Midsomer Murders (TV Series) The Noble Art (2010) User Reviews

A champion from Midsomer

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 14 October 2010]

When a local boxer goes on to become world champion everybody in Midsomer seems to be celebrating, it isn't long however before it becomes apparent that that not everything is as happy as it first appears. The local hero is a little too popular with the ladies and thus not so popular with their husbands and boyfriends. He is also worth a lot of money so anybody who could extract him from his current contract could get rich. When the local solicitor is murdered there are lots of motives… was he helping somebody break the contract, get a divorce, or was his overly attentive assistant somehow involved? As the episode continues yet more motives and victims stack up and surprisingly when we finally learn why so many people had to die it wasn't for a reason I'd suspected.

As with most episodes of this series it was all very silly but got away with it because it was so much fun. The cast were all clearly enjoying themselves and put in a fine performance as usual. Several of the characters were less than pleasant so it was hard to have much sympathy for them, in fact at the end I had more sympathy for the killer than the victims!

a Midsomer boxing champ

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 3 August 2015]

John Kinsella is the local boy who made good in "The Noble Art," referring to bareknuckle boxing, in this episode of Midsomer Murders.

Everyone welcomes Kinsella home with a party, thrown by Gerald Farquharson, a local magistrate. Among the guests are Giles Braithwaite, his secretary Iris, and Grace, who is the wife of Kinsella's manager Frank Bishop.

Everyone is in a hurry to see Giles, including Gerald himself and the Bishops, as well as Gerald's son Sebastian. Unfortunately for them, Giles is murdered, and someone has ripped through his office.

Later on, there is an exhibit of a prize fight with Kinsella, where Bishop is also knocked off. His wife's boyfriend was planning on taking over Kinsella's management with Grace, so there's a motive.

Then there's a third murder.

Barnaby and Jones uncover plenty in this episode while trying to find the murder: homosexuality, adultery, blackmail, compulsive gambling, and a couple of secrets.

I thought this was an okay episode, with a couple of neat twists. It didn't stand out like some others, but it wasn't awful.

Boxing and the Gentry

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 2 June 2016]

In this rather ordinary (but at times entertaining because of pretty good acting) the sport of boxing is front and center. Actually, the boxing is really not that significant but a very masculine guy is, and he happens to be a boxer. This episode focuses on the foibles of the rich, in particular, gambling. We are also given a hint that there is more to the relationships than meets the eye and those we vilify have more history than we are aware of at first. We end up with three murders, and is most often the case, they are done out of "necessity" to maintain the perceptions of the perpetrator. One thing I noticed in this episode is that Barnaby, on numerous occasions, confronts his suspects in a smug, non- policeman like way. Over all, some of the events are a bit of a stretch, and once again, there is some rather suspect behavior.

Ending saved the episode

[vitoscotti · 6/10 · 16 March 2020]

It's never explained how the Barnabys are so tight with the elite boxing crowd. Or why they're so keenly interested in the boxing festival when they're not boxing fans. Very ordinary until the ending which makes it still only ok. Thought it was a wine commercial with the mini Orsen Welles. The crooked boxing promoter dresses like "Guys and Dolls" is in town. Two white guys fighting for a boxing championship? The drug test took what 4-5 days to come back? Vito S 3-16-20

Enjoy it for what it is

[sajamor · 8/10 · 9 May 2020]

It is somewhat apt this episode features a constantly losing gambler. The misdirection hand is so wildly overplayed it signposts the killer far too clearly. So from a mystery viewpoint the episode completely fails in what it sets out to do - and doesn't entirely succeed on the plot pacing front.

Some of the inconsistent supporting cast could have done a better job, too, in particular Glenn Murphy as Frank and Henry Garrett as John. Much of their line delivery was so wooden I was amazed it made the director's cut.

Yet The Noble Art is great from the viewpoint of multi layered, people driven drama. It also features the humour and community life which I miss from the John Nettles era and which I can forgive not advancing the plot as it's enjoyable in its own right.

