As Beyond Paradise enters its fourth series, I finally decided to see what all the fuss is about. For three years, millions have tuned in to the BBC One hit, and as a lover of whodunnits, it's astonishing I never watched a full episode. I knew the cast and premise from clips, but now was the perfect time to start from the beginning.
First Impressions and Familiar Comfort
Moments into the opening scene, calming music played over shots of a stunning beach, soothing my soul. The introduction felt familiar and cosy, triggering nostalgia. But I was lured into false security as rock music soon accompanied a police chase, reminding me of a less urban version of The Bill.
Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) are heartwarming fan favourites from Death in Paradise. The spin-off catches up with them seven years later, engaged and starting a new life in Shipton Abbott, a coastal Devon town filmed in Looe, Cornwall. The biggest scandal there is a well-meaning thief who forgot his girlfriend's birthday. Humphrey is introduced dangling from a tree, implying he's ready for a quiet life solving self-contained cases, while Martha wants to run a café.
An Emotional Subplot
All seemed well as the couple's dream of having a baby finally came true after several failed IVF rounds. As they approach their first scan date, Humphrey is ready to tell the family, but a hesitant Martha isn't so sure. The subplot involves a woman thrown off her balcony who blames a creepy ghost. Seeing Davood Ghadami as sneery Ben Tyler was a delightful surprise; I'm still not over his EastEnders exit.
Within minutes of the investigation, I felt like I was trying to solve the case alongside Humphrey and Esther. The breakdown of events was visually pleasing, even cinematic. I wasn't close to solving the mystery, but it was fun trying.
A Heartbreaking Conclusion
The final moments confirmed Martha's biggest fears, leaving Humphrey unable to do anything but hold his wife-to-be as she mourned another heartbreaking miscarriage. The scene's unexpected seriousness provided contrast to the humour and crime, shining a light on miscarriage and fertility. It left me taken aback.
I was already rooting for their dreams of a family after only 55 minutes. After watching the first episode, I can confirm I am hooked. Beyond Paradise airs Fridays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
