In this episode there is another festival. This series can't got five minutes without bringing its featured characters to another festival. This time it is a literary festival and there will be a winner of an award for excellence. Writers show up and writers die. There are a series of brutal murders that are hard to explain, but everything revolves around the award. One colorful writer of rather exploitative novels makes a splash. Her harsh bitterness is obvious. Something has made her really angry. Again the past is in the community and again a former resident has bad feeling about her roots. Her name is Jezebel and she is admired by all, but doesn't seem to care for the adulation. This is a sophisticated effort and well worth the effort.
20 Reviews
Man, talk about divisive
blanche-21 September 2014
I guess some people didn't like this episode and some did. Well, a strong reaction is good, I suppose. I guess I just don't take these things all that seriously. It's not as if someone tried to pass off this story as Crime & Punishment. It's an episode in a TV show.
It's the 12th Annual Midsomer St. Michael Literary Festival, and a local author, Richard Rackham, is found dead, with a broken neck. It looks like he fell down the stairs until the pathologist announces that his neck was broken before he fell. Also, his computer is missing.
Then a book editor is murdered. Barnaby and Scott find out that he and Rackham were secret lovers. There are all kinds of motives and plenty of people had opportunity. Finally Barnaby learns something was about to be revealed that would wreak havoc should it become known.
I love Barnaby's family, so when they're in an episode, as they were here, I find it enjoyable. Barnaby's new partner, Scott, keeps busy flirting with various women, which is amusing, especially when Barnaby catches him at it.
I don't think you'll want to throw yourself off a building in despair over ghastly writing and plots after seeing this, so go ahead and watch it.
It's the 12th Annual Midsomer St. Michael Literary Festival, and a local author, Richard Rackham, is found dead, with a broken neck. It looks like he fell down the stairs until the pathologist announces that his neck was broken before he fell. Also, his computer is missing.
Then a book editor is murdered. Barnaby and Scott find out that he and Rackham were secret lovers. There are all kinds of motives and plenty of people had opportunity. Finally Barnaby learns something was about to be revealed that would wreak havoc should it become known.
I love Barnaby's family, so when they're in an episode, as they were here, I find it enjoyable. Barnaby's new partner, Scott, keeps busy flirting with various women, which is amusing, especially when Barnaby catches him at it.
I don't think you'll want to throw yourself off a building in despair over ghastly writing and plots after seeing this, so go ahead and watch it.
Readers will enjoy the often narcissistic collection of authors
corneliacree23 June 2017
No spoilers here. I watch faithfully every week and I have seen most all of the episodes so I have an observation that Midsomer is the leading hot bed of the most egregious of criminals, especially murderers so foreign tourists and visitors to this area of England should be especially cautious.
One of the Best
Sleepin_Dragon25 September 2008
I have to say I think this is one of the best Midsomer Murders of all time, a cast that is sheer class (the likes of Donald Sumpter and Susie Engel) act out a brilliant story. Everything in this episode is as it should be, the usual beautiful English Countryside scenery, a brilliant story and the forever wonderful John Nettles is on great form as Barnaby. Scott is really good in this one, personally I think he's a little less wooden then he is in one or two of the previous stories, he has more of a character. The ending of this one is what makes this one so good, Susan Engel is absolutely terrific. This episode proves that the unlikeliest killers sometimes make the best ones, the acting all the way through but especially at the end is fantastic. You are guaranteed to enjoy this one. 10/10
Cully, Ms Singh and Midsomer Writers Festival
safenoe7 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Cully played a more prominent role in this episode where she along with bad boy turned famous writer help her father to bring the culprit to justice. There's more than a hint of romance between Cully and the writer but this wasn't followed up in later episodes.
I seriously think there's potential for Cully to have her own spin- off series called Cully. Cully would be a struggling actress who between auditions solves murders on movie sets or the West End, with her father Barnaby making cameo appearances to push things along.
