they're at it again in midsomer

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Midsomer Murders, Set 19 on Blogcritics.

John Nettles is back as Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, Set 19. Set in the the fictional villages of Midsomer, perhaps the most brutal and bloodiest part of England, this Blu-ray boxed set features four episodes from the popular murder mystery series.

L-R: Jason Hughes, John Nettles, and Neil Dudgeon

All four episodes are from 2010 and feature Barnaby, ably assisted by Detective Sergeant Ben Jones (Jason Hughes), with occasional helpful input from wife Joyce (Jane Wymark) and daughter Cully (Laura Howard).

The four feature-length mysteries on two discs have a total running time of 400 minutes, and are in widescreen format with an aspect ratio of 1080i/16:9. The episodes are in English, with SDH subtiles available. Sound is 2.0 stereo PCM. Extras include scene selection and a behind-the-scenes photo gallery.

It's a miracle that there is any population left in Midsomer County, as the body count is rather high in all of these episodes. But it is also as entertaining as usual to watch Barnaby and Jones try to unravel the sordid motives behind multiple murders.

Disc One:

Episode 1, "The Made-to-Measure Murders" - The village of Milton Cross is positively feudal, with the residents in thrall to the lord of the manor, Edward Milton (James Wilby). But Milton Cross also has its secrets. An abusive tailor named Gerald (Nigel Williams) met his death a few years ago, and now his widow Sonia (Maureen Beattie) is found stabbed to death in the churchyard. How much does the lord really know about goings on in his village? Barnaby and Jones are determined to find out. Domestic complications include Barnaby getting a new suit.

Episode 2, "The Sword of Guillaume" - Barnaby gets a chance to escape Midsomer (and Joyce's cooking) and visit his cousin, another Detective Chief Inspector, John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) at the seaside in Brighton. But like Hercule Poirot, wherever Barnaby goes, murder seems to follow. The cousins cross swords with the indomitable Lady Matilda (Janet Suzman) and land developer Hugh Dalgleish (Tim McInnerny) as they investigate a shady real estate deal, missing antique swords, and a grisly beheading.

Wild, wild, Midsomer

Disc Two:

Episode 3, "Blood on the Saddle" - The quirkiest episode in the set, featuring a Wild West Society in the heart of the Midsomer village of Ford Florey. Be prepared for a shootout before Barnaby and Jones can solve this series of murders. It's certainly a colorful episode, with a drowning of a "witch" (Emma Cooke) at a local fairground, and lots of Wild West paraphernalia. Guest stars include Barry Jackson, Caroline Langrishe, and Malcolm Storry.

Episode 4, "The Silent Land" - Joyce is haunted, believing that she has hit and killed someone as she was driving through the Midsomer village of March Magna. A body is found in the local cemetery — the extremely unpopular local librarian. But it isn't clear if he died there or was brought there. Barnaby not only has to solve this mystery but also determine what really happened so that he can ease Joyce's mind. Adding to the confusion and atmosphere are a local ghost walks tour guide (Danny Webb), and the spooky, old, closed tuberculosis sanatorium.

As Barnaby, John Nettles is a wonderful combination of frustration, caring, and smarts. He seems as surprised and upset at the mayhem around him as the audience, which helps pull viewers into the story. The villages of Midsomer are as beautiful and idyllic as ever — at least from the outside, and especially in these sharp, Blu-ray images. Midsomer may not be a place you would want to live — it's simply too dangerous — but it's a delightful place to visit and play armchair detective.

Related:

come and visit the wonderful murderous villages of Midsomer

more marvelous murder and mayhem in midsomer

more marvelous murder and mayhem in midsomer

Article first published as DVD Review: Midsomer Murders - Barnaby's Top Ten on Blogcritics.

John Nettles, who has starred as DCI Tom Barnaby in the British mystery series Midsomer Murders since 1997 has chosen his 10 favorite episodes in this 10-DVD set, Midsomer Murders - Barnaby's Top Ten. Set in fictional Midsomer County, a collection of quaint and scenic rural villages with an unusually high body count, the shows are all presented in widescreen format, with subtitles and scene selection.

Nettles, who plays Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, recently left the show (and was replaced by Neil Dudgeon, cast as Barnaby's cousin John). On each disc he appears in a brief introduction, telling why he thinks each episode is special. Viewers unfamiliar with a particular plot line might want to watch Nettles's introduction after viewing the episode, however, as he sometimes gives away some plot points.

