Father Brown (TV Series) The Pride of the Prydes (2014) User Reviews

A fun mystery.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 17 July 2017]

The Prydes are an old English aristocratic family, but have fallen on hard times, forced to open their doors to the public, things get even worse for them as family researcher distant relation Audrey Dibble is shot down during a guided tour.

This is a great looking episode, wonderful buildings, settings, costumes etc, it's very visually appealing. An interesting story which highlights an aristocratic family in decline, and the depths they'll go to to keep social position. It's a little silly in parts, but it's more then made up for by the acting skills of Caroline Blakiston, who steals the episode as the haughty Lady Pryde. Marcia Warren is a great comedy actress, her costume did make me chuckle.

Fun 7/10

Everything I love about Father Brown

[sbrilliant · 9/10 · 27 April 2023]

I loved this episode. Murder mystery, beautiful castle backdrop, romance, great story with twists and turns... The only thing missing was Father Brown racing along on his bike (had a puncture in this episode!). Mrs Macarthy's scones were mentioned and she got to bake a wedding cake! Marcia Warren (Audrey) was as eccentric as always, I always remember her as Bunty from Keeping Up Appearances. Nice final scene with the wedding and the families brought together, although not sure why the grandmother wasn't arrested for attempting to murder her grandson?! Maybe it didn't matter any more because he died anyway! Odd, but then I love it because it's placed outside of reality.

Good mystery

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 29 July 2022]

The grand opening of Pryde Castle ends in disaster when a guide is struck by an arrow. Contrary to Inspector Sullivan, Father Brown becomes convinced that the motive lies buried in the family's past.

Marcia Warren's death scene is very memorable- the way she howls as an arrow pierces her back. She's quite a funny character. There's some good characterisation here, the subject of heredity and class is well portrayed. The mystery is well done.

The Pride of the Prydes

[MrFilmAndTelevisionShow · 8/10 · 29 August 2021]

While I find the premise interesting, I do wonder if the resolution was particularly sound. Rich aristocratic guy name Bingo doesn't care if his Bride to be is a from a Noble family or not, which is wholesome, and yet she seemingly will end up with her distant cousin the angry socialist? I mean at least with their marriage the Pryde family home will remain in the family it currently is in forever.

The Righteous Prydes

[safenoe · 6/10 · 2 August 2023]

Susannah Fielding guest stars in The Pride of the Prydes and the series reminds me of Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey all rolled into one. Anyway, there's an element of historical mystery in this and also the idea of marrying on the wrong side of the tracks.

I learned that St. John is pronounced "sin-gin" in Father Brown, but really "St John the Evangelist", "St John's Ambulance Service" would have the traditional saint John pronunciation.

I'm finding it okay watching the early seasons of Father Brown, but I'm sure things get better with the Scooby team gelling as we progress in the middle seasons.

The Pride of the Prydes

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 11 May 2017]

Father Brown investigates a mad bunch of aristocrats, the Prydes who have been cursed through the generations. It mus be all the inbreeding.

Impoverished Sir St John Pryde plans to sell off his land, this upsets some of his tenants including radical Alan Archer who is also the son of St John's butler.

St John's daughter might be getting married to a very wealthy man which is his only saving grace. However she is carrying on with Alan Archer.

On the day Pryde castle is opened to the public, a distant cousin Audrey Diggle is shot by a crossbow. She was researching ancestral history and discovered that the Prydes might not be true heirs to their title.

What should had been an interesting mystery and a rather daring way to murder someone was let down by some clunky writing and stereotypical characterization.