Midsomer Murders (My Rating 4+)

This one is clearly a classic, and still ongoing “comfort food” TV.

TV versions of British detective mysteries often derive from books. Between 1987 and 2004, Caroline Graham wrote seven novels with DCI Tom Barnaby solving crimes of murder. The TV version became Midsomer Murders, premiering in 1997. The series is now in its 23rd seasons with 136 episodes so far. I’ve watched them all with the most recent playing now on Acorn TV. Anthony Horowitz, a name that will come up frequently with the best of British detective fiction, was one of the originators of the series and wrote the screenplay for the first adaptation to TV, The Killings at Badger's Drift.

Wikipedia reports that “Midsomer is a fictional English county…. (and) might actually cover the areas of Berkshire and part of northern Hampshire.” Viewers see lovely countryside and quaint villages that nevertheless turn out quite murderous.

John Nettles played Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby until 2011. Nettles had previously starred in another British detective series – Bergerac – that I will turn to at some point. His Barnaby was assisted by a series of detective sergeants staring with DS Troy – who both Barnaby and myself found a bit annoying. Tom Barnaby had a wife, Joyce, and a lovely adult daughter, Cully. (Barnaby family dynamics breakup the straight detective story and sometimes, especially in latter episodes, get a bit too much for my taste.) Nettles departed Midsomers at the age of 67.

Going well beyond Graham’s books, in 2011 Neil Dudgeon took on the DCI Barnaby role playing Tom’s younger cousin, John. (Interestingly, Dudgeon had previously played a completely different character is an early Midsomer. British TV often recycles actors in different roles in the same series.) Only 62, he could continue the Barnaby role for a few years more. A forensic specialist plays a continuing role. Barry Jackson was the competent and calm Dr George Bullard until 2012. Annette Badland now serves as Dr. Fleur Perkins, an appropriately “badlands” evolution. (She also plays a similar force of nature in Ted Lasso as the bar owner.)

Midsomer Murder is comfortably predictable. The show starts with a sometime spooky setup of the crime and victim. DCI Barnaby may be counted on to solve the crime, though usually often after another couple of murders take place. He never seems to be embarrassed when more people are killed by the same person while he’s unraveling the mystery. And despite the by now hundreds of criminal deaths in Midsomer, there has never been an investigation into this unusually high murder rate. But that’s okay as it’s fun to see the inventive ways the writers come up with to kill people. Very few, especially in the later shows, simply get shot.

Both Barnabys are always professional and not always considerate of their sergeants (though Tom gets along especially well with Ben Jones, played by Jason Hughes). I prefer the Nettles version to the Dudgeon. He’s more human, with a quick wit and dry sense of humor. Dudgeon is humorless and a bit too enthralled with himself, sometimes appearing to be going through the motions.

Seasons of Midsomer Murders have varied between four and eight episodes and included some Christmas specials. I enjoy watching and even have the theme song as my ring tone for unknown callers (could be a murderer!) You can find Midsomer in many places, including still on PBS. Some episodes can apparently be watched for free on YouTube:

Next up, an Irish private eye!