An interesting episode, with an even more interesting ending. I do find it good that Father Brown actually essentially grants people forgiveness in the sense that even though they have commited a violent crime, he doesn't turn them over, or insist they give themselves up to the police every time, rather he allows them to turn their life around and to become closer to God.
7 Reviews
The Shadow of the Scaffold
Prismark1015 May 2017
Violet Fernsley is about to be hung for murdering her husband Ivan. At the last moment she announces that she is pregnant and begs Father Brown to save her.
Ivan was a violent man, his family which includes bedridden Ethel and his two stupid brothers Wilf and Archie treated her badly and determined that she pays for her crimes.
Father Brown thinks that the disappearance of a Polish farm worker around the time of Ivan's death holds a clue, he thinks that one of the brother's is the guilty party but the one of them meets a grizzly end in the pig sty.
A lot of implied violence of what could had happened to the bodies with grinding machines spewing meat out, wild pigs, even a dismembered finger at one point.
Father Brown also faces a dilemma regarding his views of Christian justice and forgiveness. His seal of the confessional needs to remain resolute.
Ivan was a violent man, his family which includes bedridden Ethel and his two stupid brothers Wilf and Archie treated her badly and determined that she pays for her crimes.
Father Brown thinks that the disappearance of a Polish farm worker around the time of Ivan's death holds a clue, he thinks that one of the brother's is the guilty party but the one of them meets a grizzly end in the pig sty.
A lot of implied violence of what could had happened to the bodies with grinding machines spewing meat out, wild pigs, even a dismembered finger at one point.
Father Brown also faces a dilemma regarding his views of Christian justice and forgiveness. His seal of the confessional needs to remain resolute.
Attack of the killer swine.
Sleepin_Dragon17 July 2017
Violet Fernsley is literally pulled from the hangman's noose by Father Brown as she announces she's pregnant, there for supposedly killing her husband, three days until the test comes back, she begs Father Brown to get to the truth, and save her from a grizzly end.
I remember Emma Stansfield from Corrie years ago, not seen her in a lot since, but a good actress, she did a good job. I did enjoy her final confession scene with Father Brown, the best bit of the episode.
A rather bonkers story, with some larger then life characters and a truly unexpected killer. Joe Sims plays creepy butcher Wilf with true vigour.
It's not my favourite story, I'd go so far as to say this was the weakest entry to date, but still fun, and still watchable. 6/10
I remember Emma Stansfield from Corrie years ago, not seen her in a lot since, but a good actress, she did a good job. I did enjoy her final confession scene with Father Brown, the best bit of the episode.
A rather bonkers story, with some larger then life characters and a truly unexpected killer. Joe Sims plays creepy butcher Wilf with true vigour.
It's not my favourite story, I'd go so far as to say this was the weakest entry to date, but still fun, and still watchable. 6/10
Twisted Plot and Extra Twist to Boot!
ummajon200318 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This episode had quite a few cringe-worthy scenes such as implied murder by butchering and disposing of body parts into pig pens--Not to mention a human finger bone found inside a pig's stomach. Very sickening. Turns out the murder mystery is two-fold in this one, which is a good plot trick being that many of the resolutions on Father Brown are rather ho hum in their motives. There's also a rather confusing interpretation of Father Brown's view on Christian justice and forgiveness. If he is such a truth seeker and guardian of justice then why did he allow a confessed murderer to not only 'get away with it' but then to enter the folds of a nunnery!? It's all rather odd. Still, the acting of Detective what's his name is compelling enough and a good contrast to the bumbling reverend. A funny scene at the end involving a taxidermy-fied reverend fox makes a light ending to an otherwise grisly serial killer of a crime. Lovely British accents and pretty English scenery for the win.
The new inspector RUINS the show!
vnssyndrome8925 April 2023
Why oh why did they replace Hugo Speer as Inspector Valentine with Tom Chambers as Inspector Sullivan?
IT RUINS THE WHOLE SHOW! Writers, you don't need all this hyped up drama, that's not why people watch shows like these. People watch to solve a mystery, and to watch characters we LIKE figure things out. I know you think you need that extra push, but all you are doing is souring the fine wine.
Inspector Sullivan adds NOTHING! (this is nothing against the actor, Tom Chambers, he's a fine actor in a crappy role) It's one thing to be stubborn, or to think that Father Brown intrudes in investigations, but REALISTICALLY, how many times will Inspector Sullivan send people to the gallows, and be allowed to get away with it? How many times will he come up with asinine theories, like there are two serial killers in the tiny village of Kimbelford, one a copycat? REALLY?! This is believable? I get that I'm supposed to suspend my disbelief, but I've had to fast forward through several episodes, all due to him. This episode would present a fine mystery IF the Inspector would use his own brain, and NOT try to send potentially innocent people to swing, to save his own reputation.
