S21E1: The Point of Balance

S21E1: The Point of Balance. I like Winter's hair being shorter--it looks more cop-like. Now only if he would loosen up those skinny pants, he'd be more professional. The dance atmosphere was gaudy and flat boring in the beginning. But a rainy night murder and lovely English homes made up for it a bit. Then mid episode it seemed the actors got to work; their stories got more interesting and kept my attention to the glittering end. We met John's father who used to be a competitive dancer/absentee father which explains a few things about the DCI (but not his dance skills). Overall, not great, but also not bad. A 7 out of 10!

S20E6: Send in the Clowns

S20E6: Send in the Clowns. A boring start, what with no murder, ridiculous circus life, council meeting arguments, and did I mention ugly clowns? And then there's the bloody bloody butcher, dirty pigs and their dead carcasses, one head shoved into a locker, not pleasant! What type of viewer enjoys that? By the way, Jamie's ringtone always startles me. And it's cooler when the detectives drive black cars instead of silver. I am a set director at heart. Ha! Characters were not likable and not interesting--and not acted well either. Plot was flat and splat. Oh well, they can't all be winners.

S20E5: Till Death Do Us Part

S20E5: Till Death Do Us Part. The bride's "girls" were the main distraction of the opening scene so I was relieved when she was quickly "dismissed." It's always more interesting when the first murder happens straightaway. And was this the first time Sarah discovers a body? I can't remember. But it takes me back to all the times Joyce did! Of course this a different type of show than the John Nettles' one--but it is, in fact, THE SAME SHOW, so comparisons are absolutely natural. A brief view of an upchuck added nothing. We learn a bit more about Fluer's personal life which adds more depth to her character, however slight. It's slow going after the first few scenes, but other murders soon after, and some funny bits keep it moving (e.g. I'm not made of money, funny socks, John as a tortoise, etc). John shows a bit of emotion (anger) and Sarah (sadness) too, both noticable due to rarity. The murders themselves were rather clean, but the dead animal might disturb some viewers. Lots of suspects, had me guessing throughout, which was fun. Then an exciting bit with Sarah and well-written reveal to wrap it all up.

S20E4: The Lions of Causton

S20E4: The Lions of Causton. This episode reminded me of how much I miss John Nettles' acting skills, his various facial expressions that convey so much. Neil Dudgeon has types of looks too, but they seem repetitive now. Anyhow, this episode was really dull. The Rugby boys, their loud chants full of tongue wagging, and their naked bums were all part of the gross atmosphere. And even Nick Hendrix exploited his body, which was disappointing. And I miss how the other sidekicks wore looser pants. The end scene was sad, as the love between the killer and his man was evident. Some funny bits made things interesting, but there was nothing else very intriguing. Some lovely scenery including an eye popping cake/chocolate shop. The characters were flat, except maybe for the well acted gran. And the regular cast members were rather stale as well.

S20E3: Drawing Dead

S20E3: Drawing Dead: There's some disturbing imagery with the comic books and frightening masks (and not surprisingly the murders!), but still a curious mystery that kept me interested. Lovely countryside and village exteriors. Personally, I did not like the silly costume and comic fest atmosphere. I see the relationship between John and Jamie as partners growing in each episode. Fluer is an interesting gal- She's cool but could use a bit of warming up. Baby Betty is cute but doesn't add much to the show-she needs a quirky nanny or something, someone who could flirt with Jamie, or someone related to Sarah, to give her character more depth. The last bit with the superhero music / comic page with our dynamic duo was very cute.

S20E2: Death of the Small Coppers

S20E2: Death of the Small Coppers: Such a great episode! Had my attention and had me guessing until the end! Love the references to past episodes! The acting was great, scenery beautiful, and riddles were fun! I don't like the Danish character very much, but in the end, her presence was reasonable enough. Jaime finally got some action--although it was not meant to be!

S20E1: The Ghost of Causton Abbey

S20E1 The Ghost of Causton Abbey

A Good One! I really enjoyed this episode! There's a new doctor in town and she is full of charm and sass-- say hello to Dr. Fleur Perkins! Some may think she's rude cause she's a no holds barred - suffer no fools -- take no prisoners-type of lady-- but I love her! The plot had my attention the entire time--both mysterious and funny! There were excellent performances by Annette Badland (of course!), Michael Byrne, and Elaine Page, each with very interesting characters. The setting of the old Abbey created an intriguing atmosphere, perfect for this October Halloween time. The lovely exterior buildings and interiors are as alive and kicking as ever here at the start of Season 20!

