The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side (2018)

A Lackluster Attempt at Adapting Agatha Christie's Murder Mystery

As an avid fan of Agatha Christie's intricate mysteries, my expectations were high when I dove into this Japanese adaptation. While the source material provided a solid foundation for a compelling murder mystery, the execution fell short. The special failed to keep my attention and I gave up mid-way to try and piece together the clues myself and watched the rest for the final reveal of the real killer.

The plot revolves around a glamorous actress, Irodori Madoka, who has recently moved to a new residence with her husband. She hosts a party where a local woman, Kannokouji Rin, dies after drinking a poisoned cocktail. The investigation reveals that the intended victim was Madoka herself, and the poisoning was a result of a long-standing grudge.

Initially, the special introduces the characters effectively, establishing their relationships with the main protagonist and casting suspicion on multiple individuals, a hallmark of Agatha Christie's style. As the story progresses, layer by layer the true plot behind the murder and the intended victim is unraveled. Where this special fails is at the execution of this plot. The essence of a true murder mystery lies at ensuring that till the very end the identity of the true killer is hidden from the audiences and everyone equally seem suspicious. Herein, we find that all the suspects are swiftly eliminated and more or less you are able to guess it correctly. The mystery part of the story is overshadowed by the mundane drama of the characters. The investigation is simply boring and pulls you out of the story.

The charisma of the detective is also lacking. Unlike iconic detectives like Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie’s very own Hercule Poirot, the detective Shoukokuji Ryuuya has no method or process of evaluating the evidences and clues. At no point do we see him pondering over the evidences intently or having his assistants go on a chase after a piece of information whose significance is revealed at the end.

In conclusion, Agatha Christie stories are known for its intricate plot and clever twists but this special misses the mark. It was an average attempt to bring to life one of the stories of detective Hercule Poirot

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