WHAT KIND OF CHARACTER IS THAT? WHAT DOES HE ADD - NOTHING! If he suspends my disbelief to the point where I am skipping episodes outright, or skipping scenes he's in, it's a fail! He dresses too well to be a policeman, he's an incompetent dullard, and what's worse he can't admit when he's wrong, and since Father Brown is too gracious to put him in his place, someone else needs to. Kimbelford is a SMALL village, the local people would drive his city boy a** out with pitchforks! Do you think the members of Father Brown's Parrish would stand for Father Brown being arrested? Do you think the myriad of other people Father Brown has helped, would stand for that? Again, I reiterate, it's a small village, everyone knows everyone! And since Inspector Sullivan has never helped anyone, the people of the village would turn against him.
Inspector Sullivan RUINS the show! Why did they get rid of Inspector Valentine? He looked, acted and was perfect for the roll, accepting Father Brown's help reluctantly.
IT RUINS THE WHOLE SHOW! Writers, you don't need all this hyped up drama, that's not why people watch shows like these. People watch to solve a mystery, and to watch characters we LIKE figure things out. I know you think you need that extra push, but all you are doing is souring the fine wine.
Inspector Sullivan adds NOTHING! (this is nothing against the actor, Tom Chambers, he's a fine actor in a crappy role) It's one thing to be stubborn, or to think that Father Brown intrudes in investigations, but REALISTICALLY, how many times will Inspector Sullivan send people to the gallows, and be allowed to get away with it? How many times will he come up with asinine theories, like there are two serial killers in the tiny village of Kimbelford, one a copycat? REALLY?! This is believable? I get that I'm supposed to suspend my disbelief, but I've had to fast forward through several episodes, all due to him. This episode would present a fine mystery IF the Inspector would use his own brain, and NOT try to send potentially innocent people to swing, to save his own reputation.
WHAT KIND OF CHARACTER IS THAT? WHAT DOES HE ADD - NOTHING! If he suspends my disbelief to the point where I am skipping episodes outright, or skipping scenes he's in, it's a fail! He dresses too well to be a policeman, he's an incompetent dullard, and what's worse he can't admit when he's wrong, and since Father Brown is too gracious to put him in his place, someone else needs to. Kimbelford is a SMALL village, the local people would drive his city boy a** out with pitchforks! Do you think the members of Father Brown's Parrish would stand for Father Brown being arrested? Do you think the myriad of other people Father Brown has helped, would stand for that? Again, I reiterate, it's a small village, everyone knows everyone! And since Inspector Sullivan has never helped anyone, the people of the village would turn against him.
Inspector Sullivan RUINS the show! Why did they get rid of Inspector Valentine? He looked, acted and was perfect for the roll, accepting Father Brown's help reluctantly.
Babe
safenoe3 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Anyway, it's a shame that Susie Jasinski (played by Polish actress Kasia Koleczek) wasn't given a send-off after season one. No explanation, no nothing, about her absence.
This was the first appearance of John Burton as Sergeant Goodfellow. Sergeant Albright (played by Keith Osborn) didn't appear. In season two it's Albright who's in most of the episodes, with Goodfellow appearing in an episode towards the end of season two. So maybe there was a power struggle between the two Sergeants.
Anyway, it's porcine mayhem in this episode, The Shadow of the Scaffold, that is a season two episode of Father Brown.
It's not bad, although the going back and forth, the gallows or the gallows humor with the pigs, was something that is not for everyone's stomach or appetite.
The pig scenes also reminded me of the Hannibal movie, definitely note Babe.
Anyway, this episode isn't for everyone that's for sure with the pigs and all.
This was the first appearance of John Burton as Sergeant Goodfellow. Sergeant Albright (played by Keith Osborn) didn't appear. In season two it's Albright who's in most of the episodes, with Goodfellow appearing in an episode towards the end of season two. So maybe there was a power struggle between the two Sergeants.
Anyway, it's porcine mayhem in this episode, The Shadow of the Scaffold, that is a season two episode of Father Brown.
It's not bad, although the going back and forth, the gallows or the gallows humor with the pigs, was something that is not for everyone's stomach or appetite.
The pig scenes also reminded me of the Hannibal movie, definitely note Babe.
Anyway, this episode isn't for everyone that's for sure with the pigs and all.
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