Sins of Commission had a very twist (some would say twisted) ending and the motivation of the culprit/writer reminded me of recent events when a famous author of fantasy books (that made millions for the writer and at the box office) released a book under a pseudonym under a different genre to prove a point.
Some performances stand out. Emma Buckley played up "Jezebel" incredibly well and it was great to see Victoria "Drop the Dead Donkey" Wicks. She along with four others from Drop the Dead Donkey have featured in Midsomer Murders. In fact there was one episode where three of them appeared.
One interesting casting - a Ms Singh, an author, was a character in this episode. Probably the first time an "ethnic minority" was in Midsomer. Curiously, when Ms Singh first appeared in the episode the audience only saw her back, when she was being interviewed by Dan Scott following a murder at a mansion dinner. We see Ms Singh again at the end of the episode she she's on stage during the awards presentation.
Ms Singh doesn't appear in the character list as I guess she has no speaking part. Still a significant milestone by Midsomer standards.
I seriously think there's potential for Cully to have her own spin- off series called Cully. Cully would be a struggling actress who between auditions solves murders on movie sets or the West End, with her father Barnaby making cameo appearances to push things along.
Sins of Commission had a very twist (some would say twisted) ending and the motivation of the culprit/writer reminded me of recent events when a famous author of fantasy books (that made millions for the writer and at the box office) released a book under a pseudonym under a different genre to prove a point.
Some performances stand out. Emma Buckley played up "Jezebel" incredibly well and it was great to see Victoria "Drop the Dead Donkey" Wicks. She along with four others from Drop the Dead Donkey have featured in Midsomer Murders. In fact there was one episode where three of them appeared.
One interesting casting - a Ms Singh, an author, was a character in this episode. Probably the first time an "ethnic minority" was in Midsomer. Curiously, when Ms Singh first appeared in the episode the audience only saw her back, when she was being interviewed by Dan Scott following a murder at a mansion dinner. We see Ms Singh again at the end of the episode she she's on stage during the awards presentation.
Ms Singh doesn't appear in the character list as I guess she has no speaking part. Still a significant milestone by Midsomer standards.
Sins of disappointment.
harrykivi31 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
After the "The Green man", "Bad Tidings" being solid entries to one of my most beloved shows and "The Fisher King" being kind of enjoyable, I expected more from "Sins of Commission", because the literature festival setting seemed so interesting. Well... I didn't get a great episode at all. "Sins of Commission" is not a bad episode, but falls short on the expectations. Definitely understand why people are so divisive about it.
Let's start with good.
. The production values are great as usual. The music and direction are top notch. So is the acting, which is good all around. Susan Engel shines in her role the most.
.The literature setting- being a massive reader myself- was a great idea for this episode and captures a lot of intrigue surrounding the mystery.
. The red herrings, twists, turns and especially the humor are well done here.
But...
. After a promising 50 minutes, the story unfortunately lost a lot of intrigue and became quite dull. The subplot about a book shop owner with his teenage girl group and Cully's new love interest John Denton needed more focus than we got.
. There are times as well where "Sins of Commission" is bit too silly for its own good. The opening night's protest being in my mind unbearable.
. Even though the identity of the killer worked for me, the motive for the murders (self- defense killing) felt too ludicrous. The first murder with this motive, I can understand, but the other two certainly not. The third one being especially brutal.
Overall: disappointing, but fine "Midsomer murders".
6/10 HK
Let's start with good.
. The production values are great as usual. The music and direction are top notch. So is the acting, which is good all around. Susan Engel shines in her role the most.
.The literature setting- being a massive reader myself- was a great idea for this episode and captures a lot of intrigue surrounding the mystery.
. The red herrings, twists, turns and especially the humor are well done here.
But...
. After a promising 50 minutes, the story unfortunately lost a lot of intrigue and became quite dull. The subplot about a book shop owner with his teenage girl group and Cully's new love interest John Denton needed more focus than we got.
