The show stars Alan Davies as Jonathan Creek , and the wonderful Caroline Quentin as his side kick Maddy Magellan. Actually, I use the term “side kick” rather loosely, since they are equally intrinsic to the show… but since Jonathan Creek is actually the magician/illusionist, I’ll go with that term.
Both of the actors are a delight to watch. The only negative that I can think of imparting is that Caroline Quentin decided to leave the show after its third season. (Don’t quote me on that…. it’s sort of what I remember from years ago when I looked it up…) The First Season (1997) was such a delight to watch… It was like finding a hidden gift. Season Two (1998) provided a continuation of the fun! On to Season Three>>> More great fun with Jonathan and Maddy… somewhat reminiscent of Nick and Nora Charles (at least to me!) The fourth season brought in the very accomplished actress Julia Sawalha (Saffy from Absolutely Fabulous) as her replacement, but the dye had been cast for my family and we simply weren’t able to make the transition to the new “format” of the show.
The premise of the show is that a very accomplished magician/illusionist (Jonathan Creek) is called upon to help solve a mystery that is virtually impossible to solve… He consents to helping solve the mysteries…sort of against his will. It’s not a career choice that he has made>>> Solving the mysteries has been thrust on him. Maddy, on the other hand, is an investigative journalist, always looking for a breaking-news story. Maddy simply perseveres to get (as in “make”) Jonathan give her that story… She hounds him mercilessly. She simply insists on partnering up with him even though he is fervently against this partnership.
The mysteries are truly stumpers… the types that really would require a magician’s trained mind to solve. And, the audience has fun watching the duo go about solving those mysteries.
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Dinah says
Hello,
I just watched Season 3 and I loved it. Unfortunately, my local libraries only have Season 3. I don’t know why Season 1 or 2 were not ordered; yet, that causes me no small amount of irritation. So, I guess I’ll have to go on Amazon and order Seasons 1 and 2.
Dinah
Kathy says
If you ask your library they may buy the series or borrow from another library.
Dinah says
You know, that 1st episode on Season 3, where the man ‘sells his soul to the devil’ for riches is great!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dinah,
We love the Jonathan Creek shows. I was so sorry when Caroline Quentin left the show…
Sally says
Sigh… i have to agree! I love vintage Creek! Maddie was undoubtedly the greatest sidekick ever – I absolutely loved her style. (So bolshy and brazen!!) We did have an Easter treat here in the uk with a brand new one-off episode The Judas Tree but it featured the 3rd sidekick Sheridan Smith who I preferred to Sawalha but could never match peerless Quentin. Still fun nonetheless – he still has his duffle coat!
Patrick McIntosh says
A very similar show to Jonathan Creek is Banacek 1972-1974 starring George Peppard who played Thomas Banacek, a Polish-American freelance investigator based in Boston, who solved seemingly impossible thefts. He then collected from the insurance companies 10% of the insured value of the recovered property. One of Banacek’s verbal signatures was the quotation of strangely worded yet curiously cogent “Polish” proverbs.