However, Neil Dudgeon is at his least comfortable and most smug so far, again playing the role too heavily and humourlessly, while Fiona Dolman is pretty charmless and poor Jason Hughes really struggles trying to do something with a dumbed-down-beyond-belief and badly demeaned Jones. There is very little chemistry here, Barnaby and Jones' is far too mean-spirited (Barnaby's demeaning treatment easily counts as bullying, just for the record Tom didn't always treat his sergeants well but never to this extent, this is taking the biscuit) rather than the gentle and playful one that was such a huge part of the show's charm in the Tom Barnaby-era. Neither is there much chemistry here between John and Sarah, one never gets the sense that they are in love, let alone husband and wife. From the pilot episode in 1997 until 2 February 2011 the lead character, DCI Tom Barnaby, was portrayed by John Nettles OBE. Not completely terrible by all means. The production values as usual are wonderful, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.

When Susan Bartlett is found murdered in Setwale Wood in Midsomer Worthy, DCI Barnaby and DS Troy discover the wood is the centre of a court case over a proposed redevelopment involving neighbouring farmers Simon Bartlett and James Harrington. Barnaby and Troy now suspect murder when two children tell them they found the body the previous afternoon. But as they investigate this case, they soon uncover a web full of witchcraft, potions, and hidden secrets. When James Harrington is also found murdered, Barnaby and Troy realise, that they need to work fast to avoid further deaths. Apley Court, in the village of Granville Norton, is home to historic beehives that produce a well top-of-the-range ‘Apley Gold’ honey. Master beekeeper Ambrose Deddington attributes his survival from a life-threatening cancer to a combination of Apley Gold and bee venom. When he is injured trying to prevent the theft of his beloved bees, Barnaby and Winter investigate. Later the local doctor, Serena Lowe, is found murdered, and stung to death. Barnaby and Winter discover that a previous event is the key to the case. The denouement is silly as well, we really cannot believe this man would do these killings for the reason given. Farce, really. And John Barnaby gets really upset at one murder only. Yep, the female who wanted to have a same-sex marriage sets him off.Echoes of the Dead", as already mentioned, is quite a disturbing and dark episode, as well as one of the most intense, I really felt an incredible tension and some fear when you are concerned about just one question: "Who's next?" It should be noted that the episode is too brutal and cruel for a cozy series. The production values of the episode are great as usual. The direction is decent and the music fits the scenery. Adrian Rawlins is not bad in the episode, neither is Pam Ferris, but out of the guest stars Sarah Smart gives the most compelling performance. There is a fierce rivalry between traditional and digital photographers in the village of Luxton Deeping. When the photographic society's committee decides not to accept digital images at the annual photographic exhibition, matters take an ugly turn and there is a confrontation. The following day, photographer Lionel Bell is found murdered in woodland, strangled with the cord of his light meter. As the detectives begin to investigate, evidence seems to implicate Barnaby in the murder and he is taken off the case. He is replaced by DI Martin Spellman, a colleague disliked by Tom, who appears more interested in his upcoming wedding than the case. When another photographer is murdered, Barnaby continues his investigation unofficially to discover who is framing him and bring the guilty party to justice. Several skeletons are discovered in a tunnel during a canal restoration project near Midsomer Worthy. DCI Barnaby begins his investigations and discovers that one skeleton has modern dental work. Meanwhile, DS Troy has been promoted to Inspector. He begins his last case in Midsomer, investigating the murder of a teenager, Simon Mayfield (played by Henry Cavill), who had been shot with a gun that he and his friends had been using the previous night. The two detectives discover their cases are linked, and uncover a web of lies, affairs, and domestic arguments alongside a mysterious recluse with a hidden past.

This has to be in the bottom five Brian True-May era episodes. Even though there have been many duffers since he departed it could still be one of the worst ever. Now we have the older couple. They are too into their telly to care about anything or anyone (including son). How they die? Sledgehammer to the heads!! Reminds me of that great Peter Gabriel song. Why? Because the man lets it slip that their "bastard""good for nothing" son was just that....a bastard. They never got around to marrying each other. Oh, and they laugh and laugh. And so, BAM, right in the head. Did they move? Nope. Too into the telly. New meaning to the phrase how watching too much telly can rot your brain. And last was the young lady who was roomies with the first victim. Why was she about to get her "due"? Because she was seeing a married man. So, yea, she had to go. But who saves the day? The peeping Tom! He saved the day. All in the name of David's "God". David, the pent up virgin who was a teacher who taught about history and how people died....yea! Midsomer Murders is a British television detective drama [1] that has aired on ITV since 1997. The show is based on Caroline Graham's Chief Inspector Barnaby book series, originally adapted by Anthony Horowitz. Gerald Hadleigh ( Robert Swann), chairman of the Midsomer Worthy Writers Circle, is deeply troubled when the group decides to invite writer Max Jennings ( John Shrapnel) to their next meeting. The morning after Jennings's visit, Hadleigh's housekeeper finds him bludgeoned to death in his home. Barnaby and Troy discover Hadleigh was somewhat of an enigma since a witness observed an unknown woman enter his house the night before his murder. The police detectives now find themselves scrutinizing all the writers and unearth many secrets before Max himself is found dead from poisoning. Anna Massey, Joanna David, and Una Stubbs also appear. Shortly before his retirement, Superintendent Pringle ( James Bolam) arrests a local poacher for the murder of a tramp during a fox hunt in woodland close to the village of Upper Marshwood. But DCI Barnaby is unsure that the poacher was the real killer. Upon returning from holidaying in France, Barnaby is soon proved right when the poacher's father is found murdered with his own shotgun. As they reopen the investigation, they find many hidden secrets amongst the villagers. However, after he retires, Pringle is killed in an accident, which Barnaby suspects was also murder. Richard Johnson, Diane Fletcher, Simon McBurney, and Toby Jones also appear.

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Peter and Caroline Cave are house-hunting in Midsomer Newton and view a tumbledown cottage in secluded woodland. The following morning they are both found dead in their car near the house. DCI Barnaby and Acting DC Ben Jones enter a world where crooked estate agents, property developers, and eccentric villagers all seem to be withholding information. It is not long before another villager is murdered. The detectives find out that a years-old armed robbery holds the key to the case.