. There are times as well where "Sins of Commission" is bit too silly for its own good. The opening night's protest being in my mind unbearable.
. Even though the identity of the killer worked for me, the motive for the murders (self- defense killing) felt too ludicrous. The first murder with this motive, I can understand, but the other two certainly not. The third one being especially brutal.
Overall: disappointing, but fine "Midsomer murders".
6/10 HK
Hilarious: One of the Best Ever
henry-plantagenet-043 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Throughout it's entire existence "Midsomer Murders" has played an interesting role in the TV mystery community. It's neither all-comedy, nor all-drama but a strange mishmash of both, and I'd be lying if I said the drama had the quality of the comedy. Everyone once in a while there was a largely sober episode that would work ("Destroying Angel" or "The Animal Within" were among the best), but usually the most enjoyable ones where the ones that were creative, far-fetched, and in on their joke. "Sins of Commission" (I never grasped the meaning of the title) is one of these. The murderer, their motive, and their scheme (or lack thereof) are utterly unpredictable, and the last thing you would expect to find in rural England, but I don't think any less far-fetched than some of the others. I didn't buy the motives in "Orchis Fatalis", "Dead in the Water", or "Death and Dust" but they felt much lazier than this one. I actually think this made more sense. The acting: absolutely on point. These are the kind of over-the-top eccentric and yet somehow lived in characters from the glory days of the series. I loved the dynamic between the Settingfield siblings (Donald Sumpter and Margot Leicester), the hilarious bitterness of the perfectly named"Jezebel Tripp" (Emma Buckley), the smarmy Sam Callaghan (Tom Mannion), the refined Camilla Crofton (Susan Engel), the insanely versatile housekeeper Mrs. Honeycutt (Rachel Bell) and the adorable John Denton (Robert Whitelock). If you want to laugh, and just generally have a good time, and that's what I want out of Midsomer Murders, I think you'll enjoy this one a lot.
Very decent, though somewhat fantastic
znatokdetectiva21 September 2020
When the era of Sergeant Troy ended, I was somewhat concerned whether the new Sergeant and the new era would be as good as the previous ones. However, the effect exceeded expectations and the first episode of the new era "Bad Tidings" was brilliant and even more worthy than the previous "The Green Man", the last episode of the era of Sergeant Troy. The next episode, "The Fisher King", was less great, but still solid. "Sins of Commission" still continues to be of high quality, although not as solid as the previous two.
There's a lot of good stuff in the episode. It has a great atmosphere, an interesting story, some pretty good characters, good music and a great production. However, there are drawbacks. Gay people are a bit of a drag again (and I was just beginning to be glad they haven't been around for a long time since "Beyond of Grave"), and Emma Buckley as Jezabel Tripp is something of an embarrassment. The ending is quite fantastic, laughable, and unrealistic, though not as annoying as the endings in " The Electric Vendetta " or "Midsomer Life".
In conclusion, a solid, but with disadvantages episode. 8/10
Great Twist
lbowdls15 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I just watched this episode again and it's one of the good ones because it turns out so different at the end. The person who does the killings (yes there are multiples which is always good) was actually the target and fought back. One of the reviewers on here though it was ludicrous that this person could do the killing but they happened to be an ex Soviet(or similar country) agent and you dint lose that training!
Sins and Singhs
ummajon200320 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Sins of Commission" is set during the 12th Annual Midsomer St. Michael Literary Festival. Unique to this episode is a fireworks sequence that lit up the screen.
