Murder On The Orient Express (2010)

This is season 12 episode 4 of Agatha Christie's Poirot. Years ago I read the novel but I could not remember the ending, so this episode is still fresh for me.

This episode again explores the moral issues. Unlike Curtain, Poirot has a very different stance. He said, "You people! With your kangaroo jury, your kangaroo justice! You had no right to take the law into your own hands!...The juries and executioners, they elect themselves! No, it is medieval! The rule of law, it must be held high and if it falls you pick it up and hold it even higher! For all of society, all civilized people will have nothing to shelter them if it is destroyed!"

I wonder how he changed from so reluctant to not turning the murderers in to murdering someone himself.

The acting by David Suchet is so subperb! The look in his eyes, the shivering, all little details give away what Poirot thinks.

I didn't know that Poirot was a Catholic. Then would he go to hell for killing someone? Would he be forgiven as he did it for goodness sake? I wonder.

Agatha Christie's Poirot

Agatha Christie's Poirot Trailer

I recently picked up the series, long after it ended in 2013. I watched it backwards starting from series 13. The last episode is Curtain. I was shocked by Poirot's last case (spoilers below).

Poirot was a talented, honorable detective who solved mysteries and crimes in so many cases (13 series!). I thought he represents justice. Surprisingly, in his very last case, he himself was the murderer! He killed because he believed that by killing Norton, the man who psychologically manipulated many others to kill, he would have saved many lives. He knew that he was dying and would want to do something before his death. The question is: is it justifiable to kill someone who you think is guilty for goodness sake? Who has the right to lynch? Will Poirot go to hell?

It reminds me of a Japanese animation Weiss Kreuz. It explores the same ethical questions. The protagonists are four young assassins at night who worked as florists during the day as a cover.  They take orders from an unknown man (kinda like Charlie's Angels) and kill many people who they think are guilty. They think they are doing the right thing. However, one day they meet their archenemy. They were questioned on whether their killing would turn them into the people they hated, those who kill innocent people. The anime did not provide any resolution. None of the protagonists nor antagonists die. The story is left open-ended. But it still lingers in my mind every now and then.

Poirot in Curtain also reminds me of River Song from Doctor Who. The fact is that she and the Doctor has a reverse timeline. The first time the Doctor met her was the last day she ever lived. I now understand how the Doctor feels. I knew how Poirot died and I now get to see the younger him, each episode by episode, until his very first case. Strange feeling.

Miss Marple is also one of my favourite shows. I finished series one to six already (took a while). I hope I get to finish all episodes of Agatha Christie's Poirot soon.