The characters are on the whole painted with a much finer brush than usual. Instead of being the cartoons populating too many Midsomer villages, they have complex and often sad reasons for doing what they do. The ones I couldn't like I could at least sympathise with on some level - surprisingly many in the brilliant twists around Sebastian.

But the best departure from the usual was how the killer still didn't seem like a villain. I have always liked the episodes where the crimes and their perpetrators aren't depicted in black and white. In real life - as here - murder can be a last resort by people whose basic nature and situation does elicit our sympathy.

Of course no financial motive justifies it, especially when you've brought the problems on yourself. Of course you should try curbing what's caused those rather than indulging it. However, addiction cycles are amongst the most vicious of all - plunging people into desperate states they have to take desperate measures to turn around for those they desperately love. When I learnt how totally and needlessly it had ruined a basically good person's life forever my heart absolutely broke.

'Midsomer Murders' and the dark and not so noble side of boxing

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 24 February 2017]

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.

"The Noble Art" is somewhere in the middle as far as Season 13 goes. It is a let-down after "Master Class", which blew me away and was the best 'Midsomer Murders' episode since "The House in the Woods". However, it is infinitely better than "The Made-to-Measure Murders" and especially "Blood on the Saddle" (almost anything is better than that episode this said).

Starting with what "The Noble Art" does well, the production values as always are just great, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.

Writing provokes a lot of thought mostly, and has a healthy balance of the humorous and the darkly twisted. Love the chemistry between Barnaby and Jones, the incorporation of boxing is entertaining and there are some nice twists and turns along the way and intriguing subplots.

John Nettles and Jason Hughes are both superb, individually and together (their chemistry, and the chemistry with Daniel Casey and John Hopkins before Hughes, being a huge part of their episodes' charm). The supporting cast are good, especially Kevin McNally.

Little if anything in "The Noble Art" is done terribly, but it is one of those episodes that executes its components with competence but all those components have been done in previous 'Midsomer Murders' episodes better and with more impact. Competent but a bit safe and bland.

Very little is ridiculous (though there is the odd part that's a bit of a stretch agreed) and the story is mostly involving, plausible and easy to follow, but also too easy to solve and resolved slightly on the pat side in the episode. The killer is one suspected somewhat too early, and while the motives are far easier to swallow than most middle-period 'Midsomer Murders' episodes they're a little too restrained too.

Overall, decent and watchable episode but one of the forgettable ones. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Not the best of season 13, but not the worst either

[boxyfella · 7/10 · 4 November 2021]

An enjoyable romp with some good performances, particularly the superb Phil Daniels and Camille Coduri. Loads of misdirection in this one, they did a good job of making us think Grace was knocking off John Kinsella.

Once more DC Stephens is given nothing to do and DS Jones didn't feature much more to be honest. This has to be one of his least memorable episodes.

Unlike most reviewers, the identity of the killer came as a total surprise to me. I doubt there has been a more likable killer in the history of Midsomer.

A fine episode

[harrykivi · 6/10 · 2 December 2022]

"The Noble Art" is not of the better episodes when it comes to "Midsomer Murders". It's not terrible, just unremarkable at the end of the day.

Let' s start with the good aspects, shall we?

. The production values of the episode are great as usual. The direction is solid and the music fits the scenery. The acting's good for the most part. John Nettles and Jason Hughes are fantastic in the leads, but out of the fine guest stars Kevin McNally and Camille Coduri fare the best.

. The story is mostly decent with not any standout moments. The characters are interesting enough, there is a good amount of wry humor and some pretty good twists and turns.

But....

. The solution (Gerald being the killer) is, agreed, very obvious from the start. Do agree too that everything that is shown in "The Noble Art" has been done in "Midsomer Murders" before and in a much better way.

Overall, a fine episode.

6/10 HK.