S19E6: The Curse of the Ninth

S19E6: The Curse of the Ninth

There was once upon a time another music competition themed Midsomer episode which was very boring to me, and this one is made slightly better by the lovely Autumn-in-England light. Plenty of violins if thats your cup of tea. The younger guest actors here are a bit cartoonish so the plot felt as such. Still, there's the lovely church, nighttime graveyard murder, and that unbeatable English scenery for atmosphere. Sarah's still working on her writing, but she won't share yet. Dr. Kam is back--or is she? One of the methods of murder is unique, interestingly --and not particularly too gruesome, well-- aside from it being murder (always distasteful), of course. Nick Hendrix (Jamie) shows an emotional range, quite convincingly. The poor chap just hasn't found love yet, but there's always next season!


#midsomermurders #murder #mystery @officialmidsomer #british #acorntv #itv #neildudgeon #fionadolman @fiona_dolman #benjones #detective #detectivebarnaby #blog #writer #crime #justice #midsomermurders #dcijamiewinter @manjinder23 #nickhendrix #drkamkarimore #benjones

S19E5: Death by Persuasian

S19E5: Death by Persuasion
An immediate murder of a young girl creates an early interest. Of course the Jane Austen theme full of period costumes make for a lovely English atmosphere. Beautiful sprawling green fields, traditional village homes, and grand estates help with that as usual. Sarah is working on a novel, but aren't we all? Drones aren't very pretty to look at, but they are part of life now, even Midsomer life. And Dr. Kam is still gone? Hmm... Her sub has the hots for Jamie, but we know where his heart is. It takes nearly an hour for the next murder, but it's worth the wait this time. The murder methods are unique and absurd, the classic Midsomer kind. Guests actors were good all around. Solid script, no complaints!

S19E4: Red in Tooth and Claw

S19E4: Red in Tooth and Claw. Jamie has some clever lines in this one, and Bernie the Badger was a cute little guy, loved the photos at the end. Dr. Kam has a well-acted substitute and his presence doesn't bode well for the future of Jamie's crush, poor guy. The guest actors (mostly) did a fine job as well. This episode was not the best in show, but an honorable mention at least.

S19E3: Last Man Out

S19E3: Last Man Out: I usually do not enjoy the sport-themed episodes, and the only reason I liked this one was you guessed it-- JONES JONES JONES! But other than that, it was a loser. Hammy actors, obnoxious cheerleader atmosphere, boring plot, shallow writing, and just not charming enough. Zero likable characters. I wish Jones had returned to a much better episode, points for him alone. Ok, a few credits to John Bird (St. John) and Susan Jameson (Germaine). The scenery and beautiful camera angles were wonderful and in fact, there is indeed a funny bit at the end with Jones and Winter sharing complaints about John, so it all won me over--so if you've made it this far into my post, HaHa, Hell--I highly recommend this one--save the best for "last", as always! Hoorah!

S19E2: Crime and Punishment

S19E2: Crime and Punishment begins with a lovely opening scene of the detectives driving through the scenery: vast swaths of greenery, church yard, leaves swaying in the breeze, winding country road. A special-- but too short -- appearance by Clive Swift of "Keeping Up Appearances." We discover that Jamie and Kam have a flirtatious past together, but if the romance will rekindle  remains to be seen. The plot uses the familiar neighborhood feuds and family secrets to move the rather dull characters along as it reaches the absurd motive and insane killer.  Next episode will feature the return of our dear Ben Jones, so let's go. 

S19E1: The Village That Rose From the Dead

S19E1: The Village that Rose from the Dead 

Excellent acting all around in this first episode of season 19. A competition over land development creates a killing in classic form. Our wee baby Betty is growing into an energetic toddler now, but sadly our loyal companion Sykes has passed on to frolic in doggy heaven-- be free ol' boy! And as we say aloha to Sykes, we say hello to the new DCI -- Charlie Nelson's replacement -- fashionable Sergeant Jamie Winter. He's got a lot of subtle charm no doubt. He's a familiar face to Dr. Kam-- do they have a history? And unlike the tense negative dynamic between Nelson and Karimore, the vibe between Jamie and Kam is refreshingly cheerful. And although Charlie can be easily replaced, it's not so easy to find a replacement for Sykes. But there's a new dog in town, and he's a cute little pup, indeed!  One negative in the episode has to do with all those creepy snakes-- and I don't mean the shady characters! Still, it's a solid, steady mystery set against the lovely backdrop of English scenery-- a fantastic start to season 19!  

S18E6, Harvest of Souls.

