Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders
Series 22
Neil Dudgeon, Nick Hendrix

Another season of Midsomer Murders has come and gone. Six episodes of DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and DS Jamie Winter (Nick Hendrix) working to solve the strange and unusual murders of Midsomer County.

Series 22 starts with the episode “The Wolf Hunter of Little Worthy.” An urban myth is floating around town. A myth everyone knows was created by a contest. Yet, the people have picked up on this myth as though it was real. It is even being used to kill people.

At the same time, a new glamping site has been set up. Complete with hot tub and massages, it would seem people would be thrilled to have this new business in town. This is not the case. Campers and townspeople alike do not like this glamping business. Someone dislikes it so much, they are doing whatever they can to sabotage it.

“The Stitcher Society” is about a club for people recovering from heart surgery. It is a close-knit club until a suspected murderer is allowed to join. Toby Wagner (Peter De Jersey) has been away from town for five years. He left after townspeople came after him with dogs. Now he has returned, because one of those townspeople, Reuben Toombs (Silas Carson), now believes Toby is innocent. Before Reuben can show the proof, he is killed.

A mix of Agatha Christie and Clue is what makes up “Happy Families.” Barnaby and Winter are called to the house of Victor Karras (Stuart Milligan), the head of a game company. He and his wife were holding a party when he died. Barnaby and Winter must travel to this house on an island to solve this case. While there, a storm disconnects the ferry, keeping them stranded with a murderer.

“The Scarecrow Murders” shows us there is something pathologist Dr. Fleur Perkins (Annette Badland) is afraid of. Usually completely unflappable, scarecrows are something she must collect herself for in order to deal with. This is not easy as not only are the deaths happening during a scarecrow festival, the corpses are dressed up as scarecrows too.

A theatre is the setting in “For Death Prepare.” A performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance is being put on, and Barnaby’s wife, Sarah (Fiona Dolman), is part of the cast. Dead bodies begin to show up the closer the show gets to opening night. Along with the bodies are gold coins with messages on them about why that particular person was killed.

“The Witches of Angel’s Rise” finds Barnaby and Winter involved with a town’s Psychic Fayre. Despite the title, the fair is about more than just psychics. There is also feng shui, crystals, and tarot readings. All things the scientific-minded members of the community are against. As are the religious members. It is a battle of whose beliefs are going to come out on top when members of the psychic community turn up dead.

As I watched this series, I found quite a few people who I recognized right away from other shows and movies I have reviewed: Mark Williams (Father Brown, Harry Potter), Matt McCooey (Agatha Raisin), Keith Allen (Robin Hood), Caroline Quentin (Blue Murder), and Kevin Whately (Lewis).

The main characters were fun, as always. Barnaby is still crazy about Sarah, even when she calls him grumpy. After Sarah faces off with a murderer and the murderer runs off, Barnaby is far more concerned with how Sarah is doing than catching the person they need to arrest. Because to him, Sarah is more important than anyone or anything.

Sarah is caring, as always. After Jamie’s grandfather dies, she tells Barnaby to send him her love and to look after Jamie. This sudden concern of Barnaby’s makes Jamie wonder what his boss is up to. It doesn’t take long for him to realize Barnaby’s behavior is because of Sarah. Something I believe he appreciates.

Fleur is her usual spunky self. No one can get away with anything with her. She always knows some tidbit of useful information at the crime scene. Something the others do not know. A fact she uses to poke at Barnaby and Jamie.

Jamie is the one Fleur particularly loves to poke at. When he is forced to deal with an ex-girlfriend—a journalist causing the police and case trouble—Fleur gives Jamie a stack of books about love and romance. Later, she and Barnaby create a dating profile for him.

In some of the episodes of this season, Jamie seems a little lost. He really struggles with the history of his ex-girlfriend and having her in front of him again. Then his grandfather dies. Both events seem to put him off for a while, but he still does his job.

Actually, Jamie is doing his job better than ever. He still refers to Barnaby and does what Barnaby tells him to do, but he goes off on his own more and takes initiative. This independence is a big help to Barnaby and the cases. 

A Door Ajar
Kate Dorsey

Even with twenty-two seasons, Midsomer Murders is still a great series to watch. There is always some interesting premise with murders done in, um, “creative” ways. The bodies are also often placed in interesting locations, like a treasure chest. This creativity is what makes me look forward to this series year after year. The main characters help with this too.