The gruesome discovery of a farmer's eviscerated body in an ancient stone circle is made just days before the spring equinox.The gruesome discovery of a farmer's eviscerated body in an ancient stone circle is made just days before the spring equinox.The gruesome discovery of a farmer's eviscerated body in an ancient stone circle is made just days before the spring equinox.
Photos
Nick Thomas-Webster
- CID Officer
- (uncredited)
Chris Wilson
- Police Officer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFirst appearance of Kate Wilding, played by Tamzin Malleson.
- GoofsThere is no surveyor's tool or sextant that can render energy ley lines visible.
- Quotes
DCI John Barnaby: I'll need an analysis of this.
Dr. Kate Wilding: Type of cloth no problem. Origin may take a little longer.
DCI John Barnaby: Want to take a guess?
Dr. Kate Wilding: No. Amateurs guess. And then they apologize afterwards.
Featured review
Okay but not great
When in its prime (a vast majority of Seasons 1-9), 'Midsomer Murders' was a great show and one that is watched and re-watched frequently. Seasons 10-13 became more uneven, with three of the show's worst episodes coming from Seasons 11 and 13, but there were a few solid episodes and "Blood Wedding" and especially "Master Class" were gems.
After John Nettles retired and Neil Dudgeon and the new character of John Barnaby took over, 'Midsomer Murders' just hasn't been the same for reasons detailed in reviews for the previous Season 14 episodes. Season 14 on the most part was very disappointing, with "Echoes of the Dead" and "Night of the Stag" faring worst. "The Sleeper Under the Hill" is better than those two episodes, but just falls shy of being one of the "good" episodes of Season 14 (like the surprisingly good "The Oblong Murders").
There did seem to be some sloppy writing in "The Sleeper Under the Hill", and no these are outside of the errors pointed out in the previous reviews. One of the deaths tries to make the viewer believe that it happened in full sight which didn't seem that easy to believe. It is agreed that the motives for the murders weren't as satisfying as they could have been, not quite coming together in terms of sense. In a case with strong motives, very shaky alibis but surprisingly few suspects, Gibson was too obvious a suspect too early, one very quickly gets the feeling that he either knew more than let on or was personally involved and it did seem strange that Barnaby and Jones would spend as much time disagreeing over something like that.
Following his final appearance in "The Oblong Murders", Bullard now has a replacement and she is nowhere near as strong a character. Kate is just too bland with not much of a personality. Some of the pacing could have been tighter too.
However, "The Sleeper Under the Hill's" production values as always are top-notch, it's beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the haunting theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
Scripting provokes some thought and it doesn't take itself as overly seriously as other John Barnaby-era episodes. The story is mostly interesting and has enough twists and turns to keep one engrossed, really liked that throughout things were not what they seemed and the red herrings proved good diversions that didn't take away from anything at all.
Neil Dudgeon is more comfortable and has more of a personality than his first three episodes in the lead role, and Jason Hughes is helped by that Jones isn't written as much of an idiot as in the first three episodes of the season and that Barnaby isn't quite as condescending towards him. The supporting cast all do well, particularly Robert Pugh.
In conclusion, okay but not great. 6/10 Bethany Cox
After John Nettles retired and Neil Dudgeon and the new character of John Barnaby took over, 'Midsomer Murders' just hasn't been the same for reasons detailed in reviews for the previous Season 14 episodes. Season 14 on the most part was very disappointing, with "Echoes of the Dead" and "Night of the Stag" faring worst. "The Sleeper Under the Hill" is better than those two episodes, but just falls shy of being one of the "good" episodes of Season 14 (like the surprisingly good "The Oblong Murders").
There did seem to be some sloppy writing in "The Sleeper Under the Hill", and no these are outside of the errors pointed out in the previous reviews. One of the deaths tries to make the viewer believe that it happened in full sight which didn't seem that easy to believe. It is agreed that the motives for the murders weren't as satisfying as they could have been, not quite coming together in terms of sense. In a case with strong motives, very shaky alibis but surprisingly few suspects, Gibson was too obvious a suspect too early, one very quickly gets the feeling that he either knew more than let on or was personally involved and it did seem strange that Barnaby and Jones would spend as much time disagreeing over something like that.
Following his final appearance in "The Oblong Murders", Bullard now has a replacement and she is nowhere near as strong a character. Kate is just too bland with not much of a personality. Some of the pacing could have been tighter too.
However, "The Sleeper Under the Hill's" production values as always are top-notch, it's beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the haunting theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
Scripting provokes some thought and it doesn't take itself as overly seriously as other John Barnaby-era episodes. The story is mostly interesting and has enough twists and turns to keep one engrossed, really liked that throughout things were not what they seemed and the red herrings proved good diversions that didn't take away from anything at all.
Neil Dudgeon is more comfortable and has more of a personality than his first three episodes in the lead role, and Jason Hughes is helped by that Jones isn't written as much of an idiot as in the first three episodes of the season and that Barnaby isn't quite as condescending towards him. The supporting cast all do well, particularly Robert Pugh.
In conclusion, okay but not great. 6/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•1312
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 28, 2017
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- The Six Bells, The Green South, Warborough, Oxfordshire, England, UK(PC Gibson confronts Evan Jago)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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