Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero’ On BritBox, About A Love Triangle, A Murder, And A Burned-Out Detective In A British Seaside Town

New York Post - Apr 17th, 2025
Open on New York Post

Agatha Christie’s 'Towards Zero' adaptation deviates from traditional mystery formats, focusing more on character drama than immediate intrigue. The series opens with Frederick Treves, a character not present in the original book, discussing the timing of murder stories. The plot revolves around Neville Strange, a tennis player entangled in a love triangle with his ex-wife Audrey and current wife Kay. Despite the dramatic setup, viewers are left waiting for a murder or mystery to unfold, as the first episode primarily establishes character backstories and dynamics without much suspense.

This adaptation, penned by Rachel Bennette and directed by Sam Yates, introduces new characters and settings, such as Inspector Leach, altering the original narrative. This shift towards a character-driven drama rather than a fast-paced mystery might disappoint traditional Christie fans. While the performances, particularly by Anjelica Huston and Matthew Rhys, are noteworthy, the series' slow pacing may deter viewers seeking a classic whodunit. The absence of a murder in the opening hour, a staple of Christie adaptations, contributes to a lackluster start, prompting the recommendation to skip this adaptation unless one is a die-hard Christie enthusiast.

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RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a generally accurate and clear critique of the 'Towards Zero' adaptation, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. It effectively discusses the series' deviation from traditional mystery formats and character focus, offering a balanced view of its artistic choices. However, the article could benefit from greater transparency regarding its methodology and more authoritative sources to enhance credibility. While it engages readers interested in Agatha Christie adaptations, its impact and public interest are limited by a narrow focus on the series' pacing and narrative structure. Overall, the article is informative and well-structured, but it could delve deeper into broader cultural and literary themes to increase its relevance and engagement.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The article provides a generally accurate overview of the adaptation of Agatha Christie's 'Towards Zero'. It correctly identifies the main characters and setting, such as Neville Strange, Lady Tressilian, and Inspector Leach, aligning with descriptions in other reviews. The mention of the adaptation taking creative liberties with the original story, including changes to characters and settings, is also accurate. However, the article could benefit from more precise details about the extent of these changes and how they affect the plot. For instance, the introduction of Inspector Leach as a new character not originally in the book is a significant alteration that should be highlighted more explicitly. Additionally, the article's claim about the pacing issues and the focus on character development over immediate mystery elements is supported by other sources, confirming its accuracy. Overall, while the article is largely factual, it would benefit from a deeper exploration of the specific deviations from the source material.

7
Balance

The article presents a balanced view of the adaptation by acknowledging both its strengths and weaknesses. It appreciates the performances of the cast, particularly highlighting Anjelica Huston's and Matthew Rhys' portrayals, which suggests an effort to recognize the positive aspects of the series. However, it predominantly focuses on the pacing issues and the deviation from the traditional Christie mystery format, which might skew the overall perception for readers expecting a more conventional narrative. The article could have included more insights into the reasons behind the creative choices made in the adaptation, offering a broader perspective on its artistic direction. By doing so, it would provide a more balanced analysis, addressing potential biases toward traditional mystery formats.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and clearly presents its main points, making it easy for readers to follow the analysis. The language is straightforward, and the critique of the series' pacing and character focus is articulated in a manner that is accessible to a general audience. However, the article could benefit from a more detailed breakdown of the plot and character dynamics to provide a clearer picture of the series' narrative structure. While the critique is clear, a more comprehensive exploration of the series' themes and how they differ from the original novel would enhance reader understanding.

6
Source quality

The article appears to draw from a credible understanding of Agatha Christie's works and recent adaptations, but it lacks explicit references to authoritative sources or interviews with the creators of the series. The absence of direct quotes from the production team or insights from critics familiar with Christie's work limits the depth of its analysis. Including perspectives from those involved in the adaptation or experts in the genre would enhance the article's reliability and provide a more nuanced view of the series' creative decisions. As it stands, the article relies on the author's interpretation, which, while informed, could be strengthened by additional authoritative sources.

5
Transparency

The article does not clearly disclose its methodology or the basis for its critiques, such as whether the author watched the series in full or relied on secondary sources. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess the depth of the author's engagement with the material. Providing context on how the article was researched, including any firsthand viewing experiences or consultations with other reviews, would enhance its credibility. Additionally, the article does not mention any potential conflicts of interest, such as affiliations with the series' production or distribution companies, which would be important for readers to know.

Sources

  1. https://www.cbr.com/agatha-christies-towards-zero-britbox-review/
  2. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2025-04-16/sherlock-daughter-cw-agatha-christies-toward-zero-britbox-mysteries
  3. https://www.metacritic.com/tv/agatha-christies-towards-zero/
  4. https://movieweb.com/agatha-christies-towards-zero-review/
  5. https://keithlovesmovies.com/2025/04/14/agatha-christies-towards-zero-review/