Customer Reviews

Midsomer Murders - Set Seven (The Green Man / Bad Tidings / The Fisher King / Sins Of Commision)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Fully in line with my expectations for BBC excellence, the Midsomer Murders series doesn't disappoint. I did find however the Set numbering quite confusing as it didn't seem to correspond to the character developments.

For those new to the series, I would recommend viewing the series in the order in which it was aired, not by the consecutive order of the Set numbers. For instance, "Set 5" is actually Season 1 which aired in 1998. "Set 4" is mostly Season 5 which aired in 2002. Below, is an overview for your viewing convenience.

The Killings at Badger's Drift S 1 x E 1 1998 US Box Set 5
Written in Blood S 1 x E 2 1998 US Box Set 5
Death of a Hollow Man S 1 x E 3 1998 US Box Set 5
Faithful Unto Death S 1 x E 4 1998 US Box Set 5
Death in Disguise S 1 x E 5 1998 US Box Set 5
Death's Shadow S 2 x E 1 1999 US Box Set 1
Strangler's Wood S 2 x E 2 1999 US Box Set 1
Dead Man's Eleven S 2 x E 3 1999 US Box Set 2
Blood Will Out S 2 x E 4 1999 US Box Set 1
Death of a Stranger S 3 x E 1 2000 US Box Set 2
Blue Herrings S 3 x E 2 2000 US Box Set 2
Judgement Day S 3 x E 3 2000 US Box Set 2
Beyond the Grave S 3 x E 4 2000 US Box Set 1
Garden of Death S 4 x E 1 2001 US Box Set 3
Destroying Angel S 4 x E 2 2001 US Box Set 3
The Electric Vendetta S 4 x E 3 2001 US Box Set 3
Who Killed Cock Robin? S 4 x E 4 2001 US Box Set 3
Dark Autumn S 4 x E 5 2001 US Box Set 3
Tainted Fruit S 4 x E 6 2001 US Box Set 4
Market for Murder S 5 x E 1 2002 US Box Set 4
A Worm in the Bud S 5 x E 2 2002 US Box Set 4
Ring Out Your Dead S 5 x E 3 2002 US Box Set 4
Murder on St. Malley's Day S 5 x E 4 2002 US Box Set 4
A Talent For Life S 6 x E 1 2003 US Box Set 6
Death and Dreams S 6 x E 2 2003 US Box Set 6
Painted in Blood S 6 x E 3 2003 US Box Set 6
A Tale of Two Hamlets S 6 x E 4 2003 US Box Set 6
Birds of Prey S 6 x E 5 2003 US Box Set 6
The Green Man S 7 x E 1 2003 US Box Set 7
Bad Tidings S 7 x E 2 2004 US Box Set 7
The Fisher King S 7 x E 3 2004 US Box Set 7
Sins of Commission S 7 x E 4 2004 US Box Set 7
The Maid in Splendour S 7 x E 5 2004 US Box Set NA
The Straw Woman S 7 x E 6 2004 US Box Set NA
The ghost of Christmas Past S 7 x E Special 1 2004 US Box Set NA
Things That Go Bump In The Night S 8 x E 1 2004 US Box Set NA
Dead in the Water S 8 x E 2 2004 US Box Set NA
Orchis Fatalis S 8 x E 3 2005 US Box Set NA
Bantling Boy S 8 x E 4 2005 US Box Set NA
Second Sight S 8 x E 5 2005 US Box Set NA
Hidden Depths S 8 x E 6 2005 US Box Set NA
Sauce for the Goose S 8 x E 7 2005 US Box Set NA
Midsomer Rhapsody S 8 x E 8 2005 US Box Set NA
The House in the Woods S 9 x E 1 2005 US Box Set NA
Dead Letters S 9 x E 2 2006 US Box Set NA
Vixen's Run S 9 x E 3 2006 US Box Set NA
Down Among the Dead Men S 9 x E 4 2006 US Box Set NA
Death in Chorus S 9 x E 5 2006 US Box Set NA
Country Matters S 9 x E 6 2006 US Box Set NA
Last Year's Model S 9 x E 7 2006 US Box Set NA
Four Funerals and a Wedding S 9 x E 8 2006 US Box Set NA
Dance With The Dead S 10 x E 1 US Box Set NA

Set 7 is the first set in line with the actual season numbering. Whilst this isn't a saga, I do think a production of this quality deserves to be viewed in the correct order. Happy sleuthing!