As a South Asian woman myself, I was glad to see one featured in this episode. She did not have a speaking role, but it's just as well. I don't watch Korean dramas expecting a South Asian to make an appearance, so why should this English countryside village be any different? Well, maybe it was just the way Brian True-May said it. Plus seasons 18 and on have seen a South Asian woman, Manjinder Virk, as a regular cast member. Not to mention the speaking roles given to a wide variety of ethnic characters since True May's resignation. Still, it never bothered me none in these older seasons. Check out more of my commentary on this MM blog, midsomermurders1997.blogspot.com
As a South Asian woman myself, I was glad to see one featured in this episode. She did not have a speaking role, but it's just as well. I don't watch Korean dramas expecting a South Asian to make an appearance, so why should this English countryside village be any different? Well, maybe it was just the way Brian True-May said it. Plus seasons 18 and on have seen a South Asian woman, Manjinder Virk, as a regular cast member. Not to mention the speaking roles given to a wide variety of ethnic characters since True May's resignation. Still, it never bothered me none in these older seasons. Check out more of my commentary on this MM blog, midsomermurders1997.blogspot.com
The final 15 minutes underwhelm in what is otherwise a very good episode
TheLittleSongbird21 January 2017
"The Green Man" was a wonderful start to Season 7 of 'Midsomer Murders', and followed by the very good "Bad Tidings" and decent, if somewhat cluttered and over-complicated "The Fisher King".
"Sins of Commission" (one of the most seemingly controversial of the Nettles era 'Midsomer Murders' episodes), or at least over three quarters of it does, continues this very high quality. It is a very good episode, but it is a real shame that the final 15 minutes lets it down pretty badly. This is not me repeating what's already been said, it was a feeling had when first viewing the episode well before joining IMDb and a sentiment still shared.
For me, it just felt contrived and the motive didn't ring true and felt really lazy compared to the usual motives. Can accept it for one of the murders, but using the same one for all was overkill and the last murder was far too brutal and calculated for that motive to be believable.
John Nettles as always however is superb, and John Hopkins is settling in very nicely in his third episode and looks very relaxed. Both work wonderfully together. The acting is very strong, loved Donald Sumpter but the star is Susan Engel, whose performance is elegant and sometimes moving. Emma Buckley makes the most of her loathsome character, if occasionally overdoing it to being a tad annoying.
As always, the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's occasional grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
Meanwhile, the script is smart and thought-provoking. The story is a vast majority of the time compelling, with many twists, turns and red herrings, a real ominous feel and the odd colourful eccentricity, never feeling simplistic or convoluted. The characters are fun.
Overall, very good episode but the last 15 minutes sadly let things down. 8/10 Bethany Cox
"Sins of Commission" (one of the most seemingly controversial of the Nettles era 'Midsomer Murders' episodes), or at least over three quarters of it does, continues this very high quality. It is a very good episode, but it is a real shame that the final 15 minutes lets it down pretty badly. This is not me repeating what's already been said, it was a feeling had when first viewing the episode well before joining IMDb and a sentiment still shared.
For me, it just felt contrived and the motive didn't ring true and felt really lazy compared to the usual motives. Can accept it for one of the murders, but using the same one for all was overkill and the last murder was far too brutal and calculated for that motive to be believable.
John Nettles as always however is superb, and John Hopkins is settling in very nicely in his third episode and looks very relaxed. Both work wonderfully together. The acting is very strong, loved Donald Sumpter but the star is Susan Engel, whose performance is elegant and sometimes moving. Emma Buckley makes the most of her loathsome character, if occasionally overdoing it to being a tad annoying.
As always, the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's occasional grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
Meanwhile, the script is smart and thought-provoking. The story is a vast majority of the time compelling, with many twists, turns and red herrings, a real ominous feel and the odd colourful eccentricity, never feeling simplistic or convoluted. The characters are fun.
Overall, very good episode but the last 15 minutes sadly let things down. 8/10 Bethany Cox
stale plotting
NewtonFigg17 March 2019
As is usual with this series, the acting and ambience of this episode are good, if you don't count the ridiculous hippies in their VW bus and the watered down scenes in the swimming pool. The plot, however, is a throwback to 19th Century melodrama with all the clues being discovered by accidental eavesdroppers. Shouldn't Barnaby have had an arras to hide behind?
