As the episode begins, we jump to England 1914. Hercule Poirot (John Malkovich) speaks about being a refuge. He admits that he doesn’t have any family. He tells them that he is a police officer. After the intro, Sergeant Yelland (Michael Shaeffer) harasses Hercule in his house. He wants the letter from the ABC killer. Hercule manages to keep the letter hid behind his back. Hercule analyzes the stocking. Then, we jump over to Churston. Thora Grey (Freya Mavor) hears Sir Carmichael (Christopher Villiers) crying. She attempts to comfort him. Thora kisses him. Carmichael pulls back and asks her what she is doing. He tells her that he loves his wife. Thora is told to find a job elsewhere. Capstick (Suzanne Packer) interrupts and tells Carmichael that Lady Hermione (Tara Fitzgerald) is asking for him.

Capstick rubs it in Thora’s face. Thora leaves to smoke a cigarette. Cust (Eamon Farren) watches her from a distance. That night, Sir Carmichael takes the dog for a stroll. The killer approaches with a shovel. Carmichael is killed brutally. Hercule receives a visit from Mrs. Kirkham (Karen Westwood). He notices the political pin on her shirt. She speaks about her disdain for refugees. Kirkham gives him a letter. Hercule reads it immediately. He realizes that there has been another killing. Hercule rushes to a phonebooth to call the Clarke household. Hercule gets ahold of Franklin (Andrew Buchan). He asks about Carmichael. The family begins searching for Carmichael. Franklin finds him outside. The book is open to the letter C. Thora exits the bath and learns about the trouble.

The murder hits the news. Cust listens to it on the radio. Cust stares at his neighbor, before Rose (Shirley Henderson) interrupts with breakfast. Cust looks at Rose and says chin-chin before eating it begrudgingly. He vomits it up a short time later. Inspector Crome (Rupert Grint) speaks with the family. He believes that Thora was the target, because the killer is a sexual pervert. It is clear that Crome doesn’t have a clue what is going on. Lady Hermione eventually says that Hercule was there. Franklin reminds her that he visited a long time ago. He helps her back to bed. Hercule is ridiculed in the newspaper for withholding information. We see a flashback of Hercule’s past. He is harassed after leaving the church. He is belittled for leaving his country and not fighting.

He gets into a car with Franklin. Cust listens to Rose and Lily (Anya Chalotra). Rose complains that no one loves her. Lily sings a sad song for her. Cust seems sad as well. Another letter is written to Hercule. Hercule speaks to Franklin about his brother and Lady Hermione. Neither man has much faith in Crome. Hercule gives Franklin his opinion. Franklin wants Hercule’s help. A letter arrives. Hercule shows it to Franklin. Franklin wants to pay Hercule to ask the questions. A short time later, Hercule meets with Megan Barnard (Bronwyn James) and Donald Fraser (Jack Farthing). Franklin tells Hercule about Thora’s predicament. Hercule admits he doesn’t believe the killer is a man. Donald is not happy with Hercule’s choice of words. Hercule begins asking his questions. Hercule asks one simple question before Donald makes a run for it.

Hercule asks Megan about Betty’s stockings. Cust goes insane in his bed. He seems to have a seizure. Hercule travels to Andover. He investigates the first murder scene. He finds something in the fireplace. It looks like a part of a package. Next, Hercule returns into Crome. Hercule denies withholding information from Crome. Hercule tells Crome about the stockings. He shows Crome the paper from the fireplace. He believes it is the package that the stocking came in. Crome isn’t impressed. Crome believes there has to be a code to the letters. Hercule admits there is and it is him. Hercule tells him how the murders are related to his past. He shows Crome the newspaper article he found in Asher’s show. The newspaper article is about Hercule delivering a baby on a train. The mother’s name was Marie, but he isn’t sure of her surname.

Crome wonders if the baby is the man writing the letters. They work to find out where the killer could strike next. Crome tells the police about the locations starting with the letter D. Cust gives Lily money. She looks at his backgammon game and sees ABC on the front. She jokes that he could be the killer. Cust tells her that murder is a sin against god. Cust takes out the stockings. He allowed her to blindfold him with the stocking. We see that Cust has sores on his back. He pleads with her to help him let out the darkness. Lily climbs on his back. He tells her that it needs to hurt. She makes his back bleed. We move over to Bexhill. Hercule shows the piece of paper to Megan. Megan begins telling Hercule the truth about that night. In a flashback, Donald blames Megan for the split.

She tells him where Betty is at. They visit the location and track her down. Megan walks part Cust along the way. Hercule thanks her before leaving. He tells her that he will think what he pleases about Donald. Megan continues thinking about the stranger. She tells Hercule about the man and claims he was wearing the same clothes. Hercule prepares to speak with Lady Hermione. We jump back five years and see Hercule attend Hermione’s birthday party. Hercule agrees to hold her a birthday murder. Then Hercule meets with her in person. He asks her about believing that he visited the house recently. She blames it on the medication. She tells him about looking out of the window and seeing the man wearing the same clothing as Hercule. She says that he was just a salesman.

She isn’t able to tell him a whole lot about the visitor. Thora tells Hercule that she bought a pair of stockings from him to make him go away. He cannot remember anything else. She claims that the stockings were too short so she threw them away. We see the flashback once again. Hercule speaks with the preacher. The preacher gives Peter a drink. Hercule speaks about his fear of failing. Another letter is written to Hercule. A short time later, we’re introduced to Dexter Dooley (Gregor Fisher). Dooley travels to Doncaster. We see that Cust is there too. Dooley argues with another performer. Hercule and Crome travel to Doncaster. Hercule takes note of a power for Dooley. Dooley’s comrade messes with his doll’s eye. The man is killed a short time later. The book is left near his body. ABC has made a mistake. He has killed Benny Grew (Neil Hurst) and not Dooley.

Hercule believes that ABC will strike out now. He tells Crome that they need to prepare. Hercule spots something odd after getting off of the train He follows someone. The person loses Hercule. Later, he gets a phone call and hears breathing on the other end. The caller says nothing. Hercule finds another note.

 

The ABC Murders Review

This episode of The ABC Murders was just okay. The pacing is awkward. That definitely doesn’t help. Not a lot happened this episode, but it wasn’t a total bust. The story did advance a bit and the moody atmosphere is excellent. The acting has been great across the board. The ABC Murders isn’t perfect or anywhere near it. Nevertheless, I have managed to tolerate it pretty easily. This episode was decent. It scores a 7.5 out of 10. Catch up with previous recaps of The ABC Murders now!