Beyond Paradise has asked a question we already know the answer to – but that doesn’t really matter

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The Shipton Abbott police department may be small, but they’re surprisingly effective – don’t mistake their size for weakness.

Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman and his team – Detective Sergeant Esther Williams, Police Constable Kelby Hartford, and office assistant Margo Martins – have proven to be a skilled and determined crime-solving unit in the BBC mystery series, Beyond Paradise, which is back for a fourth season.

Over the first three seasons of the show, the detectives have tackled a wide range of strange and compelling cases. These have included everything from a woman who believed she was assaulted by someone from the 1600s, to a man found at the police station with a picture of Humphrey, but no idea who Humphrey was or why he was there.

Detective Inspector Davies is often praised for their unconventional investigation skills and noticing small details, but Esther consistently provides valuable insights and serves as a reliable confidante for their supervisor.

Kelby didn’t seem like a natural fit for the police force at first, but he’s become a valuable officer. As the only patrol officer in the area, he consistently handles smaller incidents, and surprisingly, these often turn up important clues for the main investigation.

Without Margo handling the phones, sharing helpful local information, and offering a bit of honest advice when needed, things would fall apart. You can see all of this throughout season 4.

The new story begins with the death of mystery writer Kenneth Linder. It’s revealed he actually planned his own murder, believing it would secure his daughter’s financial future.

Now that the case was finished, the team celebrated at a pub, pleased with their success and strong working relationships. “They’re more than just colleagues; they really feel like a family,” shared Zahra Ahmadi, who plays Esther, in an interview with TopMob.

They’re friendly with each other, but their relationship feels more like a long-standing family dynamic than a close friendship. Everyone understands their place and what they contribute, which is why they work so well together.

Their safety is far from guaranteed. Humphrey is hiding a secret, and if the unpleasant Mr. Smith discovers it, everything could fall apart.

Humphrey was summoned to The Hub, and it wasn’t good news. Chief Superintendent Charlie Woods, a key supporter, had moved on. To make matters worse, budget cuts are threatened, forcing Humphrey to lay off a member of his team – and without Woods’s protection this time.

It’s a double blow for the DI, both personally and for the work they do.

Ahmadi explained that Humphrey understands how difficult it is to let go of a valued colleague, but he also recognizes the effect this will have on the police department’s ability to serve the community – something Humphrey deeply cares about.

She believes everyone is valuable and contributes something unique. Taking even one person away, she explained, makes a real difference and is definitely felt by others.

Humphrey came back from The Hub feeling burdened, and when Esther asked if anything was new, he told them Woods had left. However, he decided to keep the instructions Mr. Smith gave him a secret for now. He didn’t want to cause unnecessary worry, and he was confident he could figure things out on his own eventually.

But the longer he avoids Mr Smith’s calls, the more determined he becomes to get an answer.

I suspect the police team at Shipton Abbott will stay together. Losing any of those characters wouldn’t feel right for the show, and fans would likely be upset by anyone leaving.

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Splitting up the team right now would be unnecessarily harsh, especially with everything already so difficult – unless there’s a behind-the-scenes reason we haven’t heard about, like when a character had to leave the show Death in Paradise.

If the show’s writers had more freedom, I’d expect Esther, Kelby, and Margo to be okay by the end of this chapter. The show just wouldn’t feel right without all the main characters present. The series isn’t afraid to show sad or difficult events, like Martha’s miscarriage, and it sometimes challenges viewers, but it always feels like things will ultimately work out. This makes you wonder how the characters will resolve their current problems.

Just like the mysteries Humphrey investigates, the central issue is now clear. The question is, how will he – or perhaps someone else – find a solution?

When they finally succeed, their connection will become even stronger – they’ll be an incredibly powerful team, much like the Shipton Abbott Avengers. That’s what truly matters in Beyond Paradise, a show that focuses more on the characters’ relationships than the mysteries they solve.

Humphrey, it’s your turn. I honestly have no idea how you’ll manage this one – or how you solve any of the difficult cases you get – but I’m confident you’ll succeed.

Beyond Paradise season 4 airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Fridays at 8pm.

Don’t miss out on Beyond Paradise! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor at TopMob, where she writes about TV dramas and comedies. Before that, she was a TV writer for Digital Spy and a content writer for Mumsnet. She has a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.

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2026-03-28 01:07