Need more lines to write. I was once the proud owner of a VW bus and never, in the 10 years I owned it, painted flowers or peace signs on it. I suppose I resent its constantly being shown as exclusively a vehicle for transporting goofy flower children. And, about the flower children, there seem to be excessive gratuitous closeups of the bathing suited young girls walking away from the camera. These scenes would be more apt on a Benny Hill show.
Need more lines to write. I was once the proud owner of a VW bus and never, in the 10 years I owned it, painted flowers or peace signs on it. I suppose I resent its constantly being shown as exclusively a vehicle for transporting goofy flower children. And, about the flower children, there seem to be excessive gratuitous closeups of the bathing suited young girls walking away from the camera. These scenes would be more apt on a Benny Hill show.
Good start & middle but a terrible end.
poolandrews11 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Midsomer Murders: Sins of Commission is set in the Midsomer village of Midsomer St. Michael where local author Richard is found dead at the bottom of his stairs by his housekeeper Kay Settingfield (Margot Leicester), at first DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) & Sgt. Dan Scott (John Hopkins) feel his death was an accident but pathologist Dr. George Bullard (Barry Jackson) says Richard's neck was broken before he fell, or rather pushed, down the stairs. Richard's death comes on the eve of the opening of the Midsomer St. Michael Literary Festival worth £20,000 to the winning author & sponsored by publisher Sam Callaghan's company. There are no shortage of suspects as Barnaby investigates the murky, back stabbing money orientated world of publishing, then another writer named Neville Williams (Mark Umbers) who was sexually involved with Richard is found murdered & the body count doesn't stop there...
Episode 4 from season 7 this Midsomer Murders was directed by Peter Smith & I thought it was a pretty good one up until the final 15 minutes or so when it fell to pieces with quite the the most ridiculous killer & set of circumstances I can remember seeing in the whole series. The script by Elizabeth-Anne Wheal starts off really well with a complex murder mystery with plenty of intrigue, suspects, good red herrings, a decent body count & solid character's but it all falls apart at the climax. For a start I simply don't believe an old age pensioner could physically break a mans neck, I'm sorry but they just wouldn't have the strength & then there's this whole self defence angle which again I didn't like at all as I like my murderers to be throughly evil, devious & cold blooded unlike here. I think that maybe the killer here & the reasons behind the killings are the worst in the entire series & if not the worst certainly amongst them. I don't know how to score Sins of Commission really, for over an hour & a half I thought it was great but the ending just spoilt it all & left me very disappointed & almost cheated, I mean did I really just sit through 90 odd minutes to get to that?
As usual for Midsomer Murders this has high production values & is very well made, it looks nice enough as always with lots of picturesque English locations. There are three murders in Sins of Commission although none are that graphic apart from a bit of blood. The acting is great as usual but what about that actress Emma Buckley who plays Jezebel Tripp? I'm not being funny but her cheeks look weird & she has a jaw line similar to a breeze block!
Sins of Commission is a great Midsomer Murders for 90 odd minutes but then it goes completely off the rails with maybe the worst conclusion in the show's entire run to this point & since the ending is so important I can't overlook it, overall what could have been a good murder mystery in the end comes nowhere near, very disappointing.
Episode 4 from season 7 this Midsomer Murders was directed by Peter Smith & I thought it was a pretty good one up until the final 15 minutes or so when it fell to pieces with quite the the most ridiculous killer & set of circumstances I can remember seeing in the whole series. The script by Elizabeth-Anne Wheal starts off really well with a complex murder mystery with plenty of intrigue, suspects, good red herrings, a decent body count & solid character's but it all falls apart at the climax. For a start I simply don't believe an old age pensioner could physically break a mans neck, I'm sorry but they just wouldn't have the strength & then there's this whole self defence angle which again I didn't like at all as I like my murderers to be throughly evil, devious & cold blooded unlike here. I think that maybe the killer here & the reasons behind the killings are the worst in the entire series & if not the worst certainly amongst them. I don't know how to score Sins of Commission really, for over an hour & a half I thought it was great but the ending just spoilt it all & left me very disappointed & almost cheated, I mean did I really just sit through 90 odd minutes to get to that?
