Ep 1. Five Little Pigs

Five Little Pigs is the first episode of the ninth season of Poirot, a British television series based on the works of Agatha Christie. The episode was directed by Paul Unwin and written by Kevin Elyot. It originally aired on August 14, 2003, on ITV.

The episode follows detective Hercule Poirot (played by David Suchet) as he investigates a murder that occurred 16 years ago. Caroline Crale (played by Rachael Stirling) was convicted of poisoning her husband, famous painter Amyas Crale (played by Aidan Gillen), based on the testimony of her young daughter Carla. Before her execution, Caroline wrote a letter to her daughter maintaining her innocence, a letter that Carla never opened until now. Carla, who is about to get married, hires Poirot to investigate the case and prove her mother's innocence.

The investigation involves Poirot interviewing the five people who were at the Crale's house when Amyas was killed, each of whom had a motive for the murder. These people are Elsa Greer (played by Tara Fitzgerald), Amyas' lover at the time; Meredith Blake (played by Toby Stephens), Caroline's half-sister who was infatuated with Amyas; Angela Warren (played by Marcia Warren), Amyas' neighbor and friend; Cecilia Williams (played by Julie Cox), Caroline's governess who was also in love with Amyas; and Philip Blake (played by Aidan McArdle), Amyas' best friend.

Poirot's investigation takes him to different parts of England, talking to witnesses and collecting evidence. He is determined to find the truth and exonerate Caroline, no matter how long ago the crime was committed. The episode switches between flashbacks of the events leading up to Amyas' murder and present-day scenes of Poirot investigating the case.

Five Little Pigs is a complex and well-crafted murder mystery that keeps the audience engaged until the end. The characters are all fully developed and have different layers to their personalities, making all of them plausible suspects. The episode deals with how memories can be deceiving and how it's possible for someone to be wrongfully convicted if the evidence is not properly examined. Poirot's ability to pay attention to the smallest details and his great intelligence make him the perfect detective to unravel the mystery.

The filming locations for Five Little Pigs are beautiful and atmospheric, adding to the overall ambiance of the episode. The music by Christopher Gunning sets the tone for each scene, highlighting the emotions of the characters and the suspense of the story. The production design is also noteworthy, as it perfectly recreates the 1920s and 1930s.

Overall, Five Little Pigs is a fantastic episode of Poirot that showcases the best of Agatha Christie's writing and David Suchet's acting capabilities. It's a must-watch for fans of murder mysteries and detective stories and a great way to spend 90 minutes.