This week, Agatha Christie enthusiasts can look forward to a fresh murder mystery from the BBC, with the screen adaptation of “Towards Zero” set to premiere.
This television show, boasting an illustrious ensemble, is adapted from a 1994 novel bearing the same title. It tells the story of a divorced pair who choose to spend their summer at a seaside mansion, adding fuel to the intrigue as a murder mysteriously occurs, escalating the already palpable tension.
In this drama, the characters portraying Neville and Audrey Strange – played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Haunting of Hill House) and Ella Lily Hyland (Black Doves), respectively – are joined in the series by Mimi Keene (Sex Education), who takes on the role of Neville’s new spouse.
When adapting a story for the screen, as is often the case, not all details remain faithful to the source material. Screenwriter Rachel Bennette outlines the main alterations she implemented when transitioning from the book to the film.
Regarding the book specifically, Bennette noted that Christie takes an unconventional approach in Towards Zero. One of the most intriguing aspects is that she shifts the focus away from the detective within the narrative.
Instead of opting for Poirot or Miss Marple, the author selects Superintendent Battle as her protagonist. Interestingly, throughout the case, Battle expresses his longing to be like Poirot. However, the detective work is not left solely to Battle; instead, it’s shared with the unconventional character of Angus MacWhirter, a hotel guest and an original creation by Christie.
This setup primarily caters to the narrative’s progression, yet it stirred within me the impression that the author’s primary fascination lies in developing characters and themes. As a result, I became increasingly engrossed in delving deeper into Angus’ character, particularly as he serves as the investigator.
As a fan, I found myself grappling with unique hurdles since he wasn’t directly linked to our main protagonists. It soon became clear that a detective was indispensable to untangle this intricately complex mystery.
For Bennette, Inspector Leach emerged naturally throughout the narrative, eventually taking on characteristics similar to both Battle and Angus MacWhirter, as well as being reminiscent of Jim Leach, Battle’s nephew and the local constable in the story.
She went on to say: “Our Inspector Leach, at his core, carries all the essence of Christie, and he seems to have stepped straight off the pages from Towards Zero.
According to Bennette, the modifications made to the series were primarily influenced by the intense hurdles inherent in a three-hour drama, as well as the pursuit of unearthing the genuine emotional depths within characters and themes for the grand narrative, and constructing the storyline more intricately.
As a dedicated fan, I found myself reimagining a few key characters, most notably Neville and Audrey. The way I envisioned them and their connection was significantly different from the original portrayal.
Bennette noted that Audrey’s character is subtly portrayed throughout the book and difficult to maintain across the three episodes. However, she maintains her captivating charm, although in a distinctly new form compared to the book.
The summary for Toward Zero hints at: “Introduce a long-suffering female assistant, a secretive butler of a wealthy gentleman, a disgruntled relative banished from the family, an elderly legal advisor, a curious orphan and a cunning French imposter. Soon, murder will occur among them.
In a challenging situation, a tormented investigator needs to find his motivation again to unravel an intricate network of envy, fraud, and broken relationships. Will he manage to crack the case before another innocent person suffers a tragic fate?
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2025-02-24 04:04