Sat 2 Jan 2010
A British TV Series Review by Geoff Bradley: MIDSOMER MURDERS, Season 12.
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV mysteries[5] Comments
MIDSOMER MURDERS. ITV, UK. Series 12, Episodes 1-3. 19 March, 26 March & 7 July 2009. John Nettles (D.C.I. Barnaby), Jason Hughes (DS Ben Jones), Jane Wymark (Joyce Barnaby), Barry Jackson (Dr Bullard), Kirsty Dillon (WPC Gail Stephens).
This long-running programme returned after a short break with three episodes, the first, “The Dogleg Murders,” set in and around a golf club. It’s been a while since I unreservedly enjoyed one of this series and this was no exception.
It had many of the usual and welcome light touches, but the members of this ridiculously snooty club were unreservedly obnoxious in extreme. When the motive for the crimes was revealed it was trivial in the extreme. Only a homicidal maniac or a uncaring scriptwriter would think it reasonable.
The second, “Secret and Spies,” has as its background MI6 adventures in Berlin before the fall of the wall. At first I thought it might return to a proper story but no, unfortunately, the characters were so eccentric that they beggar belief. There is an extended cricket sequence which, like all other cricket sequences, was just so silly that no one who has ever played the game could possibly believe it.
The third programme, “The Black Book,” which involved the lucrative forgery of paintings by Midsomer artist Henry Hogson, seemed at fIrst like a return to the Midsomer Murders of old but it went on for 20 minutes too long and had a wholly unbelievable conclusion.
There was a time when this series was an amusing frippery, but the plots were well designed and the crimes had a logical background to them. However, the producers seem to have gone the way of so many before them in deciding that since the success of the programme depends on its amusing background they would emphasise the quirkiness, letting the series live on its charm and series characters.
Unfortunately in a detective series, no matter the ambiance, that’s not enough.
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:01 am
I have to agree with Geoff. This was a once entertaining light series with some well done detective puzzles that increasingly seems to have taken a left turn into eccentricity and a whimsical view of small town English life better suited to LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE than detective stories. Sounds as if the latest batch is no improvement.
Though I do have to say I’m not sure anyone has done — or could do — cricket where it made any sense to Americans. Culture shock I suppose.
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:34 am
What is the best season of this series? Last year I bought a season of that miracle problem series (Jonathan Creek?) and hated it, so now am always hesitant to buy British mystery set in the (frequently crass) present day.
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:36 am
MIDSOMER is a series I haven’t started myself yet, so it’s rather premature (if not rather foolish) for me to respond, but …
… from what I’ve read (and what would be my inclination anyway) I’d start with the earliest I could obtain and watch in order until I’d seen all that I decided I wanted to — assuming, that is, that I had the time to do so.
With that last proviso now on record, any other suggestions would be most welcome, of course!
PS. David, double ditto on cricket, at least in this country…
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:37 pm
I also recommend starting at the beginning of the series. I’ve watched about 25 of the early shows and enjoyed them so far. I do have to stress however that this series is very different from Inspector Morse and Touch of Frost. There is a big emphasis on humor and weird events. This show proves murder can be fun.
February 19th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Has anyone watched what else is on TV? Most of the Midsummer Murders are really worth the time to watch and I still enjoy all the characters. I have bought all the dvds and will continue to do so. When I watch them over I always see something about each character that I missed before.