S18E6, Harvest of Souls. There's an eardrum- piercing screeching in the opening scene, and it doesn't come from any murder victim. Buy it's the kind of screaming that's made me want to die in fact, nothing worse than it. I mean-- "fun fair," more like "un-fair," am I right?! Well, I digress--just brace yourselves for the impact! Now then, let's settle into the calming oasis that is the Barnaby household--ooh la la, there is a French adventure ahead-- unless of course, duty calls. Oh, dear, God, here comes another horrendous sound! Motorbikes just zooming and booming -- where are my ear plugs? And though these excruciating noises are brief, the time it's taking to give a rat's arse about any of these characters is indeed crawling at snail's pace.

Fair-fair warning: the screaming runs throughout the episode, not even murder on the premises shuts it down. The kids yelling, the characters yelling--had to watch it mostly on mute, thanks be to closed captioning. Was a chore to get through, but the last 15 minutes eased my burdened by boredom soul. Sadly, for those of us who know what's coming next season, it was bittersweet to see sweet Sykes drive off into the sunset. And oh yes, aur revoir to our boy Charlie-- on to greener pastures perhaps.  

S18E5, Saints and Sinners

 S18E5, Saints and Sinners

In S18E5, Saints and Sinners, the first murder is particularly gruesome (even by Midsomer standards!) in its cruelty --I would have done well not having to realize the manner of that crime. Then there's the usual feuding groups, obnoxiously overachieving Dr. Karimore, and a run of red herrings building up the mystery. I think we're meant to wish Charlie would make a romantic move on Kam now that her boyfriend, Harry, is due to visit, but that's as confusing to us as it is to Detective John. And though we find Kam annoying -- are we really ready to see her meet her Maker? Will she or won't she? Watch to find out!

S18E4, A Dying Art

S18E4, A Dying Art: Murder happens early on: In the opening scene for us and before dawn for Detective Barnaby. It's the grand opening of a sculpture garden, and where there is a grand opening in Midsomer county--there is someone homicidal! And, of course, the main red herring has to be the trouble-making tree hugger buggers! But around every corner is a liar with a lie--so everyone has a motive. Lovely interiors and exteriors in this one, except maybe for a cheesy metal skull and except definitely for the a grossly gross character in his boxers, eww.. A couple more garish art pieces later, I'd figured it out! In other news, Detective Barnaby's feeling very nervous having to give a speech to a room full of children, and as those of us who've been around kids know: that's more frightening than bloody murder! 

****

Best lines from this episode, encapsulating why we keep watching MM: 

"Cliche is what I say."

"I rekon thats the point."

Watch it above! #midsomermurders #murder #mystery @officialmidsomer #british #acorntv #itv #neildudgeon #fionadolman @fiona_dolman #benjones #detective #detectivebarnaby #blog #writer #crime #justice #midsomermurders @mrgwilymlee @manjinder23 #charlienelson #drkamkarimore  

S18E3, Breaking the Chain

S18E3, Breaking the Chain begins with our quaint English countryside and switches swiftly into the rough and tumble world of... bicycle racing. Not my favorite subject, but let's see where this leads. But you know, brightly colored bicycle shorts are not really the lovely sight that makes this show so viewable usually. Luckily for us, the violence starts early on and now there's something here to ponder. There's a jarring grotesque bit about 20 minutes in (beware the box opening!). Charlie and Kam get in on the competition and Baby Betty's parents are in a race to get her to say Da-da vs. Ma-ma--who will win--oh, must we care? Ok, yes, we are not so cold-blooded as to not care! And well, by the one hour mark, baby babble is the only noteworthy mystery. Seasoned viewers will realize the truth path of interest comes in the last half hour. So we get a nice kick out of the twist(s) as we near the finish line!

Watch it on my blog (link in bio) #midsomermurders #murder #mystery @officialmidsomer #british #acorntv #itv #neildudgeon #fionadolman @fiona_dolman #benjones #detective #detectivebarnaby  #blog #writer #crime #justice #midsomermurders @mrgwilymlee @manjinder23 #charlienelson #drkamkarimore  

S18E2, The Incident at Cooper Hill

 

S18E2, The Incident at Cooper Hill begins with an extra-terrestrial vibe immediately. Now, we don't believe in aliens, of course, but there is definitely something mysterious happening around here. A couple of detectives asking a couple hundred questions might seem redundant, but the guest cast's acting skills and a few intriguing sub-plots keep our old eyes and hard-of-hearing ears glued to the screen. In other news, it's John's birthday and he wants it to be low key. Will he get his wish or wish for more? Charlie boy is still sullen and negative--he does not like the new girl Dr. Kam because she is smart and good at everything else. It really gets on his nerves,  but she is just happily living her best life full of random facts and detailed explanations (which obviously means these two should get married, right?). Ha! The murder motive scene is a bit lackluster, so you may or may not want to phone home about this episode, but the truth is out there--just watch!

