Selwyn’s Death in Paradise Exit Was Genius

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Regardless of the changing detective inspectors in Saint Marie, viewers could always rely on the towering personality of Commissioner Selwyn Patterson as a consistent element on Death in Paradise.

The insightful comments, subtle hints, and cranky attitude skillfully portrayed by actor Don Warrington have made his character one of the genuine delights in the murder mystery series ever since its debut on television in 2011.

Given the speculation that Selwyn might leave the island this year, possibly relocating to a place with less violence, it was expected that his character would receive a grand farewell scene on screen.

In contrast, Selwyn’s exit during the Season 14 finale was not marked by a celebration, an emotional farewell speech, or even a parting cake.

At the time, none of the previous detective inspectors were present to bid him a warm goodbye, not even Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon, Ralf Little, or Ben Miller (though we would have loved to see them all together on-screen with the newcomer, Don Gilet). Unfortunately, since your character was written off, it means you won’t be attending Saint Marie reunions in the future.

Contrary to expectations, everything turned out to be quite subdued. In a surprising turn of events, Selwyn, who had been uncertain about keeping his Commissioner role throughout the entire season, ultimately opted against accepting it once he was offered the position.

Apart from that, he managed to maintain secrecy about his major decision, confiding in Catherine about his intention to depart from Saint Marie, only when he visited her bar for a final conversation, while the rest were out enjoying the success of resolving yet another mystery.

After she inquired about his reasons for declining his supervisor’s proposal, he explained: “To be honest, it didn’t feel right to accept. With everything that’s happened, I just can’t envision returning to the way things used to be at the moment.

Apart from being with his daughter Andrina, he informed Catherine that he didn’t have any upcoming plans and went so far as to bid her “Au revoir” instead of a permanent farewell.

Afterward, he stepped into an antiquated black cab, reminiscent of EastEnders’ past, and embarked on a journey to an unknown destination. The departure appeared to lack the grandeur typically associated with a Detective Inspector leaving the isle, at first glance.

Earlier on, Richard Poole met an unfortunate end (my apologies, Ben Miller); Humphrey Goodman then relocated to England to reunite with Martha (and tackle mysteries in Beyond Paradise), while Jack Mooney headed back to London for his daughter; and Neville Parker embarked on a journey towards the sunset, sailing alongside his beloved Florence.

Contrarily, Selwyn didn’t receive anything as romantic, sweet, or even dangerous. Yet, he might have obtained something much superior.

At the end of the season, he unexpectedly visited Mervin’s home to reveal a shocking truth: the person who had been laying flowers on his mother’s grave was, in fact, Mervin’s long-lost brother.

At that very instant, with his taxi temporarily parked on the curb, Selwyn left an indelible mark on Mervin and the entire series. This chance encounter persuaded Detective Inspector Mervin, who was just moments away from returning to London, to alter his itinerary and remain to untangle his most recent family enigma.

Once more, Selwyn’s influence seems divine in shaping the detective inspector’s judgments, making for an appropriate farewell scene. Yet, it was also a smart maneuver on the part of the scriptwriters.

There’s a chance that Selwyn’s act of assistance to Mervin might have been a dramatic farewell gesture, but since he hadn’t explicitly informed his superiors at Saint Marie that he was leaving permanently, it remains uncertain if this action truly signifies Selwyn’s departure.

To put it simply, the door was left in such a manner that it’s challenging to confirm with absolute certainty whether Selwyn has truly departed.

The charming former Commissioner might require a brief respite before reappearing for season 15, revitalized and eager, or he could make his comeback in a year or two, maybe if his successor faces an unfortunate demise, or if Mervin exhausts his family connections on Saint Marie and requires additional motivation to continue.

Or, heaven forbid, Selwyn could have just slipped away, never to return.

Currently, Selwyn’s future is shrouded in mystery on Death in Paradise, as whatever the writers and Warrington decide remains undisclosed. Yet, it seems to be the perfect swan song for our beloved Commissioner.

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2025-03-29 02:04