Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders
Set 7
Silver Spring, MD: Acorn Media, 2006.

Check Catalogue Availability.

This is one of the rare sets to actualy correspond to the season number even though it's missing 2 episodes! Set 8 has Maid in Splendour and Straw Woman which are actually part of Season 7. I've only recently realized by looking at epguides.com that the order I've been watching them in isn't the order they've appeared on BBC. The pilot episode actually came out as Set 5...

Originally when I watched this set, I was confused with the introduction of a new DS but thought it was just because the library still hasn't received Set 6. Then, DS Troy re-appeared. Took me a bit but some investigation revealed that Acorn misnumbered the discs. Luckily we have that all sorted out now! So you will be able to enjoy them in the order as aired.

Green Man - set in Midsomer Worthy. The plot involves a hidden tunnel and ancient skeletons. Cully is back for the entire season but doesn't add much. Troy gets a promotion but must spend this final episode tracking down a "crazy" man who lives in the woods and might be responsible for the murder of some teenagers.

Bad Tidings - set in Midsomer Mallow. The introduction of DS Dan Scott from London left me unsure of what to expect. At first it seemed like they'd just taken Troy's dialogue and given it to someone else but it did get better.
Scott: Is the body count always this high around here?
Barnaby: It's been remarked upon.
The plot progressed with Cully as a feature (again!) since the mystery involves some of her old school chums. Scott has a dim view of living in the country and is counting the minutes until he can leave. They really play up that he's a ladies man with a much different style to what we're used to seeing.

Fisher King - set in Midsomer Barrow. This one centred on archeologic digs and Celtic rites. The mystery was very interesting and the ending was something of a suprise.

Sins of Commission - set in Midsomer St. Michael. At the start of a literary award weekend, a local author is murdered. Further investigations reveal potential sex scandals and some dicey financial dealings. Meanwhile Cully is becoming romantically involved with one of the suspects.

What I really enjoy most about these dvds is the ongoing humour. There are often digs about DS Troy's driving, the inspector's wife Joyce's cooking, the insane body count and so on. It's also shot in unbelievably beautiful locations which heightens the tension between the surface and what's really going on. The eccentric characters are also a plus.

For more information and links, visit Wikipedia.