I saw the first half of Murder at the Vicarage. I was not sure how I would like Gerald McEwan as Ms. Marple, but she is just fine. In this series Ms. Marple has had a life--we are offered glimpse of it, so that seems to remove her from spinsterhood which is how she has always been seen, to someone who has had love and somehow lost it.
In the novels and original series it is Miss Marple's observation of happenings in St. Mary Mead and Mother-wit that has her solving cases. That was the fun of it. In this series you find Miss Marple reminiscing about her own romance while talking to people. That has to color her thinking. Also, I was somewhat disappointed with the obvious sexual content in the cottage scene.
I guess my problem is that I don't like modernization of classics. I can't complain about the photography and scenery though, it was gorgeous.
