Line #27 Series/Marple


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/marple_itv_250px.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:250:From left to right: Miss Marple]]
3
4	''Marple'' (stylized as ''Agatha Christie: Marple'' or ''Agatha Christie's Marple'') is a TV series featuring the amateur detective Literature/MissMarple created by Creator/AgathaChristie. The series is made by Creator/{{ITV}} and has aired six seasons of 3-4 movie-length episodes from 2004 to 2014. [=Geraldine McEwan=] played Miss Marple in the first three seasons, succeeded by [=Julia McKenzie=] in the remaining three.
5
6	The series has not restricted itself to adapting Christie's Miss Marple novels; as early as the second season it began including episodes based on novels featuring other less famous detectives, who in the ''Marple'' adaptations are either written out or given secondary roles. Even the episodes that are based on Marple novels are adapted loosely, often changing plot details and even the identity of the murderer.
7
8	%% This is not inherently a bad thing, and Agatha Christie herself used to do the same when adapting her works, feeling that a new version of a mystery story ought to contain some mysteries even for people familiar with the old version. The question is whether it is done ''well'' -- which is a question beyond the scope of this page.
9
10	[[folder:List of episodes]]
11	[[AC:Series 1]]
12	# "Literature/TheBodyInTheLibrary"
13	# "Literature/TheMurderAtTheVicarage"
14	# "Literature/FourFiftyFromPaddington"
15	# "Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced"
16
17	[[AC:Series 2]]
18	# "Literature/SleepingMurder"
19	# "Literature/TheMovingFinger"
20	# "[[Literature/TommyAndTuppence By the Pricking of My Thumbs]]"
21	# "Literature/TheSittafordMystery"
22
23	[[AC:Series 3]]
24	# "Literature/AtBertramsHotel"
25	# "Literature/OrdealByInnocence"
26	# "Literature/TowardsZero"
27	# "Literature/{{Nemesis\|AgathaChristie}}"
28
29	[[AC:Series 4]]
30	# "Literature/APocketFullOfRye"
31	# "Literature/MurderIsEasy"
32	# "Literature/TheyDoItWithMirrors"
33	# "Literature/WhyDidntTheyAskEvans"
34
35	[[AC:Series 5]]
36	# "Literature/ThePaleHorse"
37	# "Literature/TheSecretOfChimneys"
38	# "[[Literature/TheThirteenProblems The Blue Geranium]]"
39	# "Literature/TheMirrorCrackdFromSideToSide"
40
41	[[AC:Series 6]]
42	# "Literature/ACaribbeanMystery"
43	# "[[Literature/TheAdventureOfTheChristmasPudding Greenshaw's Folly]]"
44	# "Literature/EndlessNight"
45	[[/folder]]
46	----
47	!!This series contains examples of:
48
49	* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade:
50	** Miss Marple herself is equipped with a romance backstory where she cast away a man she loved because he was married and she urged him to uphold his responsibilities.
51	** ''4:50 From Paddington'' does this to almost every character. The lecherous old man who called his wife stupid becomes a grieving widower. The cocky, smug artist of the book publicly announces he's an artistic failure and breaks down crying in front of his father in the film. The shady businessman type also breaks down crying after his disappeared accomplice. The prim politician detests his exaggeratedly unattractive wife and bitterly resents his parents' happiness. A minor, happily married character is given a sordid backstory of sexual assault. The central murder of the book becomes "a crime born of love." Even Mrs [=McGillicuddy=] is given her share of tragedy in the form of unrequited feelings.
52	** ''Literature/AtBertramsHotel'' has a band of bored thieves becoming avengers of the Holocaust and a greedy teenager in love with a dashing racing driver becoming [[spoiler: a closeted lesbian racked with guilt over persuading her beloved girl to go for a swim in the river (where Elvira ended up ''not'' swimming with her), where she caught polio and was left with a paralysed arm.]]
53	** ''Literature/TheBodyInTheLibrary'': ITV's intepretation of Mark Gaskell is a lot more sympathetic than what's shown in the original novel. For one, the death of his wife seems to affect him more greatly in the adaptation than it did in the books. This particular adaptation also turns him into a former RAF soldier who fought in WWII, and there are several hints that he's suffering from [[ShellShockedVeteran shell-shock]] and SurvivorGuilt (because two of his best friends were killed during the war), which turns him into a gambling addict. [[spoiler:The fact that he's innocent of the crime he committed in the original books just ramps up his misery even further]].
54	** ''Literature/TheMovingFinger'' has an old military man commit suicide because of his taboo sexual orientation (unclear whether gay or bisexual), and turned Jerry's injuries into self-inflicted ones from a failed suicide.