Some great actors turn up in supporting roles — Honor Blackman, Celia Imrie, Emily Mortimer, and Phyllis Logan are just some of the notable guest stars. Daniel Casey as Detective Sergeant Troy, Jane Wymark as Barnaby's wife Joyce, and Laura Howard as his daughter Cully round out the regular cast.

The collection begins with the very first Midsomer Murders episode, "The Killings at Badger's Drift," which is based on the novel by Caroline Graham. When schoolteacher Emily Simpson is found dead, a rare orchid may be a clue to her murder. As DS Troy (Daniel Casey) observes, "This must be the first police search organized for a flower." Barnaby soon discovers that the first death proves to be only the tip of the iceberg, as the bodies start to pile up around them. Suspects include an extremely creepy young undertaker, who is too close for comfort with his even creepier busybody mom, and a brash young painter. Emily Mortimer and Jonathan Firth also appear.

In "Blue Herrings," Barnaby can't get a break — he has taken time off to do some home improvement when a series of mysterious occurrences, including a death, start occurring at Lawnside nursing home, where his Aunt Alice (Phyllis Calvert) happens to be staying. Aunt Alice is suspicious, and enlists Barnaby's help to get to the truth.

Two children help Barnaby unravel the mysterious death of depressed local farmer's wife Susan Bartlett in "A Worm in the Bud." Barnaby and Troy must sort out if her death was a suicide or murder, and if there is any connection to a local Midsomer Worthy housing development project. Wendy Craig also stars.

The murder of the local postman leads Barnaby through a trail of multiple adulteries among the villagers of Goodman's Land in "Dark Autumn." Celia Imrie and Alan Howard guest star as a husband and wife with an interesting relationship.

In "Dead Man's Eleven," Joyce is looking to move from Causton to one of the villages, possibly Fletcher's Cross, although Barnaby is hesitant to become a resident of one of Midsomer's murderous little villages, "Every time I go into any Midsomer village, it's always the same thing — blackmail, sexual deviancy, suicide, and murder." He is soon proved right, when a game of cricket leads to another local killing. Imelda Staunton guest stars as a resident who wants Barnaby to buy her house.

Joyce is appearing in a small part in the local theater's production of Amadeus in "Death of a Hollow Man." Barnaby hoped to only be in the audience on opening night, but finds himself backstage in the middle of another murder investigation when the lead actor (Nicholas Le Prevost) is killed onstage.

In "The Electric Vendetta," bodies keep turning up in local crop circles - all naked, with burned hands, strange wounds on their backs and horrified expressions. Have UFOs really come to Midsomer? A local author (Kenneth Colley) of the book, "Close Encounters of the Midsomer Kind" certainly wants Barnaby and anyone else who will listen think so. He asks the inspector, "How are you going to arrest an extraterrestrial?" One of the best episodes of the series.

Barnaby tries to take a day off from murder by attending the annual St. Malley's Day foot race at Devington School. But as a boy runs back from the woods, the crowd at first cheers wildly and then sees that he is bleeding and watches him collapse in "Murder on St. Malley's Day." On further investigation, Barnaby discovers that some of the old traditions of Devington School are positively deadly.

In "A Talent for Life," Honor Blackman plays Isobel — a woman who enjoys life and driving her Jaguar as fast as possible. When she is found beaten to death in the woods, Barnaby must determine if her death had anything to do with her run-ins with members of a local fishing club, or possibly a recent influx of cash from an investment.

When a body of a young woman is found strangled in nearby Ravens Wood in Midsomer Worthy, its similarity to a string of murders a few years back lead Barnaby and Troy to think that they may have a serial strangler on their hands in "Strangler's Wood." Phyllis Logan plays Kate Merrill, a wife who immediately suspects her husband (Nicholas Ferrell) — the two obviously share a secret. Trudie Styler guest stars as Kate's friend Liz.

The theme music of Midsomer Murders is as delightfully eerie as ever. Nettles has a great rapport with his fellow actors, who all help to bring Midsomer and its surrounding villages to life. For such a deadly place, there is something soothing and enjoyable about watching the bodies pile up on Midsomer Murders. Nettles, as Barnaby, is quiet but determined. Although sometimes quite cynical, he remains a positive presence, which also adds to the pleasant viewing experience.

Each episode runs about 90 minutes, so Barnaby's Top Ten really gives the viewer an opportunity to drop in on Midsomer whenever they want, for some beautiful scenery, some great acting, and many, many, murders.

