And Then There Were None (2016)

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Season 1
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 81 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 81
  3. Negative: 7 out of 81

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User Reviews

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  1. JohnMcQ
    Mar 13, 2016
    9
    A brilliant adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's best literary works. The acting in this mini series is truly exceptional. If you are a fan of murder mystery, true crime shows, this should be the top of your must watch list. The main star of this show is the screenplay.
  2. Bleat0124
    Mar 26, 2016
    8
    Wow. That is all I can say after such a confident pilot. Near the closing of the episode, everyone (director, writer, and actors) seem to be peaking. The beginning was a little of rushed, it seemed like a show trying to be strange when it does not need to be. The long term plotting and the focus of the writing are my only concern. What is going to be more important; the characters or theWow. That is all I can say after such a confident pilot. Near the closing of the episode, everyone (director, writer, and actors) seem to be peaking. The beginning was a little of rushed, it seemed like a show trying to be strange when it does not need to be. The long term plotting and the focus of the writing are my only concern. What is going to be more important; the characters or the whodunit aspect of the show. The overall story seems so familiar that the only way this work is if we (the audience) become deeply invested in or interested in these characters outside of the "they might be the murderer angle." These characters must be fully unique--not cookie cutler. For this to happen, it must be the focus of those running to show if this is not going to be another guilty fun catch the murder for this TV series can be special. I'm definitively staying a while.… Expand
  3. Esqrobb72
    Mar 13, 2016
    9
    Although I have seen this Agatha Christie story many times in many versions this rates with the best. The story is still intriguing and the settings add to the enjoyment.
  4. metabad
    Apr 22, 2016
    5
    First of all, this review will discuss plot points, but it will stay spoiler-free.

    My first impression was, that it is has good actors who you will probably know from other appearances on tv/in film and who you will pleased to see again. The show has convincing acting, a good setting and good atmosphere. It gets the mood right. But after watching it, I must say that, all in all, it's    First of all, this review will discuss plot points, but it will stay spoiler-free.

    My first impression was, that it is has good actors who you will probably know from other appearances on tv/in film and who you will pleased to see again.
    The show has convincing acting, a good setting and good atmosphere. It gets the mood right.
    But after watching it, I must say that, all in all, it's well crafted and solid, but not more.

    I may have seen another screen adaptation of the story by Patricia Highsmith a long time ago, but I haven't read the book this miniseries is based upon.
    So my following critique may be on the original story or on this adaptation, I don't know.

    First of all, given the fact that the murderer has put a lot of effort in getting the 10 people on the island, the degree to which the murder plot itself relies on chance is remarkable.

    First case in point: It relies on the weather, yes, it does.
    After the second death, the rest of the guests decide to leave the island, but they can't because it's stormy outside and they can't be taken back by the ferry man.
    Otherwise, they would have picked up their bags and would have just left the island. End of story. Really?

    The one other thing, that bothered me was, that, if not depending on the weather, the murder plot only works because the guests behave in a certain way, when realizing someone is trying to kill them.
    If they would have decided that they would stay together and never go anywhere alone, the killer would have had a big problem, even if only a couple of the guests would have followed that rule.

    There is one crucial plot point, in which one guest has to behave in a specific way to create a situation, and the rest mustn't do a specific thing or otherwise it would disclose the killer's identity.
    Of course it works and that's way too convenient.

    And don't tell me the murder knows what kind of people he's dealing with. He never met any of them in person before the arrival on the island. And you can't predict peoples actions when they wind up in that kind of situation, unless you know them personally and you know them well.

    One other thing is: the death of Lombard (Aidan Turner) is bugging me.
    He's a man of the gun and he brings one with him. But the way he dies is again, a very convenient coincidence. He doesn't get killed by the unknown murderer.
    If he hadn't died the way he did, how would the murder have killed him, a man who's been to war, is young and strong and who doesn't panic when in peril, but who stays calm AND bears a gun?
    And yet, his death is arbitrary and couldn't have been planned. Yes: too convenient.

    Adding to my major points of critique I want to add one thing:
    I don't know how the guests got killed in the original book, but the way they get killed simply lacks irony.
    Sure, they die in various, violent ways.
    But for an intelligent thriller, I would expect that the causes of their deaths would be related to the criminal acts the murderer charges them, adding said irony. No such thing.

    So, if you have nothing to do on a Sunday evening, this mini series will do.
    It just didn't really convince me.

    ************ SPOILER ADDITION *************
    For all readers who have already seen it, the following is an explanation of the crucial plot point:
    The doctor helps the murderer pretend he's dead. If the doctor wouldn't have done it, the murderer would have had a severe problem continuing with his plan.
    Then, when he declares the murderer dead, it would have taken only one of the guests checking for him-/herself or noticing that he's still breathing and it all would have ended right there.
    Furthermore, after that situation, the doctor could have refused to meet the murderer somewhere out on the island at night in the stormy weather (is he this stupid?) and thus, staying alive.
    Or the doctor could have changed his mind and tell the others.
    See? It's relying way too much on chance.    … Expand
  5. JoseCosta
    Apr 11, 2016
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An incredible suspense that puts you in perspective of all the details along each episode, with an unpredictable and awesome outcome in the end. Also of notice are the outstanding performances of Maeve Dermody as Vera, being a truly mysterious character since the beginning when she is an innocent woman until the end when her true self is revealed, and of course of Charles Dance as a judge and an eternal righteous man.… Expand
  6. LeZee
    Apr 4, 2016
    7
    Let the countdown begin...