55	** ''A Murder is Announced'' turns the happy relationship of Mrs. Swettenham and her son into a creepy possessive one, removes the son's mild love story and adds an angsty one between the mother and an alcoholic colonel. Mitzi's attention-seeking histrionics are replaced with quiet contempt and bitterness, to the point of completely eliminating her role as comic relief.
56	** ''By The Pricking of My Thumbs'', an adaptation of a Literature/TommyAndTuppence novel, turns Tuppence into a resentful, flask-carrying alcoholic who is jealous of Tommy's successful spying career, while she got sidelined because of her pregnancy. In the books, she remained a successful spy even after having children, and never lost her cheerful, tenacious personality.
57	* AdaptationExpansion: The series did this to several of the episodes, most notably ''The Blue Geranium'' and ''Greenshaw's Folly'', both of which were originally short stories. In both cases, both the cast and the sequence of events were significantly expanded upon and, in the case of ''Greenshaw's Folly'', several additional murders took place throughout the episode. Furthermore, in ''The Secret of Chimneys'', elements of another short story, ''The Herb of Death'', were introduced, making this episode a quasi expansion on that short story.
58	* AdaptationalHeroism:
59	** In the novel ''Literature/TheBodyInTheLibrary'', Mark Gaskell is an unscrupulous gambler and has a generally unpleasant personality. In the 2004 adaptation, he's still a gambler and is [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]], but he's otherwise a very nice person, shows great respect to Miss Marple, and is a former war hero. [[spoiler:He's also ''not'' the murderer in this continuity.]]
60	** In the novel ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', [[spoiler:John Burnaby]] is the murderer; the adaptation's equivalent character, [[spoiler:Enderby]], is innocent, albeit only loosely based on the novel's counterpart, [[spoiler:being an old ex-soldier and Trevelyan's closest friend]].
61	** Victoria in the ''Literature/ACaribbeanMystery'' novel was just a greedy blackmailer who [[SheKnowsTooMuch knew too much]]. The series expands her role to [[spoiler:an accomplice who was hired by the murderer to drive his wife insane, but several scenes make it clear that she felt awful about it and that she only agreed because she was desperate for money to care for her sick child.]]
62	* AdaptationalIntelligence: In ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'', Bunny is still noticeably scattered, but a lot less so than other adaptations and the book.
63	* AdaptationalJerkass:
64	** In ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'', Edmund Swettenham is an altogether more bitter and unpleasant boy than in the book, and resentful of his mother's relationship. It doesn't help that his [[spoiler:clever plot with Inspector Craddock]] and his tender relationship with [[spoiler:Phillipa Haymes]] are taken out.
65	** In ''The Blue Geranium'', the killer was made far more greedy and money-hungry than in the original short story, as [[spoiler: she]] was given a background as an RAF nurse, who sold medication on the black market for marked up profits. [[spoiler: Her]] motive for the murder, furthermore, wasn't direct financial gain ([[spoiler: she]] wasn't in the will), but rather indirect financial gain, as [[spoiler: she]] blackmailed one of the victim's relatives into handing over a significant part of the inheritance.
66	* AdaptationalNameChange:
67	** Clara Swettenham is renamed Sadie in the adaptation of ''A Murder Is Announced''.
68	** Two characters from ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'' swap surnames: Charles Enderby and John Burnaby become Charles Burnaby and John Enderby. [[spoiler: With the change in the murderer's identity, this name change serves to retain the novel's association of the surname Burnaby with the guilty party.]] Also, Trevelyan's first name is changed from Joseph to Clive.
69	* AdaptationalNationality: Mitzi in ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced''. The book implies she is a German Jew; the 2005 ''Marple'' version implies she is from Nazi-occupied Poland.
70	* AdaptationalNiceGuy:
71	** Due to a change in the identity of the killer, the killer in ''Literature/TheBodyInTheLibrary'' is far more sympathetic than her counterpart in the book. The killer, in this case, was driven to murder [[spoiler: to provide for her son, who would inherit little to no money otherwise.]] Miss Marple even commended [[spoiler: her for being a good mother.]]
72	** The killer in ''4:50 from Paddington'' is much more sympathetic than in the original novel. [[spoiler:Here, his motive is his love for Emma and not his desire for the Crackenthorpe fortune.]]
73	** The killer from ''Murder is Easy'' was given a dark secret as a (rather unconvincing) motive for commiting a slew of murders. While this does not ingratiate [[spoiler: her]] with the other characters, it does avoid painting [[spoiler: her]] off as the raging psychopath [[spoiler: she]] was in the book.
74	** ''They Do It with Mirrors'' changes the motive of the killer from [[spoiler: "killing to hide his involvement in fraud and embezzelment, which furthered his own cause, from his wife" to "commiting fraud and embezzelment to save his wife's cause and subsequently commiting murder to protect said cause (and his wife)".]] This made the murderer genuinly kind-hearted, instead of greedy and gold-digging.