Related articles

• DVD Review: Midsomer Murders - Barnaby's Top Ten (blogcritics.org)

come and visit the wonderful murderous villages of Midsomer

Article first published as DVD Review: Midsomer Murders, Set 17 on Blogcritics.

A new-to-the-U.S. DVD set, Midsomer Murders, Set 17 features four episodes from the British detective series, based on the novels by Caroline Graham. These were originally aired in 2009, and like the rest of the series, are set in the multiple-murderous villages of Midsomer. The discs include some extras including fun facts and interview material with guest stars, but the main attraction is Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby and his quirky Midsomer beat.

From the looks of the place, Midsomer should be a sleepy, idyllic place to live, but like its American counterpart of Cabot Cove, ME, which sometimes seems to have a higher death rate than population, Midsomer can be a dangerous place to live. Thank goodness Barnaby, played by John Nettles, and Det. Sgt. Ben Jones, played by Jason Hughes, are as able to sort out whodunnit as ever. Wonderfully creepy music has always leant a touch of atmosphere to this series and continues to hint at what lurks beneath the surface. According to The Telegraph, the music "is rerecorded for every episode using an unusual instrument called a theremin."

In "The Dogleg Murders" an exclusive golf club provides the backdrop for extortion, a beyond-dysfunctional family, and some not-so-friendly gambling between golfing buddies. Snobbery and rivalry between the village folk and the more affluent golf club members is also on display, as the villagers, not allowed in the main clubhouse, are relegated to "the cooler" — "the "shed behind the carpark." Apparently England's class struggles have never completely gone away. Barnaby "doesn't speak golf," but still needs to find the killer. Even more alarming — he may be roped into playing badminton as a team sport by the Mrs. if he isn't careful.

"The Black Book" opens with a succession of truly Idyllic landscapes — the surrounding dales of Midsomer — immortalized by local artist Henry Hogson. A newly-discovered Hogson painting fetches a huge sum at auction and prompts a quick cycle of greed, murder and suspicions of forgery. Only Barnaby can determine what part fly fishing, pigs, and art therapist Susannah Harker play in his investigation.

The third movie in the set, "Secrets and Spies," finds Barnaby wrestling for control of his murder case with the former spies holed up in in a local safehouse. But ex-spies never seem to ever retire completely. Barnaby reveals his own brief time with MI6 as he sorts through a museum break-in with nothing taken, attacks on sheep by the mythical "Beast of Midsomer," and a rollicking cricket match. Mata Hari-like guest star Alice Krige aims to please — pretty much all-comers — "Whatever we can do to make your stay more pleasurable" — effortlessly vamping her way from guest bed to hayloft to the back of a van. As usual, there is lots going on under the surface in Midsomer.

An American entrepreneur tangles with university professor George Jeffers over an invention, "The Glitch," while local bikers are at odds with drivers who don't want to share the road. When a female biker riding Jeffers's bike is killed, Barnaby must determine whether her death was connected to Jeffers's public life, private life love triangles, or unhappy son. Meanwhile, Joyce (Mrs. Barnaby) and their daughter Cully join the cycling club for an exciting and possibly deadly race to the finish.

The cast and the environs are so likable that the viewer may not be too concerned with the actual solution of the crime. Like Agatha Christie, usually the citizens who get bumped off are not so very nice to begin with. Midsomer Murders manages to use an environment as its main feature, some extremely likable regular characters, with the murder mystery to give it the slightest structure. And it all works beautifully. These stories can be revisited again and again, along with the villages of Midsomer.

downton abbey

Downton Abbey echoed loudly of Robert Altman's wonderful film Gosford Park, and no wonder, it was created by that film's writer, Julian Fellowes. The echoes are good ones. Downton Abbey might actually be viewed as an expansion on the themes of the earlier film, in the way that the lives of the Earl and his family intersect with those of his staff.

Highclere Castle, by JB + UK_Planet, where Downton Abbey is filmed.

The casting is superb, full of familiar BBC drama faces, many beloved, such as Maggie Smith as the indomitable Dowager Duchess (the Earl's mother). Her son the Earl, played by Hugh Bonneville, I most likely recognized from a recent Poirot, although checking out his resume on imdb confirms he's been in lots of British shows that I have watched over the years (Vicar of Dibley, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, etc.) It's also great to see Elizabeth McGovern again, who stars as the Earl's American wife. She has always been a favorite, and still exhibits the same brains-behind-the-beauty that she had as Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime, probably the first time I saw her in a movie. But everyone in the cast is great in this new-to-PBS series. Downton Abbey was originally broadcast in the UK as seven episodes (with commercials), but PBS will be showing it (sans commercial interruption) in four parts. Last Sunday night we watched what were the first two episodes. The show has been so popular in England that it will return for a second series, which we probably won't get over here until next year, or at least much later than they get to see it across the pond. It might be worthwhile tracking its progress on ITV. Strange, in this age of instant internet gratification, that the television stations, even internationally, haven't been able to more closely coordinate their content.

