Death On The Nile: The Main Characters, Ranked By Intelligence

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for Death on the Nile, including the ending.

Death on the Nile, which was released in theaters on February 11, 2022, is the latest adaptation of one of Agatha Christie’s most popular novels.  As is true with many of Christie’s stories, Death on the Nile is full of intriguing, complex, and intelligent characters.  While the new adaptation makes several updates to the source material, at its core the story remains the same and features a twist that nearly fools the famed detective Hercule Poirot.

Of course, Poirot is famed for his powerful intellect, but how do the other characters in the story measure up?  Here are the main characters of Death on the Nile, ranked from least to most intelligent.

10 Bouc

Although not originally a character in Agatha Christie’s novel, Bouc was added after appearing in Brannagh’s 2017 Christie adaptation Murder on the Orient Express. Bouc is a friend of Poirot and therefore is the only character in Death on the Nile with personal experience of the sleuth’s brilliance and methods.  As such, he should know better than to try to hide evidence from Poirot, yet for some reason, he tries to do just that.  Bouc is an intelligent man, which makes his choices in the film more puzzling.  Perhaps his love for Rosalie has clouded his judgment.  At any rate, his convoluted plan to frame his mother and his reluctance to open up to Poirot about what he knows end in tragedy.

9 Louise Bourget

Mystery fans are familiar with all the tropes, and know that the smartest (and safest) thing for a murder witness to do is to let the authorities know what has happened as soon as possible.  However, unfortunately for the characters in mystery stories, the “smart thing” is seldom what murder witnesses do, and Louise Bourget is no exception. She learns the hard way that blackmail is a dangerous crime. When someone has already killed once, it stands to reason that they will not hesitate to kill again when threatened, making blackmail a very bad idea.  It comes as no surprise to viewers when Louise’s plan goes tragically wrong, but it’s clear that she didn’t consider the consequences of her actions.

8 Linnet Ridgeway

“When you have money, no one is ever really your friend.”  With these words, Linnet Ridgeway reveals that she is intelligent enough to recognize that as an heiress, she is a target of false friends who may try to exploit her.  She is also smart enough to realize that she is in danger, and appeals to Poirot for help.  However, the best way to make true friends is to be a true friend, and this is a truth that Linnet does not seem to understand.  Marrying a friend’s fiance is a sure-fire way to make enemies.  Of course, Linnet has no idea that her entire romance with Doyle is part of an orchestrated plot, but her entire tragedy could have been avoided had she made less selfish choices.

7 Euphemia Bouc

The controlling mother is a common trope in literature as well as film, but Euphemia Bouc takes her obsession with dominating her son’s life to the next level.  She’s crafty enough to hire the brilliant Poirot to help her pry into Rosalie’s background but then refuses to give her blessing to her son’s choice even when Poirot gives his.  Her scheme does not improve her relationship with her son.  Ultimately, her interference prompts him to frame her for theft, which involves him in the murder of Linnet Ridgeway and ultimately leads to his death.  She deeply mourns for her son, but her actions directly contributed to his murder.

6 Andrew Katchadourian

A character who does not appear in Christie’s novel, Andrew Katchadourian devises a scheme to embezzle money from his cousin Linnet Ridgeway.  While many of the characters in the film are motivated by love and passion, in Katchadourian’s case, greed is the force that impels him.  Although he demonstrates intelligence in coming up with his plot against his cousin, he is unable to accomplish his plan.

His attempt on Linnet’s life shows quick thinking on his part, as he tries to take advantage of a seemingly convenient way to get rid of his cousin and solve his financial difficulties.  However, he is not clever enough to hide his deed from Poirot, who deduces Katchadourian’s involvement in the supposed accident.

5 Simon Doyle

He may not have been the mastermind of the plot against his wife, but Simon Doyle nevertheless shows intelligence in carrying it through.   He succeeds in concealing his true feelings for Jackie while convincing Linnet that he is in love with her, which requires a measure of cunning.  He feigns concern for his wife, seeming to be above suspicion.  Doyle is so committed to the plan that he severely injures himself to secure an alibi, demonstrating a determination that few people possess.  However, his execution of Jackie’s plan is flawed, and his clumsiness in allowing his crime to be witnessed necessitates two more murders that were not part of the original plan.  In the end, however well-crafted the murder of Linnet may have been, Doyle can’t deceive Poirot.

4 Salome Otterbourne

In another refreshing update to Christie’s source material, Salome Otterbourne is a witty and intelligent character in Death on the Nile.   Not only does Salome deliver some of the best one-liners in the film, but she also shows emotional intelligence in her flirtation with Poirot.  Unlike many of the other characters, who are so blinded by their feelings that they make foolish choices and take risks, Salome has the foresight and self-knowledge to recognize that some relationships are not meant to be.  She tells Poirot, “I wish I never got to see you work”. She knows that someone as cold and methodical as Poirot is not someone she wants a relationship with, and she wisely chooses not to pursue one.

3 Rosalie Otterbourne

Rosalie Otterbourne is the only character in Death on the Nile who truly and unselfishly cares about Linnet.  She is also highly intelligent: she recognizes that Katchadourian is scheming against Linnet and intervenes.  She also is justifiably angry that Poirot is working for Euphemia, and her pointed insults against him show that she recognizes how flawed the great detective is.

In the end, however much she may deserve a happy ending, Rosalie doesn’t get one.  Still, unlike Bouc, whose love for Rosalie leads to terrible and foolish decisions, Rosalie remains one of the most clear-headed characters in the film.

2 Jacqueline de Bellefort

Jacqueline de Bellefort is one of the most intelligent characters in Death on the Nile.  The plan she devises to obtain Linnet’s money is devious, and she almost gets away with it.  Jackie’s plan requires her to place herself under suspicion by stalking Linnet and Doyle and voicing her desire to kill Linnet, which seems risky.  However, she is smart enough to devise an airtight alibi for herself, and also discreet enough to have Simon commit the actual crime.  Until the murder is solved, Jackie is even the more sympathetic character:  after all, Linnet betrays her by marrying Doyle.  Of course, this is all part of Jackie’s plan.  Her meticulously planned “perfect” murder ultimately fails, but viewers can’t deny that the plan was ingenious.  If Louise had not witnessed the crime, perhaps Jackie could have fooled even Poirot.

1 Hercule Poirot

It comes as no surprise to fans of Hercule Poirot that the renowned detective is the most intelligent character in the film.  Poirot is respected because he is brilliant, and his orderly mind sorts through every bit of misdirection to arrive at the correct solution to the crime.  This adaptation of Death on the Nile seeks to humanize Poirot, giving him a tragic romantic past (as well as a back story for his trademark mustache!).  Although some of his choices are questionable, most notably his decision to work for Euphemia Bouc and pry into his friend’s affairs, ultimately Poirot puts his emotions aside and relies on flawless logic and deduction to solve the crime.  His cold mental process ends up alienating Salome and ruining his chances at romance, but in the end, Poirot proves that he is the master of the “little gray cells”.