75	** ''Greenshaw's Folly'' turned both killers into a mother-son pair and gave them both some additional characterization. This, in turn, changed them from money-hungry (semi-)strangers into distant relatives, who were running a con to escape poverty. Upon being confronted at the summation gathering, they even try to take the blame for one another, as they genuinly care for each other.
76	* AdaptationalPersonalityChange:
77	** Colonel Melchett, in ''Literature/TheBodyInTheLibrary'', has a much more jumpy and bombastic personality that would be more fitting for Inspector Slack.
78	** The murderer in ''Murder is Easy'' goes from an insane {{narcissist}} to a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds who is desperately trying to hide their shameful past.
79	* AdaptationalSeriousness: Mitzi is toned down considerably in ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced''.
80	* AdaptationalSexuality:
81	** The adaptation of ''Literature/TheBodyInTheLibrary'' makes [[spoiler:Josie]] a lesbian, and she is having an affair with [[spoiler:Adelaide instead of Mark, as was in the books]]. This change in dynamics results in an AdaptationalVillainy and AdaptationalHeroism for the respective characters, as [[spoiler:the two lovers/partners-in-crime were accomplices in the murder of Ruby Keene, while the other sibling was innocent]].
82	** In the adaptation of ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'', a subtle lesbian subtext in the original novel is made much more explicit.
83	** In ''Literature/AtBertramsHotel'', [[spoiler: Elvira]] is desperate for money in order to marry a [[GoldDigger dashing racecar driver]]; in the episode she's a [[spoiler:closeted lesbian]], and needs the money [[spoiler: to take care of her partially crippled lover.]]
84	* AdaptationalVillainy:
85	** In ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'', [[spoiler:Mitzi tries to kill Miss Blacklock in righteous outrage during the SummationGathering.]]
86	** In ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', [[spoiler:Charles Enderby, renamed Charles Burnaby,]] was innocent in the book but is the murderer of Trevelyan in this adaptation. Trevelyan himself is given a sordid backstory involving killing a man and seducing and abandoning his sister, something not present in the novel.
87	** In ''Ordeal By Innocence'', Rachel Argyle goes from a very sweet and loving (if a little insensitive and dominating) mother in the novels, into a harsh and unloving shrew who belittles her husband and disapproves of her children's growing relationship with each other in the series.
88	** In ''Sleeping Murder'', Helen Kennedy Halliday goes from a nice young lady whose only crime is [[spoiler: being so beautiful that her own half-brother falls in love with her]] to being [[spoiler: a jewel thief living under a false identity. However, it's hinted that both were part of her efforts to escape said half-brother.]]
89	** In ''Literature/AtBertramsHotel'', Canon Pennyfather goes from a kindly, forgetful vicar to a [[spoiler: Nazi war criminal in disguise]].
90	* AdaptationalWimp: In ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'', there is no mention of Edmund finally getting published, as he did in the book; he remains stuck in the stereotype of "useless rich boy with writing hobby".
91	* AdaptedOut:
92	** The adaptation of ''Literature/TheBodyInTheLibrary'' removes two of the "detectives" involved in the case -- Inspector Slack and Sir Henry Clithering -- presumably to keep the spotlight more focused on Miss Marple. Hugo [=McLean=], Adelaide's admirer, is also omitted.
93	** The adaptation of ''Literature/TheMirrorCrackdFromSideToSide'' removes Marina's butler Giuseppe.
94	** Angus [=MacWhirter=] doesn't appear in the adaptation of ''Literature/TowardsZero'', with Miss Marple taking over most of his role in solving the case.
95	** James Pearson's other relatives do not appear in the adaptation of ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery''.
96	** Although he's not taken out completely, Miss Marple takes over most of Tommy's original role in ''By The Pricking of My Thumbs''.
97	* AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul: While ''4.50 from Paddington'' has every male in Rutherford Hall express some interest in Lucy Eyelesbarrow, as it was in the book, the episode mirrors the previous BBC adaption in that there are only two men with a serious chance at her - Bryan Eastley and Inspector Tom Campbell. The ending has her chose [[spoiler:Campbell.]]
98	* AgeLift:
99	** Hinch and Murgatroyd from ''A Murder Is Announced'' go from being late middle-aged to in their forties.
100	** Luke Fitzwilliam from ''Murder Is Easy'' is aged down from a retired police officer to a young, active one.
101	* AntagonisticOffspring: In ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', [[spoiler:Charles Burnaby]] is revealed to be the biological child of Trevelyan, and harbours hatred for him on account of his past sins.
