There’s a reason Death in Paradise has lasted so long: British TV fans know they can escape for 90 minutes watching it. Death in Paradise season 15 is more of the same, coming to BritBox with eight new mysteries that all have the show’s signature style. However, it struggles when it comes to the next chapter of Mervin Wilson’s life.
This is actor Don Gilet’s second season as Mervin (plus two Christmas specials), and he’s clearly settled into Death in Paradise‘s leading role. These episodes have softened Mervin’s abrasive edge a bit—not entirely, or he’d be a totally different character, but enough so that he’s not quite as frustrating. He’s never going to have the warmth of a Humphrey Goodman, but Gilet gets to show a little more lightness on occasion. And he’s mastered the big episode-ending scenes where Mervin explains everything.
Season 15 also introduces Catherine Garton as Sergeant Mattie Fletcher, who fills the space left behind by the departure of Darlene Curtis. It’s not easy to fill actor Ginny Holder’s shoes, but Garton fits in quickly; from her very first scene, it’s obvious that she knows the tone of the show. Mattie also makes a good match with the previous new arrival, Seb Rose, so that Seb no longer feels like the freewheeling outlier.
Shantol Jackson continues to be a reliable and engaging co-lead as Naomi Thomas; her rapport with Gilet has gotten to flourish this season now that Naomi and Mervin aren’t butting heads as much. But as always, it’s Don Warrington and Elizabeth Bourgine who hold down the fort. The season premiere, in particular, gives Warrington some great scenes as it has to explain Commissioner Patterson’s return to Saint Marie. And Bourgine can always be counted on for a scene or two in which Catherine provides some commentary that the other characters need to hear. Add in some cool guest stars (such as Spooks alum Hermione Norris) and there’s plenty of reason to open a cold beverage and relax with Death in Paradise.
However, Season 15 veers off course with its ongoing subplot about the previously unknown brother whom Mervin learned about at the end of Season 14. In general, it feels depressing to keep adding angst to Mervin’s personal life. Gilet was so wonderful in exploring his grief as Mervin sought to find his mother’s killer—when that story ended, the character deserved to move forward. Instead, Death in Paradise just gives him another family problem. No one will be surprised at the big reveal concerning Solomon, and the character is neither compelling nor as funny as the show wants him to be. He’s not only a nuisance to Mervin, but also to the audience, and the season is less interesting every time he appears.
Death in Paradise Season 15 is a fine showcase for its actors, and at its best when it keeps delivering creative mysteries. Is the audience going to be able to guess the answer a fair part of the time? Yes, but is it also great fun to get to that answer? That’s also still true. It’s becoming clear the writers are struggling a bit to come up with meaningful personal subplots for the main characters, but as long as the whodunits are entertaining and Saint Marie still seems like a fine place to visit, this show will always be worth watching.
Death in Paradise streams Tuesdays on BritBox. Photo Credit: Courtesy of BritBox.
Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.