As usual for Midsomer Murders this has high production values & is very well made, it looks nice enough as always with lots of picturesque English locations. There are three murders in Sins of Commission although none are that graphic apart from a bit of blood. The acting is great as usual but what about that actress Emma Buckley who plays Jezebel Tripp? I'm not being funny but her cheeks look weird & she has a jaw line similar to a breeze block!
Sins of Commission is a great Midsomer Murders for 90 odd minutes but then it goes completely off the rails with maybe the worst conclusion in the show's entire run to this point & since the ending is so important I can't overlook it, overall what could have been a good murder mystery in the end comes nowhere near, very disappointing.
The pen is mightier than the sword
hossychristie30 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Sins of commission is set in the village of Midsomer St. Michael and starts as the body of Richard Rackham is found. At first glance, it appears to be suicide, but soon, Dr. Bullard informs Barnaby that it seems to have been murder. Richard's murder comes the same evening as the opening of the Midsomer St. Michael literary festival, where the winner's price is worth £20 000, which is sponsored by Sam Callahan's company. It is soon revealed that Richard Rackham had been involved in a sexually relationship with another writer in town, Neville Williams. When Neville is found dead, after falling to the ground from an upper floor terrace, it soon transpires that writing is a dangerous game, which anyone would like to kill for.
Sins of Commission is in my opinion one of the best episodes of series seven, and it is that kind of story and episode I can watch several times, but as other reviewers have pointed out already, the closure and Camilla Crofton turning out to be the killer, left me with a sour taste in my mouth. Camilla turning out to be the murderer was not necessarily a shock, but her motives was laughable. It is alright to point out that all her victims wanted her dead, but her statement saying she acted in self defense, was quite dull, and there could have been other characters with stronger motives. The episode itself is wonderful, apart from the last 15 minutes. It seems the writer did not have a clue or explanation of why Camilla commited all these killings, and hence the dull explanation in the end just to get an explanation.
With that being said, the theme of the story with a literary festival was very intruiging and there are a lot of likeable characters in this episode as well. It is also a step up in quality from the previous "The Fisher King" episode, with a more intruiging story, and that is why it is very sad that this episode's writer did not got a chance to complete it one hundred percent. One thing I did like about this episode was that Camilla Crofton actually was Jezebel Tripp, and that she had hired an actress to step into her shoes before she was supposed to reveal the truth, that Jezebel Tripp was indeed her nom de plume, or her pen name as you can also call it.
"Sins of Commission" is a good episode, but could have been a classic if the ending had been written in a more satisfying way. 8/10 Hossy Christie.
Sins of Commission is in my opinion one of the best episodes of series seven, and it is that kind of story and episode I can watch several times, but as other reviewers have pointed out already, the closure and Camilla Crofton turning out to be the killer, left me with a sour taste in my mouth. Camilla turning out to be the murderer was not necessarily a shock, but her motives was laughable. It is alright to point out that all her victims wanted her dead, but her statement saying she acted in self defense, was quite dull, and there could have been other characters with stronger motives. The episode itself is wonderful, apart from the last 15 minutes. It seems the writer did not have a clue or explanation of why Camilla commited all these killings, and hence the dull explanation in the end just to get an explanation.
With that being said, the theme of the story with a literary festival was very intruiging and there are a lot of likeable characters in this episode as well. It is also a step up in quality from the previous "The Fisher King" episode, with a more intruiging story, and that is why it is very sad that this episode's writer did not got a chance to complete it one hundred percent. One thing I did like about this episode was that Camilla Crofton actually was Jezebel Tripp, and that she had hired an actress to step into her shoes before she was supposed to reveal the truth, that Jezebel Tripp was indeed her nom de plume, or her pen name as you can also call it.
