Directed by Renny Rye and and written by David Hoskins, S7E7 is one of my favorite episodes and vastly better than the previous! "Ghosts of Christmas Past" is a right good mystery without any cheap tricks (except the actual magic tricks, ha!). Albeit slow and quiet, set mostly indoors at the Draycott Manor (Harpsden Court), the story is ideal for armchair sleuths (although I doubt anyone could've surmised the killer's motives upon first view)! Having an air of spooky whats-in-the-attic with a touch of jolly family-Christmas-time fun, it ranks among the top 5 in the Midsomer series. Filmed in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, the crisp snow and twinkly warm lights create the cozy atmosphere which sets Midsomer apart from most murder mystery shows. Scroll to stroll and read my bonus commentary at the end. Enjoy!
Commentary:
First off, NO INSPECTOR, you may NOT kiss your co-worker ON THE LIPS even if it is under her make-shift mobile mistle-toe! Dan and all of England may think it's funny, but not I. You disgust me, sir! Hmph. Let's never speak of this again.
It's Christmas time! Joyce's parents visit!
They attend church service together, singing hymns!
Aww, Christmas time makes Joyce so happy! Even Tom cracks a grin!
How sweet, opening their gifts on Christmas morning!
This young man was among the many wonderful actors in this episode! He was the most charming though, indeed.
Tom isn't looking forward to his in-laws staying over. Why not, Tom? Oh, "He's brought the Monopoly"? That's not so bad, Barnaby, Where's your Christmas spirit? Ha!
Here are a few examples of shots that would have been nicely suited for my blog's aesthetic, if not for the large, fast-moving actor right in the middle of frame! I'd have liked to see that window in its entirety for at least a second or two!
And here's another nice interior shot ruined by actor placement. We can see the lovely details above the door frames, but can only focus on Dan's unpleasant mug!
Ha! Here's a funny bit. Barnaby is slowing coming to discover who the killer may be. Then Dr. Bullard suddenly drops in with some information that does indeed BREAK THIS CASE WIDE OPEN. And what does Inspector Barnaby do? He just stares ahead and quietly thanks George without letting the good doc know that he'd just GIVEN him the KILLER's NAME on that tiny bit of paper. Just leaves Georgie knee deep in mud and dead bodies he does. Tsk.
And furthermore, just look at this dark and drab kitchen in which George prepares Christmas dinner. He and his wife are BOTH DOCTORS, yet they cook in this dungeon? Hopefully the rest of their place is on the fancier side of interiors.
This portrait of two children has always hung in the Barnaby home. Who are these kids? Joyce, Tom, and Cully are the only child of their parents. Those in the photo actually look like Tom as Joyce as children, but, yeah, that'd be weird.
Ah, yes. The piece de resistance of the episode. Joyce had hidden a coin in her father's pudding bowl, but since he hadn't mentioned it, she worried that he may have swallowed it without knowing! Then later, Tom overhears his FIL telling Joyce's Mum that he found the coin but wants to make Joyce wonder for a bit, as a joke. Well then, much to Cully and Joyce's dismay, Tom one ups his FIL, pretending there were actually 2 coins in the pudding! He uses his FIL's annoying metal detector to convince him that he had indeed ingested a coin and needed surgery. Tom casually asks for pie before giving the nod and wink--Gotcha! Everyone has a good laugh. Except for Grandpa.
I can't say I know or understand much about these British Christmas traditions of crowns and silly things such as wearing clip on earrings--but it's a fun look!
Oh, I just realized I'd reviewed this on IMDb a few months ago, so I'll share it here. It was a much better written one than this, ha!
And alas, we end with a gentle snowfall whilst jingle bells mingle with the classic Midsomer theme, creating the perfect fuzzy feeling of warm slippers and a full belly. Onward to the New Year in Season 8!
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