Midsomer Murders is one of my favorite detective shows, it's just great in virtually everything. I love it for its color, rustic atmosphere, bright characters, humor, intriguing stories, originality, creepy music and wonderful main characters.
"The Killings at Badger's Drift" is a good episode and one of the best starts in the detective genre. Most TV series and, consequently, their pilots, do not do without a finding-its-feet feel, but not Midsomer Murders and not "The Killings at Badgers Drift".
The plot of this episode is quite intriguing, quite twisted, although it does not do without a few nonsense and stretch. In this episode, a whole host of colorful characters, namely: Iris and Dennis Rainbird, Lucy Bellringer and Phyllis Cadell, all brilliantly played and superbly written. The atmosphere is great, creating a truly classic episode of such a great show. The music is perfect, both the main theme and the rustic composition at the beginning.
However, even such a seemingly exceptional episode is not without its drawbacks. I frankly did not like one of the final moves, which was quite unpleasant, and there are a lot of plot stretches and nonsense. However, I can't say that this episode is annoying or objectionable, because there are too many great things in it.
I also love the last few minutes of the series so much, when Barnaby is in the theater, it's really great, and it gave me goosebumps.
All in all, a great, if not perfect episode, and one of the best starts that can be. 9/10