12-Episode BBC Murder Mystery Series Has One Of TV's Funniest Detective Duos
El is a Junior TV Features Editor for ScreenRant, with previous experience as The Mary Sue's UK and Weekend Editor. She holds a Bachelor's in International Media and Entertainment Management, as well as an MA and Ph.D. in Creative Writing. There is little she loves more than discussing her favorite TV shows with fellow fans. One day, she hopes to publish an original fantasy novel.
The BBC's and BritBox's 12-episode murder mystery series features one of TV's funniest unlikely detective duos. Over the years, dozens of iconic TV detective duos have graced the small screen, from Sherlock and Watson to Cagney and Lacey, Starsky and Hutch, The X-Files' Mulder and Scully, Broadchurch's Hardy and Miller, Bones' Booth and Brennan, and more. What makes all of these detective duos work is their seemingly disparate but ultimately complementary personalities. Each partner brings something to the table during an investigation, whether that's expert knowledge, unique skills, or a new perspective.
That's even more true when it's a "detective-consultant" kind of partnership. It's always fun when the police in a show rely on a totally unexpected outsider to help them during serious murder investigations. A best-selling crime novelist in Castle. A medium/conman in The Mentalist. The actual biblical devil in Lucifer. A puzzle designer in Ludwig (at least from season 2 onward). One of the best recent detective-consultant partnerships solves crimes in the BBC's Death Valley, a record-breaking cozy murder mystery series set in the lush rolling hills of Wales.
Death Valley's John Chapel & Janie Mallowan Are A Fantastic Detective Duo
Created by Paul Doolan, Death Valley stars British icon Timothy Spall (Harry Potter, The King's Speech) as John Chapel, a retired English actor living a quiet life in the Welsh countryside. His biggest fan is DS Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth), an ambitious detective who watched him play Inspector Charles Caesar on an old police procedural series. When a murder investigation leads her directly to his door, he soon proves that his years of studying characters give him a unique understanding of people's motives for murder, just as his acting talent makes him the perfect candidate for any low-stakes "undercover" ops.
It's a wacky premise, but that's part of the show's charm. Rather than the romantic tension common in many other TV detective duos — John is only really interested in Janie's mother — John and Janie share more of an "eccentric uncle and his socially awkward niece" dynamic. Underneath all their genuinely funny bickering, scathing sarcasm, and joking banter, they come to love and respect each other. John always stands up for Janie, and she gives him the space to let his creativity shine. The chemistry between Spall and Keyworth is fantastic; their enthusiasm for the show and their characters is infectious.
Spall, in particular, seems to be having a blast, playing up his character's pretentiousness and hammy performances with unbridled glee. Best of all, the show is wonderfully self-aware. Janie frequently critiques John's acting — and John is always suitably insulted — while he constantly references his old acting jobs, both in the show's fictional continuity and in the real world.
Death Valley Is One Of The Best New Cozy Murder Mysteries
All in all, Death Valley is one of the best new cozy murder mysteries, a real treat for fans of writers like Agatha Christie and Richard Osman and shows like Murder, She Wrote, Midsomer Murders, Beyond Paradise, and, of course, the BBC's other recent cozy crime phenomenon, Ludwig. It's great to see a show like this set in Wales, a country with so much history and a rich culture. Investigations take place in crumbling old castles and explore the picturesque coast. Janie and her mother frequently speak Welsh. It's a love letter to Wales and a comforting whodunit.
The cases are never overly complicated or terrifying, though that doesn't mean they're always easy to solve. With John's interest in characterization, the show focuses on relationships, the tragedy of miscommunication, and the lengths people will go to protect themselves or those they love. The episode always ends with a Christie-esque, Death in Paradise-style "gather all the suspects" reveal, as John indulges in his love of theatricality. The supporting characters are sweet and funny, too. Steffan Rhodri's DCI Barry Clarke is particularly effective comic relief. Anyone looking for a rainy day binge should start with Death Valley.
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