A butterfly collector is found pinned to a wall like one of his specimens.A butterfly collector is found pinned to a wall like one of his specimens.A butterfly collector is found pinned to a wall like one of his specimens.
Photos
Niamh McGrady
- Penny Kingdom
- (as Niamh Mcgrady)
Gioacchino Jim Cuffaro
- Student
- (uncredited)
Ashley Darkwood
- Newspaper Delivery Agent
- (uncredited)
Susan Fordham
- Circulus Worker
- (uncredited)
Stephen Hawke
- Police Officer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode contains many "Easter egg" references to previous episodes, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Midsomer Murders episode.
- GoofsThe 'Circulus Entrance Exam' has the spelling error 'Instuctions' above (1) on the paper instead of 'Instructions'.
- Quotes
[to herself, as she is examining the scene of the first murder]
Fleur Perkins: Who in their right mind chooses to be surrounded by death?
Featured review
Cops out and not really a butterfly of an episode
Actually quite liked the previous 'Midsomer Murders' episode "The Ghost of Causton Abbey". Would be lying if stating that it was one of the show's best episodes because it wasn't, while being far away from a low-point. When it comes to the John Barnaby era, which was very hit and miss and leaned towards the disappointing that episode in my mind is in the better half, while being light-years away from the best of the Tom Barnaby episodes, which quality-wise were more consistent until becoming more uneven around Season 10 onwards.
"Death of the Small Coppers" however was sadly a return to the disappointing standard. Not one of the worst episodes, it's nowhere near as bad as "Echoes of the Dead", "Night of the Stag", "Shot at Dawn", "Second Sight" and "Blood on the Saddle", but underwhelming still. A case of starting off very well and then going off the boil too early and ending frustratingly. When in its prime, 'Midsomer Murders' was one of my favourite examples of the mix of light-hearted and not always for the faint hearted, a perfect balance of both being achieved in the best episodes. "Death of the Small Coppers" got the not for the faint hearted down pat but falls short when it comes to the light-hearted, which actually has been a general problem with the John Barnaby-period episodes.
There are good things that make "Death of the Small Coppers" watchable. It started off very, very well with lots of intrigue, drama and charm and reminded me of prime 'Midsomer Murders', thanks to the numerous references to the past as pointed out previously. The murders are some of the show's most imaginative, the somewhat outlandish but truly unique second murder especially. The picturesque and unnerving atmosphere that made prime-'Midsomer Murders' so watchable is nailed to start with.
Production values cannot be faulted as usual. It's beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the haunting theme tune is one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre. The acting generally is not bad, with Ann Eleonora Jørgensen making a welcome return and Annette Badland's Fleur (the best pathologist since Bullard by a mile) continues to be a joy. Peter Egan plays one of the episode's more interesting characters to the hilt, even if it's not always subtle. Mark Benton and Ray Fearon also come off well. Who can't help love the Barnabys' dog as well? Will always miss Sykes though.
Will agree too on the other hand about John Light's underuse, quite badly rather than slightly too. Winter is not as bland as he was when he first joined, and is less unlikeable and cold like he was in "Curse of the Ninth", but he does not make much of an impression here, while Neil Dudgeon tends to play Barnaby too seriously and doesn't always look at ease. Some of the dialogue is thought-provoking, diverting and amusing but would have benefitted from having more of a gentle and lighter touch. There are far bigger problems however. The further "Death of the Small Coppers" progressed, the duller, more uninteresting and sillier it became. The faults that "The Ghost of Causton Abbey" also are present here, except much worse.
