This article contains major spoilers for Death and Other Details.
Death and Other Details fascinates viewers with a series of murders on a cruise and the invitation to play Sherlock Holmes. Rich folks are trapped on a boat, far away from land. There’s no way out when a serial killer strikes onboard, threatening everyone’s life. What seems like a luxurious vacation soon turns into a countdown for survival, especially when guests start to drop like flies. The worst thing is, everyone could potentially be the killer.
Imogene and the world’s best detective, Rufus Cotesworth, team up and launch an investigation into the initial crime. They soon realize that there’s a bigger plan at play. With the plot deepening and unveiling events from the past, the truth seems both distant and close for the first time in fifteen years. Death and Other Details is full of promises, and over the course of ten episodes, the show blessed fans with some exciting and some less-than-satisfactory moments.
10 Episode 3, “Troublesome,” Is Redundant
The detective duo, Rufus and Imogene, are still finding their groove in Episode 3. Just when fans are getting used to following their journey retracing the killer’s footsteps, a third party appears and completely throws them off their game. While the development is necessary, Agent Hilde’s presence disturbs the pace of the investigation in both good and bad ways. First of all, Interpol Agent Hilde Eriksen has an odd personality that’s hard to like in the show. She has a matching haircut with Imogene and immediately takes over control of the investigation. It’s clear that she’s guiding the investigation in the wrong direction. On the other hand, Agent Hilde is authoritative and observant. She figures out that Jules has a criminal past, which is something that no one else can do on the ship. However, Jules was with Imogene on the night of the murder, which eliminates him from the suspect list.
The entire third episode seems to exist to steer Imogene and Cotesworth away from the investigation. Agent Hilde’s presence threatens Imogene’s innocence, drawing attention to the missing footage, which could make things very difficult for Imogene. Under her leadership, the only way to continue the real investigation is to move it underground, since Agent Hilde couldn’t have known all the complicated relationships and connections that are going on underneath the murders. In the end, Hilde is not very helpful. On the grand view of the whole season, Episode 3 contributes very little to the entire investigation, making the episode a bit redundant.
9 Episode 4, “Hidden,” Takes a Leisurely Pace in Solving the Murder
While Episode 4 might take its time solving the murder, the episode is still full of surprises. Jules finally clears his name as a suspect. While Jules might not be the security guard he claims to be, his intention is good. It turns out that Jules is only trying to help a family out. The detail about the Ukrainian family may lead viewers to believe the show had gotten sidetracked from the investigation at first, but sometimes, taking a little detour can result in surprises. A little girl witnessed something on the night of the murder. She’s able to provide an important piece of the puzzle — she saw the heels the killer was wearing, which Teddy put on the night of the murder. To save her sister, Winnie then confesses to murdering Keith Trubitsky. However, this is Episode 4, barely halfway through Season 1, which means that there’s a lot more to the story.
The show takes a risk in Episode 4. It throws the most obvious conclusion out of the way in an attempt to avoid being cliché. On the one hand, this episode gives viewers time to connect to the budding crime-solving gang Imogene is putting together, moving away from a more goal-oriented detective duo to a wholesome friend group setting. For fans who are expecting the typical fast-paced murder mystery, they are bound to be disappointed. The series hasn’t dropped a lot of clues so far. On the contrary, it’s taking a break to focus on character development instead.
8 Episode 2, “Sordid,” Introduces the Major Players
The entire second episode revolves around interrogations and storylines that won’t go anywhere. While the episode gives viewers a good chance to learn more about each character in a personal way, it’s also impossible for most viewers to keep tags on who’s whom. There’s Lawrence Collier, the powerful leader of the Collier Mills textile empire, who is soon going into retirement. His wife, Katherine, who seems very warm, might have a secret or two herself. Their daughter, Anna, who is believed to be the new Collier Mills CEO, is trying to use the vacation to close a $3 billion deal with the Chun family. The family includes Celia and her granddaughter Eleanor, who shares a complicated romantic past with Anna, and Anna’s wife, Leila, is a former journalist, who is now hiding on the boat because she fears that someone might make an attempt on her life.
Anna’s sibling, Tripp, is a failed entrepreneur. He has a secret relationship with the governor of Washington and former assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra. Aside from them, there’s also the Collier family lawyer, Llewellyn Matters, and Father Toby Briggs and his son, Derrick. Even for those with good memories, having this amount of information dropped in one episode can be very overwhelming. Episode 2 lacks focus. The entire episode is much slower in pace but shares too much information too soon. In general, Episode 2 is decent, but it seems to signal little development in the following episodes.
7 Episode 6, “Tragic,” Has a Disappointing Plot Twist
Detective Rufus Cotesworth, just like the rest of the guests on the ship, isn’t who he claims to be. The world’s best detective is nothing but a fraud. While the plot twist might come as a surprise to viewers, it can also be slightly disappointing. Viewers have invested a lot of their time and energy rooting for the dynamic duo of Imogene and Cotesworth. Ending their partnership can be upsetting for some. It’s likely that the very talented con man won’t be much help moving forward.
The plot twist in Episode 6 is counterproductive. It undoes the work the series has put forth. The detective duo of Cotesworth and Imogene is at the center of the show. Removing it from the plot makes viewers wonder what the series will focus on next. Is Imogene enough to lead the entire show herself? Is her friend group going to take over the narrative? It might be too risky to have viewers asking these questions halfway through the show.
