R.I.P. Tide

I really like Death in Paradise, apart from the episodes with Ruby. The detectives in Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise are annoying, bumbling but brilliant and funny. This show tries to follow that theme in Australia.

The main detective, Mackenzie Clarke, has returned to Dolphin Cove, her hometown, from London. She is very unlikable and her manner of staring blankly while supposedly working out a clue is really disturbing. She needs to let that behavior go and close her eyes a bit.

Anyway, the rest of the cast is fine. The ex-fiancee is gorgeous and we get to see him shirtless running, which is a bonus. It's hard to see why he would ever be attracted to MacKenzie, who is really unlikeable and not attractive.

There is some comic relief and the other investigators are fine. Naturally, MacKenzie solves the case. I had to rewatch it to really understand what was going on. That doesn't really speak well for a show.

It isn't really necessary for the lead detective to solve a crime and not let any of the other officers know what they are thinking. They use this in the other shows of this series, but in Death in Paradise, Camille and Florence seem to be clued in to what lead detective is thinking.

This attempt to replicate the scenario of Death in Paradise was not successful. Assembling a grumpy boss, odd detective from London, frustrated second in command, young naive-but-keen assistant and older worldly-wise comedy-relief assistant in a beautiful setting might duplicate the scenario of the original, but it lacks any of the charm of Death in Paradise. The story line is weak, the setting is just a parody of the British image of Australian life, and the acting is bland at best. Some of these problems we put up with in later episodes of Death in Paradise because we have built up affection for the characters and locations. Here it is as though the writer is presenting us with already familiar and loved characters in a new setting just because the roles the fill are the same. There are far better cosy murder mysteries to watch, and I would certainly rewatch Death in Paradise to exhaustion rather than bother with this.

But the scenery is beautiful.

Was the world crying out for another 'Death in Paradise' spin-off? Probably not.

However, with the main show on the decline (not helped since by the fact they've made the new detective played by Don Gilet utterly unlikable) I willing to give this new incarnation of the format more of a fair chance.

I'm glad I did. It's got a freshness that the main show is lacking (and 'Beyond Paradise' with Kris Marshall is thriving on), whilst also having enough familiar nods to the franchise to make it feel linked.

DI Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson) may be a bit too much 'all work and no play', but it's episode 1 and there's plenty of time for her to settle down. She's certainly more fun than the grump moaning his way around St Marie right now.

Obviously, it is very hard not to compare this tothe sister shows Death In Paradise and Beyond Paradise but this was a good opener once it managed to get going.

Of course the characters and the setting had to be introduced so it took a while to settle in to the storyline.

Compared to the other two shows, it have a big of a twist in characters with an English comedic actor only playing settle fiddle but I guess the Aussies are funding this one.

To be honest the story is a bit run of the mill but the scenery is enjoyable even if it doesn't quite show the blazing sun of The Caribbean.

A old favourite (no, not Harry the lizard) can be seen in a scene to soothe you into the new show but he does seem a lot more tense than when we last saw him.

Worth sticking with.

London based Detective Mackenzie Clarke returns home to Dolphin Cove, Australia, to visit her mum, but gets drafted in to help the local Police, who are investigating the murder of local businessman Stuart Granger.

If you're a fan of Robert Thorogood's work, then in pretty sure that you will enjoy this one, it has all the hallmarks, the scenery, the clever plot, the quirky Detective and sunshine.

It feels fresh, but there's something very familiar about it, boosted by a familiar face from the past. Amusing at times, energetic, and I enjoyed the mystery, it's a fine start.

The first character I really warmed to was Colin, I think he's going to be terrific.

Mackenzie is definitely an interesting character, she clearly has a past, which I'm sure we'll discover more about as the series develops. My only hope is that they tone her down a little, when Neville started in Death in Paradise, his was too much, I felt the same here, she was a bit too much.

8/10.