"Sins of Commission" is a good episode, but could have been a classic if the ending had been written in a more satisfying way. 8/10 Hossy Christie.
Strange Reviews but Stranger Ratings For Excellent Show
wge195419 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This Review Contains Spoilers:
Main Story line:
The trustees of a book festival are determined to maintain its integrity and independence when confronted by a failing publishing company that attempts to corrupt the outcome to keep from collapsing.
The company has not a ghostwriter, but a ghost author who must be protected. This leads to attempts on the life of the real author. Which leads to deaths by self-defense, not murder.
The show has numerous red herrings related to Gay relationships, possible blackmail, reformed criminals, secretive payoffs and all sorts of other duplicity which leads the viewer in all sorts of directions.
As such, it is completely confusing but fun to watch.
Regarding the rating system: The Most Rated review has many reviews but few positive responses. So Most Rated main may not mean best rated.
In fact the Most Rated episode is mainly a takeoff of a Tony Shaloub review of Frazier Crane in an episode of the Frazier show" "I just don't like him."
Main Story line:
The trustees of a book festival are determined to maintain its integrity and independence when confronted by a failing publishing company that attempts to corrupt the outcome to keep from collapsing.
The company has not a ghostwriter, but a ghost author who must be protected. This leads to attempts on the life of the real author. Which leads to deaths by self-defense, not murder.
The show has numerous red herrings related to Gay relationships, possible blackmail, reformed criminals, secretive payoffs and all sorts of other duplicity which leads the viewer in all sorts of directions.
As such, it is completely confusing but fun to watch.
Regarding the rating system: The Most Rated review has many reviews but few positive responses. So Most Rated main may not mean best rated.
In fact the Most Rated episode is mainly a takeoff of a Tony Shaloub review of Frazier Crane in an episode of the Frazier show" "I just don't like him."
Another sluggish beginning
vitoscotti7 October 2019
Like the previous episode "The Fisher King" this was difficult to watch in one sitting. I'd say the 1st half stalled. The non regular cast was on screen a lot and weren't interesting. Then, things picked up the 2nd half with more of the regulars appearing. Lots of fabulous Cully and Joyce. Barnaby's sidekick livened up. I unlike a lot of reviewers loved the ending. Hoping future episodes are edge of the seat tense from start to finish so I can watch in one sitting, not 10 start and stops. Vito S 10-7-19
Decent but lacking
rass2727 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
For the most part, this was an okay episode. Fully and her BF were way too prominent in this episode. The hippy dude was a bit much and his character only proved to be a distraction.
Scott is growing on me and I liked him in this episode. He was the only sidekick that didn't have such sycophantic behavior with Barnaby.
My one and only issue is how Barnaby got to the conclusion that Camilla was the murderer. In one scene Joyce is reading the line about "I can't live or love without you" and then Barnaby is at the library.
What took him there? How was that line a clue? That line was in the book Jezebel wrote, so why would Tom automatically think of Camilla when he heard it? Did Camilla use that line before? If someone knows, please tell me.
Thank you.
Scott is growing on me and I liked him in this episode. He was the only sidekick that didn't have such sycophantic behavior with Barnaby.
My one and only issue is how Barnaby got to the conclusion that Camilla was the murderer. In one scene Joyce is reading the line about "I can't live or love without you" and then Barnaby is at the library.
What took him there? How was that line a clue? That line was in the book Jezebel wrote, so why would Tom automatically think of Camilla when he heard it? Did Camilla use that line before? If someone knows, please tell me.
Thank you.
A great one!
christinainthecity21 September 2023
This episode was somewhat easier to follow than its precessor, "The Fisher King", for many reasons. I thought the characters were presented in a more tidier fashion and I truly believe that the casting was magnificent in this one. It was not too challenging to keep track on who each one of the characters were, at least in terms of looks and appearance.