102	* AwkwardKiss: Between Jerry Burton and Elsie Holland in ''Literature/TheMovingFinger''.
103	* BadHabits: Canon Pennyfather in ''Literature/AtBertramsHotel'' turns out to be a Nazi war criminal.
104	* BettyAndVeronica: In ''Literature/TheMovingFinger'', the quirky Megan Hunter is the Betty to the elegant and drop dead gorgeous Elsie Holland's Veronica.
105	* {{Blackmail}}: Attempted by Ella in ''Literature/TheMirrorCrackdFromSideToSide''. [[spoiler:She calls up people left right and center to tell them she saw them poison Heather's drink. She eventually reaches the correct person, and gets killed for her pains.]]
106	* BrotherSisterIncest: The killer in ''Literature/SleepingMurder'', [[spoiler:Dr Kennedy]], was motivated by his lust and possessiveness towards his sister. [[spoiler:He's hinted to have been preparing to start grooming his niece, too, before he's revealed to have murdered both of her parents.]]
107	* {{Bookends}}: The opening shot of ''Literature/TheMurderAtTheVicarage'' scans across Miss Marple's dressing table; among the items is a copy of Creator/RaymondChandler's ''The Simple Art of Murder''. The final shot is another scan of her dressing table after an [[TimeSkip unspecified time has passed]]; Miss Marple has moved on to Chandler's ''Literature/FarewellMyLovely''.
108	* BreakTheCutie:
109	** In ''Literature/TheBodyInTheLibrary'', this happens to Peter Carmody when [[spoiler:his mother, who got an AdaptationalVillainy, was arrested for the murder of Ruby Keene and Pamela Reeves]], and his usual cheerful and enthusiastic demeanour was replaced by a blank look of despair when the case was closed.
110	** Gwenda Vaughn in ''Ordeal by Innocence''. At the start of the episode, she's radiantly happy about marrying the man she's silently loved for years and becoming part of a real family at last, and excitedly inviting her former employer Miss Marple to her wedding. By three-quarters of the way through [[spoiler:her wedding has been cancelled -- the day before, no less -- and her new family has flipped on a dime to consider her guilty of murder, though no one has actually come out and said it, which probably makes it even worse. It's heavily implied that she would have committed suicide if she hadn't been [[DeceasedFallGuyGambit murdered instead.]] ]]
111	* BrickJoke: In ''Literature/TheMurderAtTheVicarage'' adaptation. In his first interview with Miss Marple, Inspector Slack asks whether she is hard of hearing, and she replies it's excellent. After the inquest a week or so later, Miss Marple is hobbling away (she's walking with a cane due to a sprained ankle) and Inspector Slack mutters to his constable that (thanks to her being the LittleOldLadyInvestigates) he doesn't know whether to give Miss Marple a box of chocolates or kick away her walking stick. From across the parking lot, Miss Marple calls over her shoulder, 'I'd prefer the chocolates.'
112	* BritishBrevity: Six seasons over nine years, each with only four stories (three for the last), totalling to 23 episodes. BBC acquiring the rights to adapting Agatha Christie's novels brought the series to a close.
113	* BungledSuicide: The backstory behind Jerry's injuries in ''Literature/TheMovingFinger''.
114	* BuryYourGays: Even considering this is a murder mystery, the survival rate of characters who get an [[AdaptationalSexuality adaptational sexuality change/confirmation]] is astonishingly low. Aside from PsychoLesbian murderers who will presumably be hanged for their crime, there's [[spoiler:Colonel Appleton]] from ''Literature/TheMovingFinger'' ([[{{Gayngst}} committed suicide over a forbidden relationship]]), Robbie from ''Endless Night'' (dying of an illness), [[spoiler:Miss Murgatroyd]] from ''A Murder is Announced'' (killed after realising the murderer's identity).
115	* ButchLesbian: Miss Hinchcliffe in "Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced" cuts her hair in a masculine style and wears men's suits and hats.
116	* TheCameo: Creator/RobertHardy appears in an early scene of ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'' as UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill.
117	* CanonForeigner:
118	** The adaptation of ''Ordeal by Innocence'' adds the character of Bobby, the fraternal twin to Jack Argyle.
119	** ''Literature/AtBertramsHotel'' adds numerous characters: an inspector, a maid who becomes Miss Marple's assistant, a maid who blackmails the killer, a solicitor, a fashion designer, identical twin thieves, a singer and her friend Music/LouisArmstrong.
120	** Of the twenty-three episodes, ''Miss Marple herself'' doesn't appear in nine of the books they're based on; given that "The Blue Geranium" and "Greenshaw's Folly" were both adapted successfully, it raises the question as to why more of the Marple short stories weren't adapted instead.
