'The Final Problem' Netflix Review: José Coronado Steals The Show As A Faded Star In This Whodunit

Is it possible for an actor to be so dedicated to a role that they end up exhibiting traits from the character? Netflix’s The Final Problem puts this idea to the test. You might have watched enough films and shows based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s short stories and novels on Sherlock Holmes, but what about watching someone play detective in real life because, once upon a time, they played Sherlock on-screen? I enjoy watching detective mysteries, although I’m often let down by the familiar narrative arrangement, sometimes it feels comforting, whereas on most days I want the film/show to surprise me.

The Final Problem revolves around Benjamin Basil, an actor who’s widely remembered for playing Sherlock Holmes. Like most actors, Basil enjoys hearing his fans praise his work, but there are days when he wishes not to be recognized as Holmes. He’s on the lookout for his next project, and when he runs into his friend, Fonseca, and his girlfriend, Vicky, an actor, who mention that they are about to meet a Hollywood producer and invite him to come along, he gladly accepts the offer. Could this lead to his next best project, another iconic role in a Hollywood film? Basil sure would like to believe so. As a result of a heavy storm, the trio does not make it to Mallorca, where they were supposed to meet the producer. Instead they decide to spend the night on a small island. Basil checks into the only hotel on the island, and he meets Francisco Foxá, a novelist, there. Foxá immediately recognizes Basil and strikes up a conversation. He is eager to know if Basil has some detective skills like Holmes, and well, with just a few observations Basil makes, Foxá is thoroughly impressed. Basil notices the two women at the bar as well; they look strikingly similar, but they are apparently not blood-related, just best friends. Basil retires to his room at night, and the next morning, he discovers that there has been a murder. One of the two friends he’d seen the previous night had died, and her body was found in the pavilion. Seeing the noose around Elisa Mander’s neck, it’s assumed that she killed herself. Also, the door was locked from the inside and a chair was pushed up against it, further confirming that she’d killed herself. 

But Basil isn’t satisfied with these explanations; he notices the wound on Elisa’s temple and wonders where it came from. He is convinced it’s not because Elisa’s body dropped to the ground after she’d hanged herself. Someone must have knocked her out before hanging her by the neck using a pulley. But what’s the motive? And most importantly, who’s the killer? While Basil is convinced that there’s more to the story, the doctor present at the scene explains that it must be just a suicide, and Basil and Foxá are simply overthinking thing; one wants to play a detective and the other is on the lookout for an interesting story for his next novel. But the doctor’s confidence isn’t enough for Basil to give up on the case; he’s adamant about reaching to the bottom of the truth, and well, he finally gets his chance to play a real-life detective, but is he as good as Holmes? 

As a detective mystery, The Final Problem is compelling. I was expecting Basil to solve the case during his time at the hotel, a typical denouement scene where all the characters gather in the lounge area and the detective reveals his observations and findings. But surprisingly, that wasn’t the case. Of course, Basil isn’t a professional like Holmes, so it takes him some time to make sense of the killer’s actions. The inclusion of a novelist in the story is a smart idea. You have an actor who loves playing the detective, and a writer who makes up mystery thrillers for a living, so obviously they are not just intrigued by the murders, but also take it upon themselves to solve the case. Moreover, the partnership that they share will instantly remind the audience of Holmes and Watson, and that’s definitely a nice touch when the protagonist is obsessed with the iconic detective. 

The fact that the series is set in the late 50s makes it visually enticing. The extravagant garments, the fancy hotel interior, and the breathtaking nature surrounding the hotel all contribute to making the series appear visually elegant and vibrant. When it comes to the characters, Basil obviously steals the show, and the fact that the series delves into his personal life as well allows us to get a better understanding of who he is beyond the actor persona we mostly get to witness. José Coronado is thoroughly convincing as the faded star desperately looking for his next big project. Martiño Rivas brings a flirtatious and mysterious charm as Francisco Foxá. Maria Valverde captures the calmness and intrigue of Adela Figueroa, Elisa’s best friend. The supporting cast delivers a commendable performance, especially Cristina Kovani as Vicky and Gonzalo de Castro as Fonseca. 

The series refrains from delving too deep into any character, and most of what we find out is through very direct dialogue. We don’t really get enough material to root for any particular character, or even to feel for them deeply. Considering it’s not a very elaborate show, the focus remains on the mystery, and ultimately finding answers to all the pertinent questions. Revealing everything in the final episode is quite a cliché, but unfortunately that’s the usual pattern that most whodunit shows and films resort to. I’m not a fan of the structure, the audience being burdened with a load of information in the final minutes doesn’t work anymore. While the series is set in the late 50s, the structure could have had a modern twist to make it more compelling. I wish we could’ve seen Basil in action, since everything happens in the background, off-screen, and in the final episode, he simply makes the grand revelation. The only silver lining is that the ending is entertaining and leaves us with something to ponder.  

Overall, if you’re on the lookout for a detective show that doesn’t drag on for too long and has a very definite ending (with zero baggage), then The Final Problem is the perfect watch for you. The premise is intriguing, it has that old-world charm, it’s visually refined, the mystery element works to an extent, and the characters, particularly Basil, are quite interesting.