But back to the show. The central dilemma of the drama, beginning in 1912, is the end of a way of life. Downton Abbey is a huge mansion that has been in the Crawley family for ages. But one can't run an estate on nobility alone. Lots of money is required. So the Earl went to America many years ago and secured himself a rich heiress (McGovern). Luckily for the Earl and his new wife, they also fell in love, as she points out, a year into the marriage ("No, sooner than that." insists the good-hearted Earl). All seems hunky-dory. Except that the Earl and his wife have had only daughters, and the Earl's father made one of those crazy wills that stipulate that the estate and all its property (including the heiress's money) is entailed, which means that it can only be inherited as the old geezer stipulates, in this case by a male in the family.

Here we go again, where women may be valued for their money to save an estate, but not inherit it. England had one of the strongest and best monarchs in Elizabeth I, but over three hundred years later is still able to enact such sexist legislation. Both the characters played by McGovern and Maggie Smith are hardly shrinking violets, and immediately team up to start hatching plans to break the entailment. We'll have to watch and see if they are successful. In the meantime, the Earl's only male relative, a third cousin, and decidedly not a gentleman but a working lawyer (horrors!) is set to inherit, unless they can break the will or marry him off to their eldest daughter. They've got to try and preserve the fortune for her (and for the rest of them) in some way.

From guardian.co.uk: Downton Abbey, Sunday ITV1. Photograph: Nick Briggs

There's lots of pathos, but also humor in the show, not surprisingly supplied by Smith. There is a great scene where the entire family is utterly flabbergasted upon hearing that their cousin the young lawyer plans to continue working rather than "learn the estate." He tries to assure them that he will have plenty of time to devote to Downton Abbey as well, as there is always the week-end. Smith, in a confused voice, interrupts, "What is a week-end?" How better to concisely express class differences, and who better to do it? I'm looking forward to the next Downton Abbey.

Related articles

• Elizabeth McGovern is delightful in the upstairs-downstairs drama Downton Abbey. (slate.com)

marathon night stalker

We recently watched a bunch of episodes of Kolchak: The Night Stalker back-to-back instead of Olympic luge or downhill skiing, or (gasp!) curling. I remember watching the series on television when I was a kid with my dad. He loved the mixture of sci/fi, horror and Darren McGavin's portrayal of the wily newspaper reporter. So did I (and still do).

Watching him flip through the yellow pages, or develop photographs in his darkroom, or pound his typewriter's keys is a definite nostalgia trip, but the show holds up as more than just a period piece or a glimpse into our recent past. There aren't a lot of characters as educated or interesting as Carl Kolchak on television today. Even the minor recurring roles are played by character actors who aren't afraid to crack wise. Each episode feels like a mini-movie. In fact the only television shows that provide as interesting a milieu or characters are made by the British: detective series such as Midsomer Murders, Lovejoy, Kingdom, Cracker, etc.

Kolchak will do anything to get a story. He is a liar, trickster, but also an in-depth occult researcher. Buffy's Giles and the X Files' Fox Mulder can trace their character's influences to this show. The X Files even gave a nod to McGavin by casting him in two episodes, once fans pointed out the strong similarities between the shows. Kolchak is also a crackpot, in the eyes of just about everyone around him. He is undeniably attractive to the ladies, even with his rumpled seersucker suit and straw porkpie hat. By nature of his ascebic personality and the aura of disbelief that surrounds him, Kolchak eventually has to "solve" all the crimes himself, usually by having to put his own life on the line. As obsessed as he may be to snap a photo or get a byline, he is even more concerned about stopping the killing and eliminating the monster-of-the-week.

Scares, clever dialogue, laughs, and the rumbling of the Chicago El in the background all combine for a fun time and a welcome diversion from the endless commercials and boring choices of network and cable television. And not many shows can boast episodes that feature a werewolf loose on an ocean liner, an extremely creepy, 60s-Italian-movie-Barbara Steele-ish female vampire, or a devil worshipping Tom Skerritt. You'll be whistling along with Kolchak after a few episodes . . .