BBC Towards Zero stuns Agatha Christie fans with ‘filthy’ scenes as viewers fume at classic drama adaption: ‘Utterly gratuitous!’
BBC viewers were left shocked by a particularly steamy scene in the broadcaster’s adaption of Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero.
The three-part miniseries has faced criticism from some fans for its slow pace, but a racy staircase encounter in the second episode quickly livened up opinion.
The series, set in the 1930’s English south coast, sees retired tennis star Neville Strange (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) holidaying at his Aristocratic aunt Lady Tressilian’s (Anjelica Huston) villa.
Scandal ensues as Strange invites both his new wife, Kay (Mimi Keene), and his former wife, Audrey (Ella Lily Hyland) to visit at the same time – leading to drama with a colourful cast of characters and, of course, a grisly murder.
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While the premise promised the expected thrills of a classic Agatha Christie whodunnit, fans were stunned as the latest adaption featured a unexpectedly explicit encounter between Strange and his ex-wife.
In episode two, Strange pinned his former beau on the villa’s stairs and lifted her onto his shoulders to perform oral sex.
The intense moment was interrupted by Strange’s current wife, whose horror at the scene was only matched by that of the viewers – who branded it “pure filth” on social media.
“Utterly gratuitous. The whole thing is a travesty…Won’t waste another hour and don’t care whodunnit,” one fan fumed on X.
“Classy,” another sniped while another said it was: “Not very Agatha.”
A third added, citing the classic Christie heroine, that: “Miss Marple will be clutching her pearl necklace at the very thought #towardszero,”
“#towardszero bloody hell, on the staircase (watching with my parents),” a fourth wrote cringingly after watching the explicit scene.
While many were shocked by the moment, even it was not enough of a shot in the arm to speed up the programme’s lethargic pace for some.
“God this #towardszero is dull. I don’t know if it’s poor writing, directing or acting but #agathachristie must be turning in her grave!” one viewer wrote.
Another detailed: “I don’t hate it but its straddling the line between stylish and boring a bit too closely. #TowardsZero.”
“It’s like Dallas does Murder Mystery in slo-mo but oddly enjoyable #TowardsZero,” a more charitable viewer declared.
Not all were disappointed with Towards Zero, with one fan glowing that: “Tonight’s episode of #TowardsZero intensified in a good way imo! It’s become more interesting & obviously quite dark.”