Characters and subplots did feel too many, and they should have been much better explored and followed all the way through instead of feeling incomplete. Maybe also could have focused a little bit less on the IQ Club and my attention did waver due to the mystery being sluggishly paced and not having enough turns and too much being under-developed. Like the previous episode but worse, enough to almost warrant its own paragraph, the biggest problem for me was the ending. 'Midsomer Murders' is no stranger to disappointing endings, and although not one of the worst ("Blood on the Saddle", "Second Sight", "Night of the Stag" and "Echoes of the Dead" are worthier candidates for that title), the ending here is one of the more slap-in-the-face recent ones. The previous episode's ending did leave me mixed, but the identity of the murderer was just about buyable. Something that cannot be said here, it just felt so last minute and random, but the absurd, almost irrelevant "they killed for that?"-like motive, the far too rushed and crammed in pace and the ludicrously over-the-top way it was staged were what doomed it. Other candidates would have been much more plausible and their motives appeared stronger.
On the whole, watchable but underwhelms after a good start. 5/10
"Death of the Small Coppers" however was sadly a return to the disappointing standard. Not one of the worst episodes, it's nowhere near as bad as "Echoes of the Dead", "Night of the Stag", "Shot at Dawn", "Second Sight" and "Blood on the Saddle", but underwhelming still. A case of starting off very well and then going off the boil too early and ending frustratingly. When in its prime, 'Midsomer Murders' was one of my favourite examples of the mix of light-hearted and not always for the faint hearted, a perfect balance of both being achieved in the best episodes. "Death of the Small Coppers" got the not for the faint hearted down pat but falls short when it comes to the light-hearted, which actually has been a general problem with the John Barnaby-period episodes.
There are good things that make "Death of the Small Coppers" watchable. It started off very, very well with lots of intrigue, drama and charm and reminded me of prime 'Midsomer Murders', thanks to the numerous references to the past as pointed out previously. The murders are some of the show's most imaginative, the somewhat outlandish but truly unique second murder especially. The picturesque and unnerving atmosphere that made prime-'Midsomer Murders' so watchable is nailed to start with.
Production values cannot be faulted as usual. It's beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the haunting theme tune is one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre. The acting generally is not bad, with Ann Eleonora Jørgensen making a welcome return and Annette Badland's Fleur (the best pathologist since Bullard by a mile) continues to be a joy. Peter Egan plays one of the episode's more interesting characters to the hilt, even if it's not always subtle. Mark Benton and Ray Fearon also come off well. Who can't help love the Barnabys' dog as well? Will always miss Sykes though.
Will agree too on the other hand about John Light's underuse, quite badly rather than slightly too. Winter is not as bland as he was when he first joined, and is less unlikeable and cold like he was in "Curse of the Ninth", but he does not make much of an impression here, while Neil Dudgeon tends to play Barnaby too seriously and doesn't always look at ease. Some of the dialogue is thought-provoking, diverting and amusing but would have benefitted from having more of a gentle and lighter touch. There are far bigger problems however. The further "Death of the Small Coppers" progressed, the duller, more uninteresting and sillier it became. The faults that "The Ghost of Causton Abbey" also are present here, except much worse.
Characters and subplots did feel too many, and they should have been much better explored and followed all the way through instead of feeling incomplete. Maybe also could have focused a little bit less on the IQ Club and my attention did waver due to the mystery being sluggishly paced and not having enough turns and too much being under-developed. Like the previous episode but worse, enough to almost warrant its own paragraph, the biggest problem for me was the ending. 'Midsomer Murders' is no stranger to disappointing endings, and although not one of the worst ("Blood on the Saddle", "Second Sight", "Night of the Stag" and "Echoes of the Dead" are worthier candidates for that title), the ending here is one of the more slap-in-the-face recent ones. The previous episode's ending did leave me mixed, but the identity of the murderer was just about buyable. Something that cannot be said here, it just felt so last minute and random, but the absurd, almost irrelevant "they killed for that?"-like motive, the far too rushed and crammed in pace and the ludicrously over-the-top way it was staged were what doomed it. Other candidates would have been much more plausible and their motives appeared stronger.
On the whole, watchable but underwhelms after a good start. 5/10
helpful•167
- TheLittleSongbird
- Apr 21, 2019
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Filming locations
- Littlewick Green, Berkshire, England, UK(Little Crosby, Eddie Rowbotham's house)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 29 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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