There's no apparent sign that Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) is undergoing any mid-life crisis, but it may be that Midsomer Murders, now in its seventh season, is. Set Seven contains only four of the seven programs that made up the season. Almost without exception they show signs of strain in the writing and plotting. Although still quite enjoyable mysteries involving the many murders that occur in quiet, well-mannered Midsomer County, they nonetheless, in my opinion, lack a little of the style and cleverness of the earlier shows.

The problems arise, I think, because the writers are beginning to fall back on over-plotting and on plot devices that more often than not are used simply to keep the stories going for the full 100 minutes each. In one of the mysteries we encounter long periods of time spent with an indigent tramp who bonds with the animals in the woods. He's an important plot element, but more time than is needed is spent establishing his goodness. A fox and its progeny become a dramatic element that has little point to the story but is used simply to evoke feelings that have already been established. In another story, murderous, adulterous and larcenous authors stumble over each other in a story so over-plotted it's difficult to keep the issues and the characters straight. In an egregious bit of plotting, several characters' gay orientation is brought in, but simply as unnecessary red herrings. The sexual issue disappears halfway through the story and is never a believeable factor in the outcome. More subversive to any mystery, the murderer is shown performing highly unlikely athletic feats when doing the murdering. In one other of the stories, two of the primary actors are easily confused in medium and long shots. This seems due only to sloppy casting since there is no purpose for confusion of the characters to the plot.

Two other weaknesses, in my view, have been creeping into the series. While the acting remains highly competent, it doesn't seem to me to reach the level of subtlety and skill present in the earlier programs. I'm not talking about the regular, recurring characters, but the actors who make up each separate story. Perhaps it's just that I miss the number of well known actors who made so many appearances in previous episodes. There is almost none of the pleasure of recognition in this set. More seriously, Cully Barnaby (Laura Howard), Tom Barnaby's daughter, is starting to show up as a major cast character. While in previous shows she simply was used to fill in background concerning Barnaby's family, in Set Seven she's given major parts in two of the mysteries. As portrayed by Howard, Cully Barnaby is a rather grim, serious young woman who seldom smiles and who often looks like she's bearing the weight of the world on her shoulders. I don't know whether it's the actress or how the character is written, but Cully Barnaby is just not very interesting. She also seems to be used by the writers to slip in a bit of contemporary open-mouthed smooching with young men who might be murderers, might be boy friends, and who usually never reappear.

Set Seven also gives us Detective Sergeant Dan Scott (John Hopkins) to work with Barnaby. Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey) has passed his exams for Inspector and moves on after the first episode. Scott is from London and is unused to the courteous ways of Barnaby, not to mention Midsomer County's high body count. Hopkins does a fine job.

Don't get me wrong, Midsomer Murders is an engaging murder series which I continue to enjoy. I'm looking forward to the DVD issue of additional sets. I just think the writers might be getting a little tired, and I hope they snap out of it. The DVD picture is excellent. The set includes a map of Midsomer County, cast filmographies and a biography of Caroline Graham, on whose books the series is based.

This new set of mysteries is of the same high quality as the previous ones and also, like them, requires that you pay attention if you want to follow the rather complex plots and characters. It is well worth the effort and while I was disappointed at first when Troy did not appear, the new sidekick is, in my view, a worthy successor and definitely grows on you. His personality is different from Troy's--a little less naive and a bit more cocky--and his humor, as noted in a previous review, is more sardonic but I find that I like him equally well. In all, an excellent continuation of a first-rate series. As a postscript, I might add that my only real complaint is, as it has been from the first, that the characters of Barnaby's wife and daughter seem pretty perfunctory and not a little boring, but fortunately, they do not usually play a big role in the stories.

Barnaby's new partner in Series Seven is Dan Scott, not Jones (see above). Yes, Troy is a loss, but once one gets used to Scott, he is a good fit. He's witty in a sardonic way. One needs to listen to him carefully to catch the witty quips. As for "The Green Man" - one of the best. David Bradley gives a touching performance and the final scene is a fitting tribute to Troy.