What I particularly enjoyed about this episode was Cully, who took a larger part in the episode as the role of the detective; along with her love interest. It was nice to see her in a slightly different, and much more mature role compared to the one in "Bad Tidings". The role of Jezzabell Tripp were a bit too over the top for my liking though. Not sure if it was the acting or the character as a whole. Overall, I liked that many of the characters could have been the killer, and the well written script kept me on my toes all throughout the 90 minutes. A great episode!
What I particularly enjoyed about this episode was Cully, who took a larger part in the episode as the role of the detective; along with her love interest. It was nice to see her in a slightly different, and much more mature role compared to the one in "Bad Tidings". The role of Jezzabell Tripp were a bit too over the top for my liking though. Not sure if it was the acting or the character as a whole. Overall, I liked that many of the characters could have been the killer, and the well written script kept me on my toes all throughout the 90 minutes. A great episode!
Poor writing but comes out right in the end
annie-2931 September 2014
This had some of the worst writing I have ever seen in the Midsomer series.
"Be there or be in deep doo-doo!" And this is what passes for threats amongst co-conspirators? Really. And the offhand comments from the other co-conspirator -- stiffen the Prussian Guard? steady the Buffs?
They did manage some clever diversions, with the trustee leading an assault against the awards ceremony and the subplot of some money skimming, and the separate attempt to interest Barnaby in leaving the copper's life and taking up crime fiction. Those would be worth one star. Watching Scott seethe at the sight of Cully being chummy with the local bad boy turned writer was also entertaining -- I was always pleased to watch the seasons with Scott as DS to Tom Barnaby.
However, the other stars are given for the one saving grace in the episode, the elegant work by the actress playing Camilla Crofton, Susan Engel, who made her role of the sidelined writer of historical fiction quite believable. The actress playing the young author, on the other hand, looked like a survivor of recent and poorly-done facial plumping.
It's a rare Midsomer where you find yourself routing for the killer at the end, but on this one I was definitely on the side of the killer.
"Be there or be in deep doo-doo!" And this is what passes for threats amongst co-conspirators? Really. And the offhand comments from the other co-conspirator -- stiffen the Prussian Guard? steady the Buffs?
They did manage some clever diversions, with the trustee leading an assault against the awards ceremony and the subplot of some money skimming, and the separate attempt to interest Barnaby in leaving the copper's life and taking up crime fiction. Those would be worth one star. Watching Scott seethe at the sight of Cully being chummy with the local bad boy turned writer was also entertaining -- I was always pleased to watch the seasons with Scott as DS to Tom Barnaby.
However, the other stars are given for the one saving grace in the episode, the elegant work by the actress playing Camilla Crofton, Susan Engel, who made her role of the sidelined writer of historical fiction quite believable. The actress playing the young author, on the other hand, looked like a survivor of recent and poorly-done facial plumping.
It's a rare Midsomer where you find yourself routing for the killer at the end, but on this one I was definitely on the side of the killer.
Possibly the worst thing that has ever happened to TV
Bitchslapthephoneybatmen16 March 2010
I am not going to bother summarising this episode. To be honest, I am halfway through watching it and I just don't care who did it or why. This is mostly because it has very obviously been written by someone who has been granted access to a pile of James Patterson books, a couple of substandard bottles of rubbing alcohol and a computer with no 'appalling writing' check on it. I don't even know where to begin explaining how unbelievably wide of the mark the previous reviewers were. I have literally never, in my entire life, watched a programme in which the scriptwriter had so evidently decided at the outset to write an insubstantial plot involving two dimensional... Do you know what, it actually just got worse in front of my eyes. Seriously, I wrote better murder mysteries in crayon when I was at nursery. It's JUST AWFUL. Please watch it and tell me you disagree. Joyce Barnaby just uttered the words 'this really is the most awful tripe' and the worst thing is that I suspect the writer lacks the self awareness to realise how terribly accurately that describes this utter, utter rubbish.
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