All Twelve Best in Paradise 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! For those of you unaware, Best in Paradise is a short little Britbox TV show selecting the twelve best episodes according to the actors of the show! And, well, I wanted to rank the twelve "best" episodes of Death in Paradise's show Best in Paradise today! Now, without further ado, I, Brighton Nelson from The Reel Ranker, present to you: All Twelve Best in Paradise Episodes RANKED!

12: Season 7, Episode 6 - "Meditated in Murder"

This episode takes place in an exclusive meditation resort where everyone was participating in a prayer at the time of the victim's death. While the interrogations themselves and the Commissioner's speech subplot are nothing too noteworthy, the reveal here is utterly shocking and very interesting! With the complexity of the case, I enjoyed this episode, even though it suffers in some areas.

11: Season 1, Episode 1 - "Arriving in Paradise"

With a great introduction to the original cast of Fide, Dwayne, Lily, and, of course, DI Poole, this episode simultaneously balances introductions with a solid mystery about a seemingly impossible case. In a fun twist of events, Lily, one of the seemingly main characters of the show, turns out to have committed the impossible crime, and the "bad guy", Camille, ends up being an undercover seargent and an actual main character of the show (unlike Lily). Everything about this episode was done very well, but I still can't consider it one of the show's best episodes or anything.

10: Season 2, Episode 3 - "Death in the Clinic"

I don't know about you, but an undercover criminal fake-identification organization hiding under the ruse of a plastic surgery clinic is absolutely genius. Like the last episode, the murder plot isn't the most special, but I dug the criminal drama here. And the constant "half-drunken tea" joke somehow never got old! The fact that this brilliant episode is this low compared to the other Season 2 episodes is a testament to the strength of this show's second season.

9: Season 5, Episode 3 - "Posing in Murder"

This episode revolves around the murder of a female model right after she exits the catwalk. Yet again, nothing is too unique, like most episodes of the show's fifth season, but there are definitely some good moments here! The mystery here was mid again, but what wasn't mid? The epic moments of Humphrey's anti-rizz and JP's W-rizz! Good stuff. Good stuff.

8: Season 4, Episode 5 - "Swimming in Murder"

This episode utilizes the melting of ice as a murder weapon, which, frankly, is brilliant. But that alone isn't what makes me really enjoy this episode. So what does? The introduction of the man, the myth, the legend, Officer JP Hooper. Seeing him and Dwayne's mentor-student relationship start to blossom here was fantastic (and thank heavens it was since two awesome characters left in Season 4). Ultimately, due to its sentimental value, this is an above-average Death in Paradise episode.

7: Season 5, Episode 2 - "One for the Road"

This is a brilliant episode with intriguing political undertones, suspicions toward the Commissioner, and, of course, some Humphrey love life scenes as a cherry on top. I don't think there's a more intriguing murder plot in Season 5 than this one, as an emerald island and road-based revenge is incredibly interesting. Nevertheless, two Season 5 episodes surpass this one due to subplots and emotional sequences.

6: Season 4, Episode 8 - "Unlike Father, Unlike Son"

This episode centers around a murder where the killer is paid to break a man out of prison by faking his death, but the man kills the prisoner for real instead. This is a very intriguing mystery indeed! Arguably better than the mystery itself would have to be the subplot where Humphrey's dad visits Saint-Marie to lecture Humphrey about his divorce and how he is wasting his life's potential in a supposed "gap year." However, as the episode progresses, his father sees that it is quite the contrary—Humphrey has more joy and success than ever before! This is an emotionally resonant and relatable episode with a brilliant mystery, and for that, it's a fantastic episode.

5: Season 7, Episode 7 - "Dark Memories"

This is pretty much all I wanted from the episode "Missing a Body?" (Season 1, Episode 4). I always wanted an episode where someone confessed, but frankly, that one was quite dissatisfactory. On the contrary, this episode had an excellent execution, with an actually good faked murder by confession and a brilliant mystery. On top of that, the original suspect is an acquaintance of JP's, making for a more exciting interrogation. Another epic part of this episode is Dwayne's birthday, which gets some fantastic Darlene and Nelson Myers action as well. This is definitely my favorite episode of the show's seventh outing and a top-tier episode.

4: Season 6, Episode 4 - "Stumped in Murder"

This episode focuses on a murder that has taken place in a cricket club. Still, everything gets somewhat funky when it is revealed it is not a murder but a suicide influenced by the deceit and blackmail of an alleged friend of the victim. This "Friend" gaslights our victim here (literally, not the diluted Gen-Z definition of gaslight) into making him believe he caused his son's paralysis through underhanded means, and the father simply can't cope with himself anymore due to believing this lie. This case really makes you reflect on the difference between murder and, simply put, emotional murder. On top of the suicide plot, we get to see the emotional sequence of Martha leaving back to London, which leads Humphrey to eventually make a difficult decision later in the season.

3: Season 5, Episode 8 - "Flames of Love"

This episode is a brilliant conclusion to Season 5, with JP getting married, Humphrey and Martha finally meeting, and Dwayne getting mixed up in the drama of it all in some great scenes. The mystery isn't too shabby either, with the murder taking a wild turn due to an absolutely obsessive lover. Ultimately, this is, without question, a top-tier episode of Death in Paradise.

2: 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.

1: Season 8, Episodes 5 & 6 - "Beyond the Shining Sea"

This episode set does a brilliant job setting up settings, motives, suspects, and more! The mystery here takes place during a Saint-Marie festival, and the maiden of the festival is killed during her ritual in front of many bystanders. In the meantime, Patrice and Florence are all set to get married in this episode, with lots of celebratory measures in place. After discovering the information regarding a delayed murder during the first half, Mooney realizes that there are some suspicious details left over from the case, one of which being a phone call taken by Patrice and him spontaneously leaving. Florence follows Patrice and, in a heartbreaking turn of events, Patrice is murdered, and Florence sustains a gunshot wound. The real highlight here is the aftermath of this, with Florence facing the most challenging moment in her life. Watching her and Mooney discuss the pain and grief of loss was beautiful to watch, and the shocking plot twists that the real murderer was brainwashed by a professional, the person who killed Patrice? Absolute perfection. Ultimately, this duology is one of the best episodes Death in Paradise has ever had.

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