As has been said by me a number of times, 'Midsomer Murders' is one of my most watched and most re-watched shows. It is nowhere near as good now and the Tom Barnaby-era wasn't alien to average or less episodes, but when it was on form or at its best boy was it good.
'Midsomer Murders' has a number of classics and a larger number of solid episodes (with a few average ones, mostly in the show's middle period particularly Seasons 10-13), but once in a while the Tom Barnaby-era has mediocre episodes and even less. "Blood on the Saddle" is to me and many others one of the worst 'Midsomer Murders' episodes, have seen all the episodes to date (and re-watched) and "Blood on the Saddle" is a bottom 10 (even bottom 5) episode.
There are saving graces, always look for redeeming qualities in films, shows and episodes that are bad and have yet to see an irredeemable 'Midsomer Murders' episode. John Nettles, Jason Hughes and Jane Wymark do what they can with their roles, still enjoy Barnaby and Jones' chemistry (though it has been much better written in other episodes) and Wymark brings some charm and humour. "Blood on the Saddle" is a rare case of the supporting cast disappointing on the whole, but Richard Harrington and Caroline Langrishe are good.
As always, the music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality. The theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
However, "Blood on the Saddle" is a rare case of the production values and most of the acting not impressing. The scenery is lovely, but elsewhere the episode looks garish and dull and there is a lack of the gritty and idyllic look seen in 'Midsomer Murders' usually. Not everybody comes off badly but most of the acting sees the actors seeming to not know what to do with their roles. Daniel Ryan in particular overacts dreadfully in a cast full of ham and blandness.
The script is plodding and sketchy, and when it comes to the humour the gentle touch is replaced by an over-the-top farcical nature that indicates the show having lost its maturity. The characters are both lifeless and over-the-top, and the pacing both dull and cluttered. The story is a complete mess, pastoral village life and the Wild West just don't mix while everything just suffers from over-obviousness, convolution, an uncomfortable overdose of ridiculousness and too many characters and situations that don't amount to much and are not delved into properly. The ending, even for what they were trying to do, is like a cartoonish parody and really feels out of place in the show, definitely feeling like it belongs somewhere else entirely.
Overall, a 'Midsomer Murders' low-point. 2/10 Bethany Cox
'Midsomer Murders' has a number of classics and a larger number of solid episodes (with a few average ones, mostly in the show's middle period particularly Seasons 10-13), but once in a while the Tom Barnaby-era has mediocre episodes and even less. "Blood on the Saddle" is to me and many others one of the worst 'Midsomer Murders' episodes, have seen all the episodes to date (and re-watched) and "Blood on the Saddle" is a bottom 10 (even bottom 5) episode.
There are saving graces, always look for redeeming qualities in films, shows and episodes that are bad and have yet to see an irredeemable 'Midsomer Murders' episode. John Nettles, Jason Hughes and Jane Wymark do what they can with their roles, still enjoy Barnaby and Jones' chemistry (though it has been much better written in other episodes) and Wymark brings some charm and humour. "Blood on the Saddle" is a rare case of the supporting cast disappointing on the whole, but Richard Harrington and Caroline Langrishe are good.
As always, the music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality. The theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
However, "Blood on the Saddle" is a rare case of the production values and most of the acting not impressing. The scenery is lovely, but elsewhere the episode looks garish and dull and there is a lack of the gritty and idyllic look seen in 'Midsomer Murders' usually. Not everybody comes off badly but most of the acting sees the actors seeming to not know what to do with their roles. Daniel Ryan in particular overacts dreadfully in a cast full of ham and blandness.
The script is plodding and sketchy, and when it comes to the humour the gentle touch is replaced by an over-the-top farcical nature that indicates the show having lost its maturity. The characters are both lifeless and over-the-top, and the pacing both dull and cluttered. The story is a complete mess, pastoral village life and the Wild West just don't mix while everything just suffers from over-obviousness, convolution, an uncomfortable overdose of ridiculousness and too many characters and situations that don't amount to much and are not delved into properly. The ending, even for what they were trying to do, is like a cartoonish parody and really feels out of place in the show, definitely feeling like it belongs somewhere else entirely.
Overall, a 'Midsomer Murders' low-point. 2/10 Bethany Cox