S18E1, Habeas Corpus

Here in S18E1, (Habeas Corpus) we have a missing dead body and a missing Kate Wilding. Dr. Wilding has gone off to Briton and is shacking up (temporarily?) with our old pal Ben Jones! She's replaced by the "efficient" Dr. Kam Karimore. Of course Charlie is slow to warm up to her--this guy is so negative. Maybe that's why his lovely date from last season's finale is as disappeared as the main mystery man. We've got a lot of chit chat on comfy couches, but it's all easy on the eyes. Several unique camera angles keep it fresh, which is needed since there is only Midsomer and no Murder! You'll never guess who dunnit -- cause nothing was there to be done! Sykes is the star of the episode so cheers to our favorite canine! 

#midsomermurders #murder #mystery @officialmidsomer #british #acorntv #itv #neildudgeon #fionadolman @fiona_dolman #benjones #detective #detectivebarnaby #blog #writer #crime #justice #midsomermurders @mrgwilymlee @manjinder23 #charlienelson #drkamkarimore

S17E4, A Vintage Murder

S17E4, A Vintage Murder: We're here at a festival of sorts, at a beautiful vineyard, full of...vines....and vino. And well now, wait--bodies are dropping like drunken flies--is Joyce Barnaby at this event?! Ah, no such luck, but still, these folks are the very unlucky type of Midsomer residents (haha, as if it's only a FEW unfortunate souls in this county). Familiar, well-acted supporting cast here--this episode's atmosphere is also familiar, so we're off to a good start! Bad neighbors, fueds, sabotage, revenge, grief, and the serious theme of driving while intoxicated promise a full plot on the plate. Still, these appetizers are tasting a bit stale as the main course--a murder, any murder, has yet to be served. Tick tock... Hmm ...Well, Kate and Charlie, our favorite BFFs are having a fun night together at least. These two--their relationship is nice to watch here-- because instead of them constantly just trashing each other as per usual, they do so here with a sibling smile and take-away dinner in front of the telly. And the joke Charlie makes, "That's Ok, I've seen worse," regarding a victim's messy room, a subtle diss to Kate-- It's cute! What's not cute? The first murder victim, but now the bottle is spinning and the mystery begins. So as we all know, nothing pairs better than a glass of white wine than a bunch of red herrings, and we're loaded! Wait, what's this? Our Charlie is finally getting some romantic action (not from sisterly Kate, mind you!)? This episode has everything! Everything including ab update for the Barnaby family as we visit with Sarah in a suit and Betty's new caretaker, aww, another hint at next season's changes? Oh, and "ballet dancers and male egos," best line ever! If you're going to miss any Midsomer episode--do not miss this one! It's velvety smooth, softly balanced, and the perfect nightcap to an otherwise slightly slaggy season. Cheers!

 

S17E3, The Ballad of Midsomer County

 

S17E3, The Ballad of Midsomer County: The beautiful folk ballad of Midsomer County juxtaposed with the mundane Wheels on the Bus for Betty symbolizes Midsomer so well, ha! And that's why we love it: its broad spectrum of emotional... atmosphere... like... eggs and eels, you might say. Now, lets see here, I'm sure there were a few murders in this episode, but, I was more interested in the lovely exteriors and interiors once again. And some more character development is had by our regular cast: John is bored of baby life, Charlie is just a bore, and the gals put up with it all--run the show basically, ha! John makes a big mistake, but hey, at least he tried. And Charlie is no wild one, but at least he can take care of a baby quite fetchingly! And what a beautiful baby is our Betty. Her smiles in the last bit truly knocked out any memory of misguided ramshackle murder from my head. 

S17E2, Murder by Magic

 S17E2, Murder by Magic

So yeah you go watch a magician's act and you know how the guy does his tricks, but the magic is just mesmerizing and you suspend your disbelief about how ridiculous it is...yes, that's how I felt watching this episode of Midsomer Murders! The usual lovely distractions: beautiful church. nice man of God, bad man of God. creepy people acting Pagan in robes with torches and bloody sacrifices, oh, and the ever beautiful scenery! We don't know who done it--we don't care who done it--we're just here for the magic!

Watch it on my blog (link in bio) #midsomermurders #murder #mystery @officialmidsomer #british #acorntv #itv #neildudgeon #fionadolman @fiona_dolman #benjones #detective #detectivebarnaby @_jasonhughes #blog #writer #crime #justice #midsomermurders @mrgwilymlee #tamzinmalleson #katewilding #charlienelson