121	* CompositeCharacter: ''Why Didn't They Ask Evans?'' combines Sylvia's husband Henry Bassington-ffrench and his wealthy friend John Savage into a single character named Jack Savage.
122	* ConspicuousGloves: In ''Literature/TowardsZero'', a character named Thomas Royd (played by Julian Sands) wears a glove on his useless right hand. He's asked about it at dinner, and he explains that he got caught in a doorway during an earthquake when he was a child.
123	* CouldntFindALighter: In ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'', Patrick lights his cigarette from the candles on a birthday cake.
124	* DarkerAndEdgier: In most Miss Marple mysteries, the culprits are last seen being driven away in a police car while the titular character makes a brief remark on morality/crime/psychology. Normally, the criminal's attitude is fairly dignified, either a rueful variant of "well played, ma'am", or "I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for [[YouMeddlingKids that meddling old woman]]!" This adaptation draws attention to the fact that the outcome of being found guilty of murder in this time period was ''execution''. We see several criminals panicking or shuddering in their cells, screaming, struggling and crying as they are taken to their execution, and occasionally see the execution itself. In cases where the motive was due to a love affair, we see the condemned screaming or calling out to their lover as they are taken away from the crime scene, or when they are about to be hanged.
125	* DeadAnimalWarning: In ''Endless Night'', Ellie discovers a dead bird with a threatening message pinned to it on her doorstep as part of a campaign of harassment aimed at her.
126	* DeathByAdaptation:
127	** In ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', the killer (who was not the killer in the original novel) commits suicide after being unmasked.
128	** [[spoiler:Gwenda Vaughan]] is murdered instead of [[spoiler:Philip Durrant]] in ''Ordeal By Innocence''.
129	** At the end of ''Why Didn't They Ask Evans?'', [[spoiler:Roger and Moira attempt one final murder and are both killed in the ensuing struggle. In the novel, Moira was arrested while Roger [[KarmaHoudini got away scot-free]].]]
130	* DidNotGetTheGirl:
131	** [[spoiler:Bryan Eastley]] in ''4:50 from Paddington''.
132	** [[spoiler:James Pearson]] in ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', in contrast to the original novel. [[spoiler:Emily Trefusis]] declines his proposal and goes travelling to Argentina.
133	* DisabilityAlibi:
134	** Brigit in ''At Bertram's Hotel'' only has use of one arm, ruling her out as the sniper who fired at Elvira with a rifle. [[spoiler:The sniper was actually Elvira, firing at Brigit dressed in Elvira's clothes. They then switched places, giving them both an alibi.]]
135	** The killer in ''Towards Zero'' is believed to be someone who had killed before, using a bow and arrow, who entered the house by climbing a rope, and who had an identifying physical characteristic. All of the suspects have at least one such characteristic, but Thomas's is that he has no use of one arm and so couldn't have used a bow or climbed a rope. [[spoiler:He is indeed completely innocent.]]
136	* DolledUpInstallment: A significant proportion of episodes are derived from Agatha Christie novels that originally contained no Miss Marple.
137	* FingerTwitchingRevival: The first indication that Jerry wasn't successful in his suicide attempt, which nicely segues into the title screen of ''Literature/TheMovingFinger''.
138	* FootPopping: Happens during Jerry and Megan's BigDamnKiss at the end of ''Literature/TheMovingFinger''.
139	* FrameUp: In ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', James Pearson is framed by the killer for the blackmailer's murder.
140	* GaussianGirl: In ''Literature/TheMovingFinger'' points out which woman has caught Jerry's eye by giving her a gaussian shot. The first is the beautiful Elsie Holland, though later Megan Hunter gets one when Jerry comes to the realisation that he has feelings for her.
141	* GenreSavvy: Inspector Finch in ''The Secret of Chimneys,'' who's considered to be the great genius of Scotland Yard. He's heard of Miss Marple and knows how she constantly solves crimes on her own, humiliating his colleagues. He researches her thoroughly, and when she shows up at his crime scene, he immediately asks for her assistance so that they can solve the crime together.
142	* GoldDigger: Implied for Emily Trefusis in this adaptation of ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery''. Not only did she break off an engagement to Marple's nephew Raymond in order to get together with the James Pearson (who she only knew thanks to Raymond introducing the two of them in the first place), but the end of the story has her [[spoiler:reject the now disinherited James's proposal in order to go jetting off the Buenos Aires with the newly minted (and newly rich) Mrs. Trevelyan. Though in fairness, James was a useless spendthrift drunk and she could have just as easily come to her senses and realized that he'd be a terrible husband with or without money.]]
143	* HistoricalDomainCharacter:
144	** UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill has a cameo in ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', played by Creator/RobertHardy.
