Death in Paradise Christmas special’s convoluted ending is a bit of a reach

As a long-time fan of Death in Paradise, I must say this year’s Christmas special was a true treat! The mystery of Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson, played brilliantly by Ralf Little, had me hooked from the very beginning. It’s just unfortunate that poor St. Nick had to meet his end on the beach to bring us such an enticing tale.

This year, Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson proved to be an unexpected yet cherished present for everyone, but unfortunately, Santa himself ended up dead on the beach to bring about this mystery.

In the absence of any senior detective based in Saint Marie, a detective from London emerges as the sole viable candidate. Given that Mervin happens to be vacationing on the island (and let’s just say it’s not the best holiday anyone’s ever had), he becomes the most fitting choice for the role, though it might be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole since Mervin is not typically suited for this position.

Just as island living wears on Mervin, he’s quite brusque to begin with. His irritability towards Saint Marie seems snobbish and impolite, while his blunt demeanor and quick temper with his team can be off-putting as well.

It’s clearer why people might think negatively of him once he becomes a murder suspect. As attention turns towards him, additional facts emerge, like his complicated emotions towards Saint Marie that stem from his desire and fear to reconnect with the missing mother he has long yearned for and feared at the same time.

Rediscovering his vulnerability changes how we view him, revealing complex aspects of his personality that help us understand and empathize with the distress and frustration hiding behind his hurt.

Informing Selwyn about a shared truth, which was news of his mother’s demise, seemed to make him more understanding towards the team, subtly fostering a fragile sense of unity among them.

Tentative as it is, it’s enough to help them solve the festive case of the week.

Here is how it went down.

Death In Paradise Christmas special ending explained

3 Santa Clauses were involved in a complicated plot – rest assured, let’s unravel it step by step, Santa Maria-style, without mentioning any of the possible suspects present.

In an unexpected turn of events, I nearly found myself in a precarious situation, thanks to the innocent playfulness of little Olly, who mistook his father’s gun for a cowboy toy. Jamie, unbeknownst to me, had plans to use that very same firearm to confront Tony over a long-standing family matter connected to my mother.

In this incident, Jamie found himself in a confrontation initiated by Stuart. Unfortunately, during the altercation, Jamie ended up fatally shooting Stuart. Witnessing the shooting was musician Kenny Simmons, who used the opportunity to extort Jamie into participating in Tony’s murder. To create a false narrative, they manipulated the timing of Stuart’s death, making it appear as if it coincided with Kenny’s own act of killing Tony using the same gun. Meanwhile, Jamie also shot at Tyrus (Santa Three) with another firearm. Later, he retrieved the bullets and later returned to discharge rounds from the initial gun, thus planting evidence that linked the bullets used in both incidents.

As a devoted admirer, I’d rephrase it as follows: Unwittingly, I found myself involved in a chilling series of events. First, I was tricked into killing one Santa Claus. Then, I was pressured to help with another Santa’s murder, making it seem like a coordinated assault on all Santas. In reality, this second Santa’s death was a calculated move to seal a lucrative business deal, disguising it as an attack on multiple Santas rather than the cold-blooded murder it truly was.

The case itself is a bit of a leap and sends us on a merry dance. It would have been more believable if it were a thought-through plan, as it was a bit too convoluted for an improvisation, even if ultimately botched.

In the show “Death in Paradise,” it doesn’t shy away from complex storylines; instead, it dives headfirst and makes the most of Mervin’s contrasting attitudes towards the Caribbean and his London upbringing to bring humor into play. When urged not to make an immediate arrest but rather gather all the suspects for the climactic unveiling, this is where the comedic potential really shines.

In a nod to our gaming roots, Selwyn reminds me, “This is part of the ritual.” So, with a familiar sense of adventure, I dive headfirst into my inaugural quest for resolution – a murder investigation.

With the case neatly resolved, there’s just one dilemma left: How can we persuade detective Mervin to stay in Saint Marie since he seems to be almost ready to board his flight?

It seems that the solution arises when Selwyn proposes a job to him. He suggests that maybe by understanding St. Marie, the island where his mother lived, he could gain some insight into her life, although Mervin appears unconvinced.

He longs for London with an intense and restless passion, much like Mackenzie from “Return to Paradise.” Both find themselves in suspenseful situations, where Mervin hesitates on the brink, contemplating whether to remain outside his late mother’s house.

Absolutely, we’re well aware that he’ll be back for season 14 of “Death in Paradise,” and we’re eagerly anticipating how this fresh approach will improve the series.

Death in Paradise is on BBC iPlayer

2024-12-23 02:19

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