Not a Noble Bunch here

[sherondalewis-20531 · 7/10 · 11 January 2023]

I pretty much agree with a lot of the comments on here..it was not a bad episode but, it wasn't the best, either. Certainly better than "The Electric Vendetta" "The Made for Measure Murders" and "Blood on the Saddle". I personally didn't mind "The Straw Woman" or "Second Sight"...BUT, it's by far much better than the God awful "Night of the Stag" and better than "Echoes of the Dead". As I was watching this episode, I was wondering a few things that no one seems to explained...like, how did Tom and Joyce become friendly with the magistrate, Gerard? Where did they meet? A charity, an event? In the episode, it was suggested that Tom and Joyce knew Gerard's adopted son, Sebastian, birth father. But, apparently, Sebastian doesn't know that Gerard is NOT his dad. And that the mom married Gerard, son and all, and she left both of them when he was about 4 or so. Do the Barnabys know her? Where are his birth parents? Anyway, another thing is, why do they enjoy boxing all of a sudden? Is this like the time, in "Bantling Boy" the said named horse was from Midsomer County and was a winner, thus, rooting for the home team? And since the boxing was from a local named John Kinsella, they decided to be interested in said sport? Because then, that would make sense. Did I like this episode? I did. Did I care for any of the characters...besides the lord of the house Gerard Farquaharason, and his daughter in law, not really. See, I actually didn't care about the murdered victims. This was one of those rare times where the people who were murdered didn't really get my sympathies. All over a bet from a lie. Gerard made a bet, on a lie, foolishly, with a man name Frank Bishop, the promotor/father in law of John, who won a match at MSG (Madison Square Garden in NYC). A bet for the estate. The lawyer who arranged this, Giles Braithwaite, was on the take and was witnesses by his all too personal (for her, not the closeted gay Giles), blackmailing, Irish Holman. Sebastian Farquaharason, the "adopted" son of Gerard, is 100 against this bet and is PISSED that his dad made this. What we find out is that his secret lover, Giles, wrote it up and the blackmailer, Iris (whom I have stated, was in love with Giles and hated them two for being lovers or, gay, even). Sebastian is an angry, bitter, hostile young man and married to his wife Camilla.

Well, after the match, and on his way to sign everything over (once they landed at Heathrow and Frank is on the way to collect) there is Giles...dead, in his chair. Who did it? This is where Tom and Ben comes in. Then, Camilla is found to be pregnant (courtesy of Joyce, with her knowledge of morning sickness). So, while Tom is interviewing Sebastian, it becomes clear to both Tom and Ben that A, he is not excited that she is pregnant because B, that is 100 not his child (and he is 100 sure) and it MUST be the boxing Midsomer Casanova, John's baby.

Then who else gets murdered? Why, it is Frank Bishop, the lying bully promoter, who just fired his trainer (who's in love with his wife) and can't stand her, either. Do we care that he is dead? No...no we are not. He is dressed like a wanna be Jack the lad or Mack the Knife or someone who just stepped off the stage from doing "Guys and Dolls". Personally, I was hoping Sebastian would be #3 but, no. He couldn't even try to commit suicide on himself with all that damn anger he has within him.

And then, death #3, Iris Holman. Was I sad that she was next? Kind of...but I'm not lighting a candle for her. Because she KNEW who did the murder...and was blackmailing said person (Gerard)! She is special, huh?

There were a few other characters here that just filled in space, like Bishop's wife (and mother to John). The sculptor who was commissioned to do a beautiful metal piece who is engaged (or was) to an equally aggressive, hurt feelings brute of a bully who also hated John because of how he was treated by the ladies. Wouldn't have mind if he was murdered, btw. This whole episode basically had me wanting MORE people dead. Is that sad for me to say? Trust me...there are episodes of MM where the people you think or, wish that should die, doesn't.

Tom finally gets to the bottom of the case by telling Joyce that he has purposely steered clear away from one suspect (his friend) because he just can't seem to understand why...because he doesn't want to believe it.

