Barnaby and Troy are drawn to Newton Magna where their search for a horse whisperer allegedly struck by a car is complicated by the discovery of a body in the town well.Barnaby and Troy are drawn to Newton Magna where their search for a horse whisperer allegedly struck by a car is complicated by the discovery of a body in the town well.Barnaby and Troy are drawn to Newton Magna where their search for a horse whisperer allegedly struck by a car is complicated by the discovery of a body in the town well.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaLinda Marlowe plays Bridget Wooliscroft in this episode. She returns in episode 13.7, Not in My Back Yard (2011), in the role of Fiona Conway.
- GoofsWhen the Air Canada plane ticket is shown, it contains several destinations, however no travel that corresponds with the story, and clearly says it is a specimen, and the name is a test name. It has disclaimers in several places indicating it is not usable.
- Quotes
DCI Tom Barnaby: Last I heard you were living the life of Riley down in Costa Blanca.
Melvyn Stockard: Yeah, well, it's amazing what a triple bypass operation will do for a man's view of himself.
- ConnectionsFeatures Scars of Dracula (1970)
Featured review
Certainly better than the previous episode, but a long way from being one of the better episodes
When it was in its prime, 'Midsomer Murders' was a joy to watch and had many classic/top-tier episodes to its name, with iconic moments and being so well-made, written and acted, the climaxes to "Written in Blood" and "Death's Shadow" for example are two of the show's overall greatest scenes. The earlier seasons are especially true to this.
Its prime era however is long gone. While there were admittedly not so good episodes when John Nettles was in the lead the Neil Dudgeon episodes, although the production values and music are still top-notch often have many problems. Including being overly-outlandish, over-convoluted, previously great characters being dumbed down and the characters generally being nowhere near as likable or interesting, even the acting sometimes can be a let-down.
Coming onto "Who Killed Cock Robin?", credit is due that it is a pretty significant improvement over the strange, convoluted, underdeveloped and over-stuffed "The Electric Vendetta", for me the show's first bad episode. However "Who Killed Cock Robin?" also really isn't one of the show's better episodes, being more a lower-middling one.
Enough salvages it to make it watchable at least, though people may only have a desire to see it just once or twice and not over and over like the best episodes. As ever though, The production values are without complaint, with picturesque scenery and as ever the whole episode is beautifully shot. The music also is a perfect fit, and the theme tune is as distinctive and unforgettable as one would expect.
Acting is also fine, especially John Nettles and Daniel Casey and they work so well together. Jane Wymark charms too and while her love for Nettles' Barnaby is always evident one understands her frustration at the constant interruptions due to the demands of his job. Barry Jackson is solid as well. The supporting cast do what they can in rather limited roles, Sean McGinley and Larry Lamb are the most notable names (am also familiar with Malcolm Storry and Gabrielle Lloyd, from their guest turns in 'Inspector Morse', both with little to do and it can show in their delivery) and both do very well.
However, the story is at some points simplistic and predictable, with the motive, final solution and murderer being rather easy to figure out (sad because 'Midsomer Murders' have shown a fair times that it is capable of some ingenious ones, while some plot twists and subplots succeed in convoluting the storytelling. Too much of the episode is leaden in pace too and not as dark, suspenseful or as grim as before, rather bland and too safe. There are again too many characters, some given short shrift and few of them having any development or life.
Scripting-wise there is not much special here, pretty flimsy and dull and again like the story plays it too safe.
In conclusion, a lower-middling episode but there are far worse 'Midsomer Murders' episodes than this (including the previous one). 5/10 Bethany Cox
Its prime era however is long gone. While there were admittedly not so good episodes when John Nettles was in the lead the Neil Dudgeon episodes, although the production values and music are still top-notch often have many problems. Including being overly-outlandish, over-convoluted, previously great characters being dumbed down and the characters generally being nowhere near as likable or interesting, even the acting sometimes can be a let-down.
Coming onto "Who Killed Cock Robin?", credit is due that it is a pretty significant improvement over the strange, convoluted, underdeveloped and over-stuffed "The Electric Vendetta", for me the show's first bad episode. However "Who Killed Cock Robin?" also really isn't one of the show's better episodes, being more a lower-middling one.
Enough salvages it to make it watchable at least, though people may only have a desire to see it just once or twice and not over and over like the best episodes. As ever though, The production values are without complaint, with picturesque scenery and as ever the whole episode is beautifully shot. The music also is a perfect fit, and the theme tune is as distinctive and unforgettable as one would expect.
Acting is also fine, especially John Nettles and Daniel Casey and they work so well together. Jane Wymark charms too and while her love for Nettles' Barnaby is always evident one understands her frustration at the constant interruptions due to the demands of his job. Barry Jackson is solid as well. The supporting cast do what they can in rather limited roles, Sean McGinley and Larry Lamb are the most notable names (am also familiar with Malcolm Storry and Gabrielle Lloyd, from their guest turns in 'Inspector Morse', both with little to do and it can show in their delivery) and both do very well.
However, the story is at some points simplistic and predictable, with the motive, final solution and murderer being rather easy to figure out (sad because 'Midsomer Murders' have shown a fair times that it is capable of some ingenious ones, while some plot twists and subplots succeed in convoluting the storytelling. Too much of the episode is leaden in pace too and not as dark, suspenseful or as grim as before, rather bland and too safe. There are again too many characters, some given short shrift and few of them having any development or life.
Scripting-wise there is not much special here, pretty flimsy and dull and again like the story plays it too safe.
In conclusion, a lower-middling episode but there are far worse 'Midsomer Murders' episodes than this (including the previous one). 5/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•912
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 8, 2017
Details
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 4:3
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