145	** Music/LouisArmstrong has a cameo in ''Literature/AtBertramsHotel'', played by Shenton Dixon.
146	** ''Literature/ACaribbeanMystery'' has a subplot with Miss Marple striking up an acquaintance with Creator/IanFleming, played by Jeremy Crutchley, who is suffering from writer's block. [[spoiler:James Bond also appears -- that is, the real-life ornithologist whose name would prove influential to Fleming.]]
147	** Creator/NoelCoward appears briefly in ''4:50 from Paddington''. Miss Marple wanders into one of his gatherings, and spoils the punchline to a joke, much to his chagrin.
148	* ICouldaBeenAContender: The adaptation of the Literature/TommyAndTuppence novel ''By the Pricking of My Thumbs'' contains a what-if scenario where Tuppence [[FamilyVersusCareer had to turn down a recruitment offer from MI6 to look after her and Tommy's children]]. The bitterness and loss of self-confidence leads her to become a functional alcoholic.
149	* InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt: The series began as simply ''Marple'' but is now officially ''Agatha Christie's Marple''.
150	* InNameOnly: Very few episodes of the series adapt Christie's stories faithfully, most of the episodes are PragmaticAdaptation at best, while the other ones are nearly unrecognizable at worst.
151	** The series' adaptation of ''The Secret of Chimneys'' shares a few character names with the original source material, but pretty much everything else has been changed: the relationship between the characters, the identities of the victim (actually a CanonForeigner) and murderer, and even the background/setting. In fact, it might as well be an original story, since one would hardly recognise any elements from the original novel.
152	** The adaptation of ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'' similarly made an extraordinary number of changes to the novel, altering the murder motive, the circumstances of the murder, the identity of the murderer, the characters' personalities, backstories, situations and relationship dynamics, and the whole atmosphere, as well as adding {{Canon Foreigner}}s including an appearance of Winston Churchill.
153	** The adaptation of ''Murder is Easy'' heavily changes the personalities and roles of the characters (even with the inclusion of Miss Marple as CanonForeigner). Motive of the murders is completely different, the murderer [[spoiler:herself]] is almost unrecognizable. Not to mention that many of the characters and sub-plots are AdaptedOut. The tone is admittedly DarkerAndEdgier than the novel's.
154	** ''Nemesis'' episode is also only very loosely based on the eponymous novel. The plot goes in very different ways with heavily altered characters. The motive for the murders is also different and nearly everything about the murderer and victims is changed.
155	** ''At Bertram's Hotel'' episode also drastically changes the plot and the characters, many of which are CanonForeigner. As in many other episodes, the personality and motives of the murderer is completely different and this time involves AdaptationalSexuality. With the inclusion of many new characters, brand new sub-plots were created.
156	** ''Why Didn't They Ask Evans?'' episode is also heavily altered compared to the novel, the least of the changes would be inclusion of Miss Marple. The events and plot theads are changed substantially. The characters have different personalities.
157	* IrregularSeries: Each of the six series, aired between 2004 and 2013, contains 3-4 feature-length episodes.
158	* ItsPersonal:
159	** Not overtly, but in ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'', when [[spoiler:Murgatroyd is killed]], Marple is visibly devastated and in HeroicBSOD mode in the scene immediately following. During the SummationGathering, she is reminiscent of a shark.
160	** Her devastation at the murder of her friend and ex-employee Gwenda Vaughan in this adaptation of ''Literature/OrdealByInnocence'' likewise comes through when she confronts the killer.
161	** Similarly, ''The Pale Horse'' has an old friend, Father Gorman murdered. As she wraps things up, she enrages the {{Smug Snake}} culprit by dressing down their incompetence and wickedness so viciously ([[OOCIsSeriousBusiness just barely avoiding raising her voice in anger]]) that they have to be [[LetMeAtHim dragged away practically frothing at the mouth.]]
162	* LargeHam: Just about every suspect in ''The Pale Horse'' except [[spoiler:the one who actually did it]].
163	* MaybeEverAfter:
164	** In ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'', [[spoiler:it's left ambiguous whether Patrick and Emma get together. In the original novel, [[DidNotGetTheGirl she rejects him.]]]]
165	** Instead of getting engaged to Luke at the end of ''Murder is Easy'', Bridget leaves town on her own. However, she does slip him a postcard with the word "soon" written on it. Considering she just learned that [[spoiler: her mother is a serial killer and that she's the product of rape and incest]], she probably needs some time on her own.
166	* MonochromeApparition: In the adaptation of ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', the ghost of murder victim Clive Trevelyan appears in shades of bluish grey at the end of the episode. At the very beginning of the show, Trevelyan himself is shown to be haunted by the ghostly apparition [[spoiler:of the mother of his child, who he abandoned in Egypt a quarter of a decade prior.]]
