‘Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence’ Is the Perfect ‘Only Murders’ Replacement | Review

Published Sep 10, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT

Meredith Loftus is a TV Lists Editor at Collider. As part of the Lists team, she creates both trending and evergreen list topics in order to engage Collider's active audience. Prior to this, she was a Features Author focused on both movie and TV topics. In addition to her editing role, she has covered major events for Collider, including San Diego Comic-Con and D23. Meredith has also conducted interviews with creatives across the entertainment industry. Some of her favorites include Margot Robbie, Luke Thompson, Yerin Ha, Gilmore Girls' Scott Patterson, Jon M. Chu, and the cast of Superman & Lois. 

September marks the beginning of fall and all that comes with it: back to school, cooler weather, warm beverages. The changing of the leaves marks the perfect time to bundle up and enjoy a good mystery. For the last few years, Only Murders in the Building has quite consistently ushered audiences into autumn. With this upcoming season's release date pushed to winter, fans need a new team of amateur detectives to follow. Enter BritBox and Agatha Christie.

The Queen of Crime has created some of fiction's greatest detectives, and while Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple have earned the most time in the spotlight, one detective duo is often forgotten. Within Christie's vast bibliography, Tommy and Tuppence appear in five of her novels, including her last book, Postern of Fate, but remain largely overlooked in adaptations. Thanks to BritBox's latest series, Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence, the underrated pair are finally getting the attention they deserve. A modern setting, clever mysteries, and magnetic chemistry between the two leads provide the perfect gateway to a whole new corner of Christie's world.

What Is 'Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence' About?

Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence centers on exes Tommy (Josh Dylan) and Tuppence (Antonia Thomas), who reunite at a friend's wedding and shortly discover that a guest has been murdered. The details of the incident don't sit right with either of them, so they begin their own investigation. After solving the crime, Tommy and Tuppence decide to pause their respective careers and start their own detective agency together.

With the first season consisting of just six episodes, Tommy & Tuppence is a cozy, breezy watch. Unlike previous adaptations, the modern setting offers something new for book fans while serving as an accessible entry point for newcomers. Much of the season isn't a direct adaptation of Christie's books, with the exception of the last two episodes, establishing Tommy and Tuppence as their own characters and a team in lieu of adapting specific stories.

Since Tommy and Tuppence are amateurs, they encounter some roadblocks before growing into their own as investigators. Thankfully, Tommy's Aunt Ada (Imelda Staunton) has her own history with solving cases. Not much is known about Tommy's parents, but it's abundantly clear how much his aunt means to him. Staunton plays Ada with a curiosity and cheekiness that make her a genuine scene-stealer, so it's a shame that there isn't nearly enough of her over the first season's six episodes. Her sparse appearances are still impactful, but it would've been great for her to have more time with the show's leading duo.

Josh Dylan and Antonia Thomas Have Off-the-Charts Chemistry in 'Tommy & Tuppence'

Speaking of the leads, Dylan and Thomas are incredibly charming as Tommy and Tuppence. Individually, they imbue their characters with endearing personalities, and together, they complement each other to be an excellent team. In BritBox's adaptation, Tuppence is an actress living in Los Angeles, and she's much more intuitive than Tommy, often leaping headfirst into following a clue but remaining passionate about every case. Meanwhile, Tommy is a crime novelist with arguably the best flat in England, but he's also more methodical, taking notice of every little detail. His caution isn't a hindrance to his magnetism, thanks to Dylan's inherent charm.

The series also makes the smart move to change Tommy and Tuppence's origins from childhood friends to romantic exes. They reconnect when they're both feeling a bit stuck, and their reunion sparks them back to life. Tuppence is the fire that helps Tommy confront his fears and step out of his shell, while Tommy's calming waters ease Tuppence's tendency to run off. In their own way, they ground each other and give each other a safe space to be vulnerable. Together, they're two halves of a whole, stronger together as an unstoppable team despite being amateurs.

Instead of ex-lovers reuniting with the angst of regret, there's a playfulness and ease between Tommy and Tuppence that makes it obvious they should rekindle their relationship. However, there's also a reason why they broke up in the first place, and Dylan and Thomas bring the emotional stakes required for those moments when the topic is broached. Despite the time and distance apart, the two still hold a torch for each other if the pining and hints of jealousy are any indication. For Tommy and Tuppence, it's not a question of if they'll get back together, but when.

'Tommy & Tuppence's Cases Are Easy To Crack for Mystery Fans

Image via BritBox

While Tommy & Tuppence has the Queen of Crime's source material and charismatic lead actors to its advantage, how do the actual mysteries hold up? While there are some clever misdirects and twists that avid fans of the genre might pick out quicker than most, this doesn't detract from the viewing experience. In fact, every case Tommy and Tuppence work on spans two episodes, providing ample time instead of speeding through them. That pacing decision both builds out the quality of the mystery and deepens the characterization of the series' leads.

Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence isn't trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the genre, but it does live up to expectations as a mystery-comedy series blended with an irresistible romance. The world it establishes is inviting, and the characters who inhabit it are truly delightful, with Thomas and Dylan's chemistry being the show's greatest strength. It would be a waste not to keep the story going in another season, and the finale leaves the door open for new mysteries to solve. Regardless of its future, Tommy & Tuppence kickstarts a new season of television with a cozy mystery that's perfect for this time of year.

Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence premieres September 15 on BritBox.

Tommy & Tuppence

Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence brilliantly brings the literary characters into the modern age.

9 10

Cast

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  Fola Evans-Akingbola

  Tatiana

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  Della Saba

  Lina Weaver

Pros & Cons

• Tommy & Tuppence puts a priority on developing its lead characters individually and as a team.
• Antonia Thomas and Josh Dylan have great on-screen chemistry.
• The series isn't overly reliant on being a direct adaptation of the Agatha Christie books.
• Each mystery is easy to follow along with.

• Imelda Staunton is a scene-stealer but doesn't have enough scenes.
• Tuppence's sister isn't given much room to be as fleshed out compared to other supporting characters.