Death Valley review is based on episodes 1-2.
The BBC has added a new murder-mystery show to its collection, and it has serious Death in Paradise vibes (or perhaps Beyond Paradise would be more accurate, given the lack of enviable weather) with just a sprinkling of ITV's Grantchester about it.
In that respect, the Wales-set Death Valley is hardly breaking the mould with its format.
In fact we've seen this set-up many times before: a small village where the death toll is scarily impressive, and the circumstances surrounding each demise are both familiarly absurd and wildly implausible.
Yet, the Timothy Spall-led comedy is still an enjoyable marvel you won't want to miss.
Here lead actor Spall plays a retired actor called John Chapel, whose fictional TV detective series earned him a place as a national treasure in the Welsh community he resides in.
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Since his days in the limelight, John has become a bit of a recluse. That is, until he is unwillingly pulled out of his loner lifestyle to help solve murder mysteries by an eager young detective sergeant, who also happens to be a super fan.
The BBC's new cosy crime drama sees co-lead Gwyneth Keyworth star as that very detective, Janie Mallowan.
Much like Grantchester's vicar/detective pairing, an unlikely duo is formed. It's pretty obvious what Janie brings to the crime-solving table, however John doesn't just rely on his prior on-screen role to muddle his way through a case. Instead, he uses his talents as a "highly skilled emotional empath" to be an asset.
It's already a quirky set up. And this tone is set from the off, as Spall's John is introduced as part of a show within a show, before then cropping up in 'real life' to help Janie with the cases.
It's this tone, peppered throughout the comedic murder mystery, that is part of what sets Death Valley apart from its peers. Unlike the Paradise shows, part of the gag in Death Valley comes from the fact that the show is sometimes a plot device for the joke itself.
Instead of the comedy just being narratively driven, elements of the show are comedic in themselves – think dual murders, with one fictional and on screen, and the other happening in the village.
Or, as you'll later see, there's a whole bit about John's acting master class – but, no spoilers!
Death Valley makes the comedy a function of the storytelling, beyond what is scripted, which compliments the 'oddball' feel of the show.
Yet while there are plenty of moments of playfulness, Death Valley isn't devoid of those necessary emotional beats that help you connect with its characters.
The show has a real knack for shifting from comedic to serious, in a way that takes you by surprise.
Keyworth is lovely in this role. There is an endearing and enigmatic quality to Janie, leading you to believe you've only just scratched the surface with this character. Her eccentricity is complimented by John's own, but in a very different way.
A curmudgeon presumably by nurture (not nature), John is sweet and entertaining in a grumpy fuddy-duddy sort of way.
Spall and Keyworth infuse their characters with a begrudging mentor/mentee chemistry that just works. Keyworth's Janie is bright-eyed, hopeful and mostly optimistic, with just a tinge of heaviness a layer or two below the bluff.
Connecting with her idol gives her an initial boost, but inevitably a slight disillusionment begins to creep in when her hero becomes less abstract and more of a real human.
There is the sense that this will be a good thing for their relationship – only by seeing each other as they truly are, can they have a meaningful friendship. Or at least, that seems to be the way Death Valley is steering them.
Only more episodes could possibly confirm that, which means viewers will have to stick with it.
And something tells us this won't be hard. Death Valley has that must-watch feel to it – once you start, you'll want to keep going. Much like Death in Paradise, you'll be hooked by the fun of the armchair investigation as much as you are by its heart.
Death Valley airs on weekly on Sundays on BBC One. The whole boxset is also available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