167	* MythologyGag: Near the end of ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', James Pearson demands the chance to make a confession to Major Enderby - that ''he'' was the one who manipulated the glass during the séance to proclaim that Trevelyan would die that night. The Major's complete incredulity that ''this'' is what Pearson sees as an important confession becomes hilarious when you realise that, in the novel, the Major was the one who messed with the séance, and that interfering with it in the first place played a vital part in [[spoiler:his plot to murder Trevelyan.]]
168	* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Neville and Kay Strange in ''Towards Zero'' both have strange and sadistic interests - Kay openly smiles and laughs at the sight of her husband bleeding and at someone describing being crippled by a collapsing building, while Neville [[spoiler:schemes to have his ex-wife hanged as revenge for leaving him, and demands that he be allowed to watch her die.]]
169	* NeverOneMurder: In ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', the murderer kills a blackmailing witness.
170	* NotActuallyHisChild: Played with in ''Literature/SleepingMurder'' - Dickie Erskine knows his son George isn't his biological child, because he's infertile. When he learns that his wife Janet had actually had an affair with shy, sensitive solicitor Walter - rather than, as he suspected, the roguish drug dealer Jackie - he's genuinely surprised and relieved. His final scene has him, Janet, Walter and George all having a cheerful game of Happy Families.
171	* NotBloodSiblings: Tina and Micky Argyle in ''Ordeal by Innocence''.
172	* NotHisSled: Several episodes of ''Marple'' change the identity, motive, etc. of the murderer.
173	* NotWhatItLooksLike: From an audience perspective. In ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'', [[spoiler:Patrick and Emma kiss]] long before it's explained, or even hinted at, that [[spoiler:she ''is'' Emma, not Julia]].
174	* OneSteveLimit: Averted in ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery''. Violet Willett shares her first name with Violet Hopkins, the woman Trevelyan had a relationship with years ago. Lampshaded. Becomes a relevant plot point, as [[spoiler:Trevelyan thought he found his "second chance of happiness" in Violet Willett and the two are secretly married.]]
175	* PhoneyCall: In the adaptation of ''Literature/FourFiftyFromPaddington'', Lucy Eyelesbarrow is on the phone to Miss Marple, explaining what she has discovered so far. When one of the family approaches, she pretends to be having an inconsequential conversation with her 'aunt', before saying that she is terribly busy and had to go and hanging up.
176	* PromotedToLoveInterest:
177	** In the adaptation of ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', Emily requites Charles' love early on, and the two begin a romantic relationship. [[spoiler:At least until he is revealed as the murderer, to Emily's horror, subverting the trope.]]
178	** Inverted in ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'' -- Philippa and Edmund's relationship is completely taken out.
179	** In ''Sleeping Murder'', Gwenda Halliday/Reed's husband becomes a fiancee who [[TheGhost never actually appears]]. Instead, CanonForeigner Hugh becomes her confidant and aide in the investigation, and at the end of the episode, she becomes engaged to him instead.
180	* PronouncingMyNameForYou: Lettice in the ITV version of ''Literature/TheMurderAtTheVicarage'' would like to make it clear that her name is ''not'' pronounced the same way as the vegetable.
181	* PsychoLesbian: Just about every lesbian couple in the adaptations, with a few exceptions, turned out to be this, especially if they were subject to RelationshipReveal.
182	* ReallyDeadMontage: Poor [[spoiler:Gwenda Vaughan]] of ''Literature/OrdealByInnocence'' is given one of these after her murder, showing her blissfully smiling in a loving embrace with her husband-to-be (who subsequently rejected her).
183	* RelatedInTheAdaptation:
184	** Eileen "Bundle" Brent and Virginia Revel the two main female characters in ''The Secret of the Chimneys'' are sisters in the TV adaptation. In the books, Virginia was an important guest to a party hosted in Eileen's home, but the two weren't related.
185	** In ''Why Didn't They Ask Evans?'', [[spoiler:Roger and Moira are revealed to be brother and sister instead of husband and wife, and Sylvia is their biological mother.]]
186	* RoleSwapAU:
187	** ''The Body in the Library'' switches the roles of [[spoiler:Adelaide Jefferson and Mark Gaskell]] as the murderer and [[spoiler:Josie Turner's lover and accomplice]].
188	** ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'' reassigns [[spoiler:both the role of the murderer and the surname Burnaby from the victim's (formerly false) friend Major Burnaby/Enderby to the (formerly innocent) journalist Charles Enderby/Burnaby.]]
189	* SettingUpdate: The novels came out over a period of several decades; to avoid ComicBookTime, the series is set over a much shorter period, requiring a setting update or downdate for most of the episodes.
