MIDSOMER MURDERS

Saturday, August 20, 2016

A Worm in the Bud, S5E5

Netflix lists the order of the episodes differently than IMDb, which lists this episode as S5E2 instead of 5. I'm not sure how this affects the continuity of the series, but it's just something I've noticed now.

Not very action-packed, this episode still managed to capture my attention. There were quite a few potential subjects and had me confused up until the very end. It was one of those episodes in which Tom has to explain it all out to Troy (and therefore the viewing audience) to answer all of the questions. I still don't think I've wrapped my mind around all the details. Midsomer has made a few editing "mistakes" in the series which leave a few plot holes, but nothing that is too frustrating.

One random thing I noticed was a character played by the same actress who is the lead in the British comedy, My Hero, called Thermoman. I watched it years before I'd ever heard of Midsomer, so it was a tad funny trying to take this character as a tough barrister seriously.

The 2 children who played detective were a welcome change of pace and as they made their way to Tom's house, it was revealed that the Barnaby home is #7. Joyce appears briefly to greet them at the door and drop them off home later.

Check out more info on locations here at IMDb.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Market for Murder, S5E4

This was an okay episode. I suspected who the killer was early on, but then the various red herrings made me doubt. Watching it the second time around was more enjoyable as all the clues are easier to decipher after the fact.There was some good acting here with a couple of decent characters. The ending with the reveal was interesting, and even the motives made a bit of sense to me, however psychotic, you shouldn't laugh at or belittle a delusional woman!

There's a few funny bits between Tom and Troy as Tom worries about his pension whilst Troy's silly interest in comic books ends up with a huge payout! Joyce kindly tells Tom, "Leave it to the experts, dear," when he can't make sense of his retirement fund jargon.

Several shots of the grand building exteriors are here (mostly of the same ones at different angles), although the interiors were few and far in between...

That's it for S5E4. For more info, check out IMDb (which actually lists this episode as S5E1). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0647494/?ref_=tt_ep_pr

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Murder on St. Malley's Day. S5E3.

Another dreary plot with unlikable and undeveloped characters including a bunch of creepy teenage boys. Most of the characters were suspects, and when the murderer(s) and motive(s) were revealed-- no one, and I mean NO ONE would have ever saw it coming. These killers are demented, to say the least. There was a quick nod in the final scene towards Pink Floyd's, "The Wall" as Barnaby and Troy rebelliously walk on the grass whilst a grumpy schoolteacher can be heard shouting at his pupils, which made me grin. Happily for me, there were no semi-clad sexual scenes or deviant sexual behaviors in this episode. Unhappily for me, Joyce makes only a brief appearance without any family home scenes. And again, no Cully, which is a bummer since I usually enjoy the episodes in which she and Joyce participate.

But, joyfully, there were massive grand buildings and shots of fancy interiors, beginning with the exteriors of the exclusive private school...