‘Patience’ introduces a quirky and charismatic sleuth on the spectrum
In the past, PBS served as nearly the sole conduit for British mysteries reaching America. Shows like Jeremy Brett’s exceptional Sherlock Holmes, multiple versions of Miss Marple featuring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot and others, Adam Dalgliesh played by Roy Marsden and Martin Shaw, “Inspector Morse” and its precursor “Endeavour,” Michael Gambon in “Maigret,” Helen Mirren’s “Prime Suspect,” “Rumpole of the Bailey,” “Foyle’s War,” the modernized “Sherlock” with Benedict Cumberbatch, Alec Guinness in John LeCarre’s “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” and Kenneth Branagh in “Wallander” – all have become classics. However, as cable networks expanded their content sourcing, they began to compete for shows, and in the era of streaming services like BritBox and Acorn TV that focus solely on U.K. content in the U.S., there’s now even more variety available.
Previously, PBS aired “Mystery!” under its own brand. Currently, it’s part of “Masterpiece.” However, they still manage to secure some mystery series gems, often with unique twists, such as the recent meta series “Magpie Murders” and its sequel, “Moonflower Murders.” A new episodic series titled “Patience,” premiering this Sunday, features Ella Maisy Purvis in the title role. Interestingly, Purvis’ character is portrayed as being autistic, just like the actress herself.
Television
The series ‘Sherlock and Daughter’ brings a fresh perspective to the Sherlock Holmes story by introducing a father-daughter dynamic. This contemporary take on Agatha Christie’s ‘Towards Zero’ will premiere on The CW and BritBox.
Originally developed by Matt Baker from the French show “Astrid et Raphaëlle,” titled “Patience Evans” stars Purvis as a civilian clerk, Patience, who works in the seemingly endless archives of York’s police department. By moving some shelves together, she has created a small fortress for herself, complete with pet mice, hidden away from the world. In the first two episodes, she notices a connection between a fresh and an old murder, which catapults her into the sphere of detective inspector Bea Metcalf (Laura Fraser), her team members Jake Hunter (Nathan Welsh) and Will Akbari (Ali Ariaie), their superior Calvin Baxter (Mark Benton), a familiar face to BritBox viewers from “Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators,” although now cleaner and somewhat lighter.
In the series, although Bea advocates for Patience’s inclusion in the investigation, Jake initially refuses, considering her an outsider and not ideally suited for this type of job, despite his eventual change of heart. (The show is light-hearted.) “I don’t mind if she’s autistic,” says detective Bea, “I just care if she’s correct.” (She usually is.) On the other hand, Patience tells Bea that her logical deductions can be erratic and her notes are brief, but she appreciates Bea’s exceptional clearance rate, which is unmatched in the nation.
From the inception of detective fiction, characters like the quirky sleuth have been intriguing readers and critics alike. Characters such as Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot have been speculated to exhibit traits associated with autism or OCD. Modern television has expanded this concept, featuring series like “Monk,” “Bones,” “Professor T.,” “Ludwig,” “Will Trent,” “Elsbeth,” and “High Potential” on various platforms. These shows often highlight protagonists who possess an extraordinary focus that borders on a superpower, with Diane Kruger’s Det. Sonya Cross in “The Bridge” being particularly praised for her authentic portrayal. While all detective characters may exhibit superhuman abilities to some extent, their unique perceptions and acute insights set them apart from their peers, making them endearing to us.
The initial episodes provide an introduction to autism, primarily guided by Patience’s godfather, retired Detective Douglas Gilmour (Adrian Rawlins), and Billy Thompson (Connor Curren), who heads an autism support group. Notably, Curren is also autistic. This information is valuable because while many people are familiar with the term ‘autism’, they may not have a deep understanding of it. The series is more prevalent in popular culture, which influences its representation on screen, and writers are constantly seeking fresh perspectives.
The series’ authenticity in portraying neurodivergence could be questioned, given the diversity within the autism community. However, the fact that the creator, Purvis, who is 21 and diagnosed at 17, is also autistic, suggests a certain degree of accuracy based on her own experiences. Despite playing a character different from herself, the series appears to reflect some aspects of Purvis’ life.
Option A: Instead of carrying two umbrellas in case one breaks (since England often rains), she plans ahead by having a backup umbrella. As she moves towards Bea, she structures her thoughts into a casual dialogue flowchart. She won’t step over a “police line – do not cross” tape unless guided, and she exits an overcrowded elevator once it surpasses its capacity limit. Her social skills are limited (“Are you being polite or do you genuinely want to know?” she asks Bea when inquiring about her wellbeing), but she notices the mismatched socks on Bea and points out Elliot Scott’s name peculiarity, stating that his surname is typically a first name and vice versa, though technically both are first names. Despite this nitpickiness, it marks the start of something.
Review
In ‘The Residence’ and ‘Ludwig,’ charming detectives are tapped to resolve a mystery
Uzo Aduba plays the role of a detective in Netflix’s humorous whodunit set at the White House, while David Mitchell is the star of BritBox’s comedy series where he portrays a puzzle creator pretending to be his absentee twin, also a detective.
The mysteries at hand are typically peculiar, often found within the realm of comforting mysteries. (Sometimes they can be a touch more whimsical than intended, but it doesn’t detract from the intrigue.) Here’s an intriguing question: Why is it that seemingly content men are committing suicide on the fourth Friday of each month? One such mystery unfolds within the confines of a natural history museum, where fossils play a pivotal role. There’s also a locked-room enigma (with a mystery author as the unfortunate victim), which captivates Patience, an ardent admirer of Agatha Christie. Lastly, there’s a corpse that seemingly vanishes from a table in the morgue. Patience, who cannot resist an enigma waiting to be solved, is slowly coaxed out of her shell, and Bea starts observing similarities between Patience and her young son Alfie (an exceptionally unique Maxwell Whitelock).
At times, characters may not act as rationally or intelligently as their roles suggest. If a character like Patience is quick at problem-solving and linking ideas, others might seem slow to react. However, even when everyone is actively involved – as it often happens in cop shows where teamwork is key – Patience is the one who makes the crucial discoveries that ultimately solve the case. It’s essential for her character to be valuable, and in this aspect, she’s no exception to many mystery series where one character consistently solves problems before others.
Everything doesn’t always follow a logical sequence or even lack it entirely, but the stories serve as a means to spend quality time with the characters, and this show’s cast is delightful company indeed. However, Purvis stands out, despite Patience being reserved, exuding an understated charm – a fresh, captivating aura. Luckily, there’s already talk of a second season.
Read More
2025-06-13 13:32