    One of the many versions and the BBC's latest television adaptation of Agatha Christie's famous mystery novel of the same name. You might know as I mentioned many times earlier in my reviews that I'm not into books, so never ever bothered to try this book or any other, since I'm a movie fanatic I want surprises not spoilers, but I had seen the 1945 movie    Let the countdown begin...

    One of the many versions and the BBC's latest television adaptation of Agatha Christie's famous mystery novel of the same name. You might know as I mentioned many times earlier in my reviews that I'm not into books, so never ever bothered to try this book or any other, since I'm a movie fanatic I want surprises not spoilers, but I had seen the 1945 movie adaptation. It was a long time ago, a black & white movie, so I thought it's a time to check it out this.

    The famous books are always adapted numerous times for the screen. I usually enjoy them because they're made in the different timeline/era with a different style of presentation. This is my 2nd version of this story and it did not disappoint me at all. For being it a television product, it was a rich in production quality. Since it's a drama, that mostly happen in and around a single location, I believe it did not cost much.

    The island was awesome, very much looked like the one from 'Song of the Sea'. The outdoor shots were so pleasing, but most of the story takes place inside the mansion. I did not know all the cast, but those I knew were did not stay for very long. It was not the extraordinary performances, nevertheless great effort by all.

    This is a 3 episode mini series made for television and each one began and ended so well. I think the splits were the crucial and it was very nicely done to keep the pace of suspense up all the time. But it was a slow start, and I lost interest in the opening itself. Not until the near end of the first episode I was drawn to it and the remaining two were so much better than I anticipated, especially the last episode was a grand.

    "We are cut off. Rats in a barrel.
    This is the peace before the carnage."

    While the plot getting too tighter, all the characters became stronger. Especially the reactions to each other for the threat they were facing. In all that, the better parts were the brief flashbacks about their past events which were the key for their struggle to survive. That's how it was extended to 3 parts for almost 3 hours long. Mainly because of that I liked this series, which gives the reasons in pictures for the viewers why all the ten characters brought into such position.

    As we already know this story, we can expect everything to happen as it should be, but some minor changes were made all along, especially the ending was quite different than what I knew. But as far the book's concern, it was the closest one. I was not impressed by that, I would have not liked the other way around either for creativity lapse. So in that case I welcome the honestness which was at least something different than the movie I previously saw.

    In the end, I kind of felt like I saw a fusion between the original material and the movie 'Saw'. Except it was not a violent movie, since the violence is the mystery to solve, that is where the strength lies in this movie to entertain all sections of the audiences. I would like to suggest it, because this might the best version available as many were saying, yet I can't confirm that as I have seen only two including this.

    And finally. I hope there will a season 2. As I know only Nick Willing does that, but the thing is it was not a fairytale. These days sequels were made out everything, so what I'm expecting is not a crazy. I would definitely prefer the prequels to all those ten people's past events which led them to the island. That would be so awesome.

    7/10    … Expand
  7. eagleeyeviking
    Dec 30, 2016
    7
    While the situations in which the murders happen are far too convenient, And Then There Were None is filled with tension, gothic style and brilliant acting.
  8. JCgirl
    Apr 6, 2016
    5
    Wow. Just read the original title of this book was 10 Little N**grs. Wiki. So interesting to find out about these authors. She does sound too nice and accepting. With a google search you will see. Looks like an interesting show.
  9. futurenicole
    Oct 2, 2016
    3
    Very disappointing. First, this adaptation was unnecessarily gruesome and graphic, like a cheap horror flick. Second, it's so dully plotted that I got bored almost immediately. I did like the addition of flashbacks that showed more of the characters' backgrounds and true natures. (There's a particularly good twist with one of them.) Otherwise, the only reason I finished watching was forVery disappointing. First, this adaptation was unnecessarily gruesome and graphic, like a cheap horror flick. Second, it's so dully plotted that I got bored almost immediately. I did like the addition of flashbacks that showed more of the characters' backgrounds and true natures. (There's a particularly good twist with one of them.) Otherwise, the only reason I finished watching was for the costumes and Aidan Turner's gorgeous face! In sum, I'd say, skip this and watch the 1945 version on Amazon video -- or, better yet, bust out your DVD copy of "Clue"!… Expand

Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Best TV Season of 2016
6
#6 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Gail Pennington
    Mar 14, 2016
    75
    Although it isn’t a line-for-line adaptation, it is almost excruciatingly faithful to the tone of Christie’s book, building tension as skillfully as the author did.... Fans of British mysteries, cozy or edgy, won’t want to miss it.
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  2. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Constance Grady
    Mar 14, 2016
    80
    [And Then There Were None] is enormous fun: a lush, lurid, gothic fantasy of a murder mystery. It also has little in common with its source material.
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  3. Cleveland Plain Dealer
    Reviewed by: Mark Dawidziak
    Mar 12, 2016
    90
    Perhaps the most astonishing thing about this stylish, wonderfully atmospheric British production is how fresh it seems. It's not as if this is a tale rarely told.
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