand, if it’s excessively challenging and seems like your detective is merely conjuring up solutions out of thin air in the climax, they may feel misled or tricked.

Return to Paradise boss explains 'nightmare' challenge of new show

Mattessi emphasized, “The detective shouldn’t possess any crucial pieces of information that the viewers don’t have. This way, the investigation remains fair.” Later, he shared his preferred approach to an episode from the viewer’s point of view.

My hope is that after each case concludes, when Mackenzie Clarke reveals the facts, the viewers exclaim, ‘I see! I ought to have figured it out. The clues were evident, yet I overlooked them.’

Return to Paradise premieres on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 8pm on Friday November 22.

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2024-11-19 03:49

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