190	* ShellShockedVeteran: Jerry Burton in ''Literature/TheMovingFinger'', to paraphrase his sister, came through the war with flying colours yet seems to find the peace utterly crushing.
191	* SignificantDoubleCasting:
192	** In ''Literature/SleepingMurder'', the same actor plays both Gwenda Halliday's father Kelvin and her fiancé Charles Vanstone, suggesting that, like her choice of a home, her choice of partner was motivated by childhood memories of her lost family.
193	** The same actress plays both Violet Hopkins and Violet Willett in ''Literature/TheSittafordMystery'', reinforcing Clive Trevelyan's perception that fate was offering him a second chance with the love he cast aside.
194	* SignificantWardrobeShift: Megan Hunter in ''Literature/TheMovingFinger'', who starts off wearing outfits more suited to a schoolgirl than a woman of 20 and gradually adopts a sleeker, more modern look over the course of the film. While this change symbolises her growing up in the wake of her mother's death, it also coincides with her moving from 'oddball friend' to LoveInterest in Jerry's eyes.
195	* SparedByTheAdaptation:
196	** [[spoiler:Harold Crackenthorpe]] in ''4:50 from Paddington''.
197	** [[spoiler: Philip Durrant]] survives ''Ordeal By Innocence'', and [[spoiler:Gwenda dies in his place.]] The attempted murder on [[spoiler:Tina]] is also ommitted.
198	** [[spoiler:Lady Bess Sergwick]] dies in the original version of ''At Bertram's Hotel'' when she [[spoiler: tries to [[TakingTheHeat take the heat]] for her daughter's crimes.]] In the series, Miss Marple intervenes before the situation gets out of hand.
199	* StartsWithASuicide: ''Literature/TheMovingFinger'' has this twice over - first there's the suicide of Colonel Appleton, which is immediately followed by Jerry's unsuccessful attempt.
200	* StrippingTheScarecrow: In ''Nemesis'', the killer steals the clothes from a scarecrow to wear during a murder and later plants the clothes in another suspect's suitcase to frame them.
201	* SummationGathering:
202	** In ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced''. It plays out somewhat differently from the original novel, with the killer being confronted in the gathering rather than being caught making another murder attempt outside the room.
203	** ''Murder is Easy'' adds one to the climax, likely due to the massive changes to the plot and characters. The book revealed the killer in an AloneWithThePsycho scenario.
204	* SurvivorGuilt: Mark Gaskell in ''Literature/TheBodyInTheLibrary''. He's best friends with Mike Carmody (Adelaide's first husband), who died in the war, and Frank Jefferson (Addie's second husband), who was killed in a missile attack along with Mark's own wife Rosamund. In his conversation with Miss Marple, he reflected how it was wrong for Mike to die first before he could see his unborn child, and expresses regret that he didn't show as much affection towards his wife as he ought to have done. He also felt that his father-in-law resented him for being the one who "pulled through". [[spoiler: It's implied at the end, when he promises Peter, "I'll take care of you" after his mother is arrested, that it might be the making of him; he's finally found a reason to live, and an answer to the question "why was I spared?": to look after his friend's son.]]
205	* SympatheticMurderer: Par for the course of ''Marple'' adaptations, with Marple herself often lamenting over their motives or guilt when finding them out. Even during the rather personal case in ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'' she expects rather ruefully that [[spoiler: Charlotte Blacklock didn't enjoy murdering her friend Bunny. [[VillainousBSOD She didn't.]]]]
206	* YouMeddlingKids: As per norm, more than a few culprits curse Marple's interfering as they are taken away into custody.
207	** In ''The Pale Horse'' in particular, the culprit is outright dragged away screaming blue murder at her after she merges it with a very sharp TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
208	** The murderer from ''Towards Zero'' has a VillainousBreakdown as well (similar to the one in the book), which ends with him cursing Miss Marple and everyone else involved.
209	* VillainBall: The suspect is given a strange one in the series adaptation of ''Literature/OrdealByInnocence''. [[spoiler: Kirsten manages to frame Gwenda for the murder of Rachel, leaving both the police and the Argyle family to be largely convinced she is guilty, only for Kirsten to kill her anyway as she sets to leave. This eliminates Gwenda from the suspect list and ultimately leads Kirsten to be caught. Even Marple's deduction that [[EvilIsPetty she hated Gwenda for]] [[GreenEyedMonster butting into the Argyle's affairs]] makes little sense since she had essentially assured she would be jailed and executed anyway.]]
210	* WackyCravings: At one point in ''Literature/TheMurderAtTheVicarage'', Griselda Clement (the vicar's wife) asks for apricot chutney to season her fish stew, from which Miss Marple deduces that Griselda is pregnant.

Context Series / Marple