6 Episode 1, “Rare,” Opens With Intrigue
The first episode of Death and Other Details captivates viewers with the introduction of the murder mystery. Imogene gets on a boat and stumbles upon a crime scene. Full of mischief, she sneaks into a man’s room at night to teach him a lesson about being rude. However, the following day, the man is dead. Not only that, there’s footage of her entering his room right before the murder takes place.
The narration of the show draws viewers’ attention into solving the murder alongside Imogene and Detective Rufus Cotesworth. Instead of jumping to the conclusion, Death and Other Details makes it clear that the fun of the show lies in the process. The premise is tempting and daring. However, the first episode can also be disorienting given how much information has been stuffed into the hour-long journey. There are time jumps between the past and the present. There are two billionaire families, along with the crew members and strange entanglements among guests. While Episode 1 is fun, it can also be a lot to take in.
5 Episode 5, “Exquisite,” Sheds Light on Leila’s Accident
What’s great about Death and Other Details is how each character gets their own turn at telling the truth. Everyone gets to explain how they have become involved in the events that center on Viktor Sams. Leila establishes herself as a sort of a hidden expert on the mysterious assassin. She knows that there are bigger plans at play on the ship. She pays attention to detail and soon becomes an asset in the investigation. On the other hand, Sunil, the man who appears helpful to Imogene, might be hiding a dark secret that connects him to Viktor Sams.
The investigation definitely starts getting serious in Episode 5. This episode brings clues and good news. With Leila’s help, the gang finds a hidden camera, which means that Viktor Sams had another ally on the ship. While the characters in this episode are still far from the truth, Leila’s involvement and Sunil’s confession are one step closer to unveiling what’s really going on. Episode 5 is very enjoyable for murder mystery fans.
4 Episode 8, “Vanishing,” Is Full of Drama
Just when viewers think that the show can’t get better, it does. Episode 8 is full of fun and gossip-worthy drama, from Anna’s fall from grace to Katherine’s affair to Imogene marching into the room to reveal that Celia was working with Kira to take down the Colliers. However, this isn’t the end. It turns out that Mathers had a long-time crush on Imogene’s mother. The drama-filled episode certainly surprises viewers. There’s enough dirt on every guest in the room.
It seems that Death and Other Details has been saving up all the good stuff for the very end. What might seem like an ordinary murder mystery show suddenly has a whole new layer to it. Episode 8 provides the necessary explanation for why previous episodes have spent so much time on character development, focusing on who’s whom. It certainly justifies all the effort the show spent on introducing its full cast.
3 Episode 7, “Memorable,” Reveals More About Danny Turner
Death and Other Details tiptoed around the truth long enough. Things start to get intense in Episode 7. Following Cotesworth’s recount, Imogene steps into the role of the detective. The breadcrumbs lead her to a very important memory that she has buried. It turns out that her mother had a meeting with someone important prior to her murder, and Imogene was a witness. Needless to say, getting her lost memory back is crucial to solving the crime.
The episode uncovers the deeper connections between key players in a way that’s unexpected. Celia Chun also plays a different role, aside from being the founder of her own company. She also has a personal connection with the Collier empire. In fact, everything that’s happening during the cruise all comes back to what happened to her husband years ago. Episode 7 is known for its shocking plot twist and the surprise it throws to viewers. It also marks the beginning of the revelation.
2 Episode 9, “Impossible,” Reveals Killer’s Identity
Things take an even bigger turn in Episode 9. Imogene finally puts the final piece of the puzzle together, and the revelation is enough to shock everyone, including the killer herself. It turns out that Viktor Sams is closer to Imogene than she thinks. The person she hates and blames for her mother’s murder turns out to be the very person she loves. Episode 9 is where the series reaches its climax, and it doesn’t disappoint.
Episode 9 delivers a shocking plot twist that serves as a satisfying conclusion to the murders on the ship. Not only does it wrap all the clues prior to this point tidily, but the answer is a very well-thought-out one that doesn’t contradict anything in the show. Episode 9 makes viewers see just how much creative space a show can take without spoiling its biggest revelation. At this point, it’s clear that Death and Other Details has outdone itself. Things also get a little dangerous from here on, since the show finally starts to realize its strength.
1 Episode 10, “Chilling,” Wraps Up the Show With an Ending It Deserves
Death and Other Details goes down a rabbit hole, manipulating viewers into believing “fake” scenes. There’s always a twist at the end, where the truth comes out, and Episode 10 proves that Death and Other Details knows how to do this the fun way. Every piece of the puzzle is exactly where it needs to be in the season finale. The Cotesworth and Imogene duo is back, and fans have been rooting for the two of them to get back together since Cotesworth confessed to being a fraud. Anna’s descent into substance abuse and girls plants the possibility for the next season. What will happen between her and Leila is also up in the air.
The season finale drops the final big revelation. It turns out that Viktor Sams isn’t behind every death on the show. There’s another killer on the ship, and the revelation is heartbreakingly sad. At this point, Death and Other Details has entered a very dangerous game of endless plot twists. It’s addictive and unpredictable, but that’s also the show’s strength. Kira finally receives some quality time with her daughter, but Viktor Sams also needs to answer for her own crimes. It’s Imogene who’s outsmarting the mastermind this time, and she’s finally paying attention to details.