All Eight Death in Paradise Season 3 Episodes RANKED!

Many consider Death in Paradise a mediocre detective show, but I couldn't disagree more. This is one of my favorite shows, and it has been for many, many years. I love the mysteries well enough, but even more, I love the characters and the setting! Now, without further ado, I, Brighton Nelson from The Reel Ranker, present to you: All Eight Death In Paradise Season 3 Episodes RANKED!

8: Season 3, Episode 6 - "The Early Bird"

This episode is easily one of the weakest episodes of Death in Paradise. Its mystery revolves around the Saint-Marie Green, an almost-extinct bird that a group of birders are trying to see. Not only is it revealed by the end of the episode that the birds have already been extinct for a while, but the revelation that the victim was killed because he knew too much about the perpetrator's bird-egg-poaching business was, well, nothing special. And the mystery itself? It was a little too simple and unbelievable that Humphrey wouldn't have solved it in mere minutes. In the end, the Dwayne subplot was the only memorable and decent part of this far-below-average episode.

7: Season 3, Episode 2 - "The Wrong Man"

This episode is one of the show's most middling episodes. I have no complaints, but I also have a few praises. This episode has a straightforward mystery with a movie-based setting and an absolutely despicable murderer-of-a-friend, and it's an episode that exists to exist. Let's move on before I start making less sense than one of Humphrey's spontaneous quotes.

6: Season 3, Episode 4 - "Ye of Little Faith"

With an intriguing mystery that tackles killing someone from over 30,000 feet off the ground, this episode has a fascinating set of suspects and a great set of reveals! This episode also has some heartbreaking scenes with the murderer, as she was simply grief-smitten that her husband ceased to love her. Not that I condone her actions in any way, but with the actress's heartbreaking and emotional portrayal of the suspect, I certainly sympathized with her a little. This was a great episode and it being ranked as one of the season's weakest episodes goes to show how strong Season 3 is.

5: Season 3, Episode 3 - "An Artistic Murder"

Featuring a faked painting scam and drama about Fidel's old friend's death, this was an intriguing episode in many ways. Fidel's old friend happens to be this island gigolo, with tons of women confiding in him and being jealous of one another. This makes for an interesting case to follow, and the twist that it was never a case of love or jealousy came as quite a shock to me. All around, this is a brilliant episode with great relationship drama and artistic scandal.

4: Season 3, Episode 5 - "Political Suicide" 

With a murder involving political scandal and press leakings, as well as an emotional subplot involving Camille's estranged father, there's lots to love here. While the means and mystery of the crime here are rather mediocre, the motives and characters are intriguing in many ways. But, when it comes down to it, it's really the subplot of Camille's father, Marlon, that secures this as a great Death in Paradise episode. Camille simply talking to both her parents back-and-forth in this episode added a lot of depth to her character and made for some fantastic, emotional drama! Without the engaging subplot, this episode would be overtly average, but with it? This is an outstanding episode.

3: Season 3, Episode 8 - "Rue Morgue"

I'll be the first to admit that this episode has a really lame mystery. But the Humphrey and Sally subplot makes this an incredible episode, especially in the emotional scene where Humphrey decides to officially move on from her—he's a true islander now and has fallen in love with Camille! What a legendary moment. This likely would be an episode in the running for a top-ten Death in Paradise episode if its mystery wasn't so mediocre. Still, it's a great episode all around.

2: Season 3, Episode 7 - "The Man with the Golden Gun"

Isolated on a rich man's private island, the motley crew of four attempts to solve a murder with no cell service, electricity, forensic equipment, or, well, sleep. Frankly, this is one of my favorite mysteries on the show! While I do think the episode would be more interesting if the murderer tried to take out one of the show's characters or two, it's still remarkable just how it is. The mystery here was rather complex, featuring lots of intriguing, moving parts that made for a brilliant mystery. While I typically prefer episodes with character-growing subplots, this is one of the episodes that I enjoyed the mystery enough to rank it higher than some of the more emotionally resonant episodes.

1: Season 3, Episode 1 - "Death of a Detective"

After Poole's beautiful return to Saint-Marie at the end of Season 2, being killed off was the most out-of-left-field thing this show could've possibly done! This is easily one of the most shocking, engaging, and emotional episodes of the show due to the events surrounding Poole, but it also masterfully introduces DI Humphrey Goodman as a juxtaposition to the episode's events with some for-once-well-utilized bathos. This episode is one of the episodes by which I compare all others—it's practically a masterpiece and easily the best episode of the season and one of the best of the show.

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The Verdict

The Reel Ranking:

8: Episode 6
7: Episode 2
6: Episode 4
5: Episode 3
4: Episode 5
3: Episode 8
2: Episode 7
1: Episode 1

Common Consensus:

8: Episode 6
7: Episode 7
6: Episode 3
5: Episode 2
4: Episode 4
3: Episode 5
2: Episode 8
1: Episode 1