RIOTUS

Under the blazing Spanish sun, a man walks into the middle of a bullring. He is alone, or so it would seem, poised for a clandestine meeting. But death has other plans; the man meets his fate in a cruel and bloodthirsty manner that would give Game of Thrones a run for its money. And that is when we’re swept far away to 1920s England for the main storyline of Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials to begin. You see, it is at the extravagant country house of Chimneys where we must unravel the secret thread that connects everyone on screen. 

Following a glittering night of revelry, one of the guests at Chimneys never wakes up—in spite of seven oddly placed alarm clocks ringing in his room. The resulting investigation points to a tragic accident; however, not everyone is convinced that foul play wasn’t involved. 

Mia McKenna-Bruce shines as the intrepid Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent, our leading lady turned amateur detective, with all the curiosity and bold cleverness that makes her both a winning protagonist and a thorn in every other character’s side. When Bundle starts asking all the right questions, she attracts far too much attention and stumbles upon a mystery far deeper and more dangerous than her friend’s death.

In classic British TV fashion, all the usual suspects are here—Helena Bonham Carter, Martin Freeman, Guy Siner, Alex Macqueen, with Corey Mylchreest, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Ed Bluemel rounding out the main cast. Penned by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, executive produced by The Crown’s Suzanne Mackie, and directed by Chris Sweeney (The Tourist, Back to Life), the series is in good hands; while I may be biased as a Brit myself, I must say, we do know our murder mysteries. 

The cast is truly what makes this series tick (pardon the pun). Helena Bonham Carter relishes her part as Bundle’s mother, the eccentric Lady Caterham. Martin Freeman steals the show as the buttoned-up Superintendent Battle. Alex Macqueen also stands out as George Lomax, a man with many varied interests and dealings. Ed Bluemel’s Jimmy is endlessly charming, while Nyasha Hatendi’s Dr. Matip is one of the most intriguing characters of all. Hughie O’Donnell is endearing as the hapless Bill, and Nabhaan Rizwan draws you in every time as Ronny.

Having grown up devouring Agatha Christie novels, I could guess the twists and story beats from the outset—but that’s not a criticism, more an appreciation of the queen of crime. Netflix’s take on The Seven Dials Mystery feels comfortably entrenched in the time and genre, with fabulous costuming from Amy Roberts, complemented by soft, hazy lighting that one can only describe as the magic of a rare British summer’s day. 

The original 1929 novel is seen as somewhat of a departure from Agatha Christie’s usual style of a single murderer, in exchange for the conundrum of a larger conspiracy. This allows the Netflix adaptation to play with time and setting, while deviating from the original story in some interesting ways. The series attempts to add more emotional layers by further intertwining the characters’ motivations and relationships; sometimes this works, other times it feels a little too neat. Still, the story does well to blend the turbulent politics of post-war Britain with its hope for change, even if it’s sometimes shown through a lens of modern-day hindsight.

The cinematography is also surprisingly striking for a streaming TV budget, framing each location like a painting to contrast the sweeping English countryside with the wild opportunities for excitement and chicanery of the roaring twenties. The ticking of clocks is naturally a large theme of the series and is used to create an underlying feeling of unease, as if time is running out to solve the case. This tension is ramped up by a classical score that weighs heavily on your mind as your detective skills whir away at each new revelation.

Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is not quite as faithful as the 1981 British television adaptation, but it does give The Seven Dials Mystery a fresh coat of paint for the 2026 audience, while still paying homage to Christie’s iconic class of crime fiction. In three succinct episodes, the series successfully builds enough tension to keep you entertained for its entire runtime, making for a satisfying watch for murder mystery and crime drama fans alike.