There are a variety of box sets now which accompany this popular series,so I shall start at the begining and review Box Set 1.
The Characters
Firstly, for those not familar with Midsomer, let me introduce you to the main characters.
Detective Inspector Barnaby First up is our main man starring Detective Inspector Barnaby, played by shakespearian actor John Nettles (some of you may remember him best for his performance in Bergerac many years ago),
Tom Barnaby is a dedicated DI working for the Midsomer Constabulary in Causton. I love this character so much for so many reasons: My Dad was a DI, he looks like my Dad, his mannerisms are like my Dad and he has the same relationship with his daughter Cully, as I do with my Dad! Infact I think someone wrote this about my Dad! Anyway enough of all that, I digress.
He is a very calm character, who years of experience in the force shine through as he goes about his business in a very methodocial manner. Barnaby always gets his man!
Tom is also devoted to his wife Joyce and their only daughter Cully.
Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy (1996 - 2003), A very likeable character and at one stage i did think maybe he would get it together with Barnaby's daughter Cully, but sadly that wasn't to be.
He is very keen to get on within the police force and sometimes his eagerness can get him
into hot water (he often makes inapproriate comments).
This character has since been replaced by two further dectectives but they do not appear in the box set I am reviewing so I won't go into detail on them.
Joyce Barnaby Mrs B is an easy going and friendly woman, who likes to get involved in community activities. To be honest it is abit overkill the projects Joyce gets involved in...bell ringing, art, singing in the local choir, flower arranging for the church, practically anything that's going! Then she moans she doesn't see Tom enough!
Cully Barnaby The only child of Tom and Joyce and the apple of her father's eye. Friendly and pleasant character, who moved back to live with her parents after university. Cully is a struggling actress.
Dr George Bullard Never referred to by his full title only 'George'. George is always one of the first one the scene and always ready to offer a quick opinion of how they died!
Where is Midsomer Supposed to be?
Midsomer County is set in the heart of the English country side and is a very picturesque county to live, but this wouldn't compensate for the number of dead bodies that turn up there for me!
Episodes & Brief Synopsis of Box Set One
The Killings at Badger's Drift Badgers Drift was the pilot and what a way to start. An old lady is found dead in her cottage. No-one can understand why as she was a lovely lady who kept herself to herself. The only indication that the viewer gets is that at the start of the episode she witnesses something unsettling in the woods.
Written in Blood Midsomer Worthy is the setting for this gruesome murder. The victim is Gerald Hadleigh, the secretary of the writers circle.
All is not how it first appears as the plot unfolds Barnaby and Troy discover this man had no formal identification. Was he indeed who everyone thought he was?
Death of a Hollow Man An elderly resident is found drowned after a violent attack in a nursing home in the village of Ferne Basset.
Meanwhile, elsewhere a local amateur dramatic production of Amadeus reveals a backstage world of intrigue, passion & gossip (Joyce is part of the amature dramatics society in this one) and its not long before we find ourselves with a second murder.
Faithful Unto Death An investigation into the finances of a village community crafts centre takes a sinister turn when the wife of the centre’s owner disappears and a neighbour is murdered.
Death in Disguise The Lodge of the Golden Wind Horse is a new-age commune. Unfortunatey one of its founders , dies in a fall down the stairs, apparently accidentally (but we know this not to be the case).
Death's Shadow Successful theatrical director, Simon Fletcher, arrives in the village of Badgers Drift (remember the first episode) with his head filled with disturbing childhood memories.
The murders commence when a property developer in the village is savagely murdered with an Indian sword belonging to a vicar (now you see why Simon has disturbing memories!).
Strangler's Wood The body of a young Brazilian woman is found strangled with a tie in a wood where three similar murders occurred several years previously.
Barnaby & Troy visit George Meakham , the now-retired police officer who was in charge of the investigation of the earlier crimes. Pulling together their resources they try to figure out the reasons behind these horrific crimes, but before another murder takes place!
Dead Man's Eleven Nothing runs smoothly for Tom so when he plans to move home to the village of Fletcher's Cross its hardly surprising that his plans are disrupted by the murder of a local landowner.
Blood Will Out Hector Bridges, is found shot dead in his house, investigations uncover that his wife was married to one of their neighbours, Will Saxby, and Saxby's current wife used to be Mrs Bridges, his daughter, Fleur, is really Saxby's daughter (keep up!!).
On top of this a group of travellers turn up in the village to confuse things further!
One of my favourites though! :)
Death of a Stranger After returning from in France Barnaby's first case is the discoveryof an unidentified tramp has been beaten to death in the woods near the village of Marshwood.
While Barnaby was sunning himself in France a local man has already been arrested for this crime. However Tom thinks he is innocent and so the story begins...
The Price
You can pick up Box Set One for £28.98 new and sealed from ebay!! That's a bargain.
Opinion
I just love the Midsomer series. Easy to watch and non offensive and like I say for me personally its great because Barnaby is exactly like my Dad!
The characters are good and believable and the villages the series are shot in are very picturesque and pleasing on the eye.
If you like good old murder mystery then these are definitely up your street.
So settle down with a nice cuppa and let the murder mystery begin.....
Pictures of Midsomer Murders (Box Set) (DVD)
Barnaby & Troy promo picture
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Release Date: 2006-01-09, Rating Suitable for 15 years and over,
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon...
Beneath the tranquil surface of sleepy village life in the idyllic English county of ... more
Midsomer, exist dark secrets, scandals and downright evil. John Nettles stars as the humorous, thoughtful and methodical Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby.This special...
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