The Aphrodite Inheritance

Following the enormous success of The Lotus Eaters and Who Pays the Ferryman?, writer Michael J. Bird returned with The Aphrodite Inheritance, a third Mediterranean-set drama that shifted his storytelling lens from the emotional and psychological landscapes of relationships to the twisting, shadowy paths of conspiracy and mythology. This time, the destination was Cyprus and the tone darker, stranger, and far more enigmatic.

Where Ferryman was rich with classical tragedy and romantic melancholy, The Aphrodite Inheritance embraces the intrigue of a supernatural thriller. It stars Peter McEnery (Clayhanger) as David Collier, who arrives in Cyprus to investigate the mysterious death of his brother. Quickly, the narrative descends into a dizzying web of deception, populated by elusive characters and mythological symbols that blur the lines between reality and the fantastic.

McEnery delivers a compelling performance as a man untangling a mystery that may be ancient in origin, and Alexandra Bastedo (The Champions) adds a fittingly ethereal presence as Helene, a woman whose beauty conceals secrets deeper than Collier could imagine. Paul Maxwell (Fireball XL5) brings gravitas and ambiguity to the role of antiquities dealer Eugene Hellman, a ruthless but oddly honourable figure whose motivations remain cloudy until the end. Brian Blessed (Z Cars), Godfrey James (Emmerdale) and Stefan Gryff (Ooh…You Are Awful) round out a strong ensemble cast, with Blessed particularly memorable as the evasive Basileos.

Bird’s script offers a heady mix of suspense and symbolism. Unlike the more grounded drama of his previous work, The Aphrodite Inheritance dips into the mythic and arcane, with characters seemingly plucked from the pages of ancient Greek legend. The story grows increasingly surreal, as Collier is stalked by unseen enemies and betrayed by those he thought he could trust. The viewer, like the protagonist, is kept off-balance, one moment tethered to a straightforward mystery, the next plunged into metaphysical riddles.

The show’s climax, set at the ancient ruins of Paphos, mythic birthplace of Aphrodite, brings both literal and metaphorical revelations, including the true nature of Helene and her companions. A final close-up of Hellman’s yacht name, Kore, is one of several subtle mythological references scattered throughout the series. Bird had gained a bit of a reputation for being eerie, and he clearly enjoyed leaning into that image, and as he later explained in interviews, there were layers of meaning that many viewers may have missed: ivy for Pan, doves for Aphrodite, and a pervasive sense that something older and more powerful than modern politics is at play.

Visually, the series is rich with atmosphere. Cyprus proves an evocative backdrop; sun-bleached ruins, shadowy alleys, and crumbling tombs all adding to the creeping sense of unease. As with his earlier works, Bird made location a key character in the drama, and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation's enthusiastic support shows in the quality of the production. However, a few scenes, including one involving night-time activities carried out mere feet from a sleeping Collier, stretch believability, though such moments are forgivable within the story’s heightened reality.

In an interview with Radio Times, Bird admitted that when he first reached out to the CBC, he had no clue what the story would be. It wasn’t until he was on the flight to Cyprus, with an awkward meeting with CBC executives looming, that an idea started to take shape. By the time the plane touched down, he claimed he could see the entire story laid out, almost scene by scene, as if it had come to him in a mysterious, otherworldly way.

The Aphrodite Inheritance is not as emotionally intimate as The Lotus Eaters, nor as immediately accessible as Ferryman, but it is arguably Bird’s most ambitious and intriguing work. It is a series that rewards patience and rewatching, where seemingly throwaway symbols are clues to a much older, darker puzzle.

In an era when British television dramas rarely ventured beyond the UK, Bird carved a niche with his Mediterranean mysteries and The Aphrodite Inheritance stands as a testament to his unique vision: a thriller touched by the gods, and haunted by the echo of ancient footsteps in modern times.