How can one ever tire of these marvellous yarns, with such excellent acting including of course from the fantastic John Nettles.

And here's a little private secret; I was born and bred in "Midsomer country" where much of the filming takes place, ie Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and I get a personal kick from seeing locations such as The Lee ("Badgers Drift") where a hundred years ago my grandmother was governess to the children of the Lord of the Manor.

Midsomer Murders is my all-time favorite mystery series, beautifully photographed and with superb acting. Five stars for the programs, but no stars, I'm afraid, for these disks which contain only four of the six episodes of Series 7. After waiting forever for the release of these disks, what a disappointment to find that "The Maid in Splendour" and "The Straw Woman" have been omitted without explanation. How much longer must we wait (and how much more must we pay) for all of Series 7 and the following series to be released? (Average of 5 + 0 = 2 1/2)

The "Midsommer Mysteries" are like a dear and trusted good friend and/or relative to me. I've been watching this series since it first appeared on A&E in this country some years ago. I truly love it! I now own seasons 1-7 on DVD and plan on continuing to purchase future releases! (I'm always re-looking at previous seasons or episodes--I've watched each of the episodes in each of the seasons many times--the mysteries certainly warrant viewing many time; they are that good) The scripts, direction, settings and, most of all, the actors are terrific. I simply adore John Nettles, as Detective Barnaby. Nettles is wonderful as a really, really lovely type of person that also happens to be a darn good detective. It's almost as if a really nice and beloved uncle is solving intricate murders--he is very dedicated and is so damn good at his job. The actresses that play his wife and daughter are wonderful too--they all really complement each other--they "jell" as a wonderful, loving and very humorous family unit with season seven having the daughter play a larger role which is most enjoyable. Plus she is very good). Barnaby's (up to this season) sidekick was the character Troy who has always somewhat annoyed me; however, Barnaby, in a very non-combative way, has always counterbalanced Troy's personality kindly making him see things "in a different light" as a wonderful uncle and/or friend can and will do. (Truth be known, I'm really not too sad to see the character of Troy, with his extreme homophobia, leave--I have always thought that he over played the anti-gay thing in order to hide something.) I must admit, however, that the first episode of season seven is most impressive. Troy's character as played by Daniel Casey "wraps" things up very well showing that he really deserves his promotion. His parting scene with Detective Barnaby is very touching indeed--two really good actors doing their thing--really good!

After his career advancement and after his transfer, the character of Troy is, in season seven, replaced by the character of Sergeant Dan Scott as played by John Hopkins. The character of Dan Scott is a big city Detective and is expecting an easy "go of it" in the small "sleepy" village of Midsommer. Of course, he soon learns that ain't the case--somehow there is plenty of dastardly "goings on" in this outwardly safe, comfortable, respectable, tidy and cozy little village--the episode "Bad Tidings" proves to him that he has NOT landed a "cushy" job! John Hopkins is, to me, a "good fit" into this murder/mystery series with the character of Dan Scott dfisplaying a keen wit--I like him

If you want to see some good mysteries or want to do as I did--continue a love affair with this series--you can't go wrong by buying season seven of "Midsommer Mysteries" it's terrific!

I was skeptical of the new partner for Inspector Barnaby. I don't always like change. However, change must happen. Scott is different enough from Troy that his character will work. I'm looking forward to his development. As for the series in general, I love it and hope to see more. There's not a lot of good TV out there. I invest in the shows I like and watch them many times. I've got my husband hooked on the Midsomer Series as well.

Some of the best murder mysteries to be had, come from Midsomer! The Midsomer series never focus on the act of murder itself, but the intrigue of solving the case! Rarely is there a gory scene and most of the murders are done in good taste, and the rest of the story revolves around the detective work. Great British class, if you ask me. The only reason I give this Volume Seven collection only 3 stars instead of 5, is because I think they left out a couple of movies in this set. All the previous volumes have more in the collection than this one, yet they charged the same prices. I hope they remedy that next time. Also, the change of the "sidekick" in this set throws an avid watcher for a loop, but the new detective sidekick does grow on you. Overall, no matter which Volume Set you purchase, "Midsomer Murders" is always a good choice!