But boy, does he! We find out that Gerard is the father of his daughter in law's baby! Not only that but, neither regret falling in love with each other. Great huh? The ending was pretty much summed up by Gerard: a lawyer who was on the cut, a bully of a man who lied to get the estate, a woman who was a blackmailing homophobe, and him. A man who had sex and fathered his own daughter in law. And the icing on this fresh baked mess of a cake...John Kinsella failed a drugs test because he's been doping and the belt will be given to the opponent. He didn't have to kill anyone. But he did. The only thing I was happy about was that he killed 3 unlikable people. And that he will finally have an heir with a woman that loves him. Albeit that's messed up but, the estate is in his name and she will be preoccupied with child.

What a Noble bunch of people indeed!

A fairly standard episode, nothing special.

[poolandrews · 4/10 · 29 August 2011]

Midsomer Murders: The Noble Art is set in the small village of Midsomer Morchard where the locals turn out to watch Johon Kinsella (Henry Garrett) who lives in Midsomer Morchard box live in New York, Kinsella wins his world title fight in New York & is crowned boxing champion. Arriving back in Midsomer Morchard late one night Kinsella's manager Frank Bishop (Glen Murphy) visits local lawyer Giles Braithwaite (Ken Bones) but discovers him dead, DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) is called & starts a murder investigation. Soon after during a charity boxing event promoter Bishop is also found dead & Barnaby is faced with a double murder to solve, with affairs, gambling, jealousy & village secrets to consider Barnaby is finding this a tough case to solve...

Episode six from season thirteen this Midsomer Murders mystery was directed by Richard Holthouse this isn't a bad episode I suppose but isn't that great either & feels a little routine, while The Noble Art is a solid enough crime drama murder mystery I don't think it will last too long in my memory. The script revolves around the world of boxing with various old fashioned sentimental nonsense, the usual Midsomer Murder plot details like affairs & people with financial problems also come up & in the end The Noble Art is nothing that new or groundbreaking with relatively restrained if plausible motives for murder. The character's are decent enough, there's the usual red herrings & plot points that are there to throw the viewer but never really go anywhere. Fairly unremarkable in the context of the series I suppose but The Noble Art is watchable enough & most fans of the show should like it well enough.

There are three murders in The Noble Art, all are off screen & tame & amongst the show's most boring kills. Filmed as usual in traditional English rural locations in & around Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire. The acting is solid as usual from a good cast.

The Noble Art is a decent enough Midsomer Murders episode, it's not overly silly or memorable & the kills are pretty dull but overall it's a watchable enough effort & not as bad as some of the more recent Midsomer Murder episodes.

Unremarkable.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 5/10 · 27 September 2018]

The Noble Art is a fairly decent episode of Midsomer Murders, it's a fairly good watch, but the trouble is it contains nothing original, nothing remarkable, and it is just plain forgettable.

I quite like the story, boxing always makes for a good story, but here the boxing theme is just a bit odd, it doesn't seem to gel well, at every possible moment they push the boxing theme, I'm surprised they didn't have Joyce in boxing gloves throughout, it was all a little too much.

Kevin McNally's character was in virtually every scene, he seemed to pop up in scene after scene, he acted his part very well though. Camille Coduri was the shining light though as she so often is.

Nice production values, some gorgeous costumes, but overall it is just very silly, the characters and relationships are a little confusing, and the identity of the killer is so obvious it's not really much of a mystery.

Overall the Noble Art is watchable, but one of the weaker episodes in my opinion. 5/10

Unremarkable

[james_89 · 5/10 · 14 October 2010]

When John Kinsella, a talented local boxer, wins the world title fight in New York, not everyone is happy about it. Then Giles Braithwaite, solicitor to the boxer's manager, is found murdered. He has been struck and suffocated, then propped up in his office chair.

Secrets soon begin to come out of the woodwork as more victims fall foul of the killer...

This episode, by Barry Purchese, is totally unremarkable. Its enjoyable enough, but unlike Master Class last week, everything here is very easy to solve, even before there's been a murder (which doesn't take place until nearly half way through).

The deaths themselves are bloodless and unmemorable, the killer turns out to be the most blatantly obvious one and it just fizzles out after very little suspense...

It was alright, and much better than the absolutely awful Made-to-Measure and Blood on the Saddle, but overall it was completely forgettable.

Must try harder.