I purchased this collection in its entirety after realizing how wonderful it was. Now I wait impatiently for new seasons to appear in DVD format! The characters are wonderful and original: for one thing they aren't as dysfunctional as those of other murder mysteries seem to be. (The authors penning this type of fiction seem stuck on "brilliant detective with no life" mode. I got tired of the Inspector Morse Mysteries Inspector Morse - Complete Collection for this reason, and the newer Lewis mysteries Mystery!: Inspector Lewis is worse. At least the Frost series A Touch of Frost - Seasons 11 & 12 has started to add a little levity and a new life for the lead character.) Furthermore the cases are often delightful and ingenious.

Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles) and his wife and daughter are delightful individuals. I enjoy spending time with them and catching up with what they're doing. The characters are well balanced people with personal issues, but they deal with the ups and downs of their lives rationally and cooperatively.

When I saw the first film, I was afraid that Joyce would be a forgotten wife. Barnaby was called away in the middle of a lunch date with her, and I thought, "oh good grief; now we'll have marriage issues!" Not so; she was upset but philosophical about his departure, in short obviously used to it as part of being married to a policeman who is as devoted to his work as Barnaby is. Later in the series she tells another character that at their wedding instead of saying "I do," the inspector said "I've got it" and dashed out of the church to solve a case. Here too she repeats the tale wistfully, not angrily.

The young Collie, their daughter, has evolved from an attractive add-on character whose main purpose seemed to be to give this couple a "history," into a wonderful personality of her own; she compliments her parents and has a life that is wonderfully integrated into the story and sometimes into the mystery. She is a nice blend of the characteristics of her parents and looks so like Joyce that they could easily be mother and daughter. In short, she fits perfectly, and the three characters make a believable family.

I enjoyed the young inspector (Daniel Casey) Gavin Troy very much, especially at first, but by set 6 it seemed as though he was less respectful of his mentor and a bit irritable. I suspect this was intended to reflect his growing self confidence and need to progress "up the ladder,"--as well as the need for the actor himself to work out of the series and into one of his own so I was informed--but he was less fun as an "up-and-coming" rather than as a naive newbie.

I feel that the actor portraying the new inspector, introduced in this collection, is still not quite comfortable with his role yet, probably because the writers haven't decided just what they expect to accomplish with his character other provide a foil for Barnaby. The character seems both brash and indifferent, especially at first, but seems to fill out a little with each film in this series as the writers feed information about him to the viewers by exposure. He definitely has possibilities.

The mysteries themselves are terrific. I don't know much about the writers doing the work except that they have some of the most inventive minds doing TV stuff I've seen in ages. While not all the plots are entirely believable--at least once you've given it some thought--they are entirely wonderful. For one thing, the victims and suspects are frequently very eccentric. Certainly their propensity and motives for murder are impressive. One imagines a Merrie Olde England and villages filled with truly crazy people; and not icky crazy either, fun crazy. By the time one of the stories is completed, the body count is amazing, and the viewer is left to wonder if there is anyone left alive in Midsommer! What makes the thing especially wonderful is that the inspector notices this fact himself--both the eccentricities and the murders--and occasionally remarks upon it. I suspect he wonders what his living and working in the area says about him. (I remember thinking that some of the individuals I worked with in Saudi Arabia were pretty "peculiar;" then I realized since I was there too, the fact might say something about me also!)

All of these delightful personalities are portrayed by many of the same actors. One might see the Midsommer series as actually more of a repertoire company performing at a theater like the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. These actors are some of the most skilled I've seen in ages. They manage to create a separate, unique and believable personality for each of their characters. While familiar faces are easily spotted in the series, one is never mistaken over the individuality of the character that the actor is portraying; he or she IS that person, no matter who they were in earlier episodes. Truly impressive and very professional. I've actually become a fan of some of them and enjoy watching the styles they cultivate in different episodes.

This particular collection is delightful because it introduces the new inspector and bids goodbye to Troy. Although I enjoyed all of the episodes, my favorite was the last one, The Sins of Commission. The murderer is a delight, and the ways and means, let alone the whys, of the various murders is wonderful once explained. See if you don't agree.

A very enjoyable series.