This is the description by a reviewer of the wife of the new DCI, John Barnaby. And it makes me wonder just what century some of the watchers of this show are living in psychological speaking? The character, Joyce, the wife of the original Barnaby (Tom), was portrayed as an outdated stereotypical housewife, bored, slightly petulant, and always joining different groups to fill up her time, and always being either humoured or quietly mocked over her cooking experimentation by her husband and daughter. Neither of which seemed to respect her enough to tell her the truth, so she could improve. Yes, she came up with some solutions to some of the crimes, but was never really appreciated for it, nor credited. I often wondered why she didn't have a job! I often thought she made women in general look like hanger-ons - it wasn't like she had dependent children to take care of, or any health problems that would interfere with her working outside of the home. But I guess that is the "safe" way to portray women so they're not competition to the masculinity around them. Sad, really. I like the new Mrs. Barnaby (Fiona Dolman). She's clearly with her husband because she wants to be, not because she's desperate emotionally or financially. She's funny, smart, independent and caring and interesting to watch.
The other thing reviewers are complaining about the new DCI Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon), is how he treats Jones. Were none of these people actually watching the earlier episodes with Tom Barnaby? He blatantly treated Jones and all of his previous assistant detectives like lowly servants. He even made one put their coat down over a puddle so he could step on it. Anything physical or potentially difficult or dangerous, Tom would send the poor detective in to do it first. He was quite smug about it. It was pretty obvious, so much so that I started to think it must be a running gag.
I also don't see the new Barnaby lauding over Jones with his degree in psychology -- he himself has never brought it up, except to finally address it toward the end of this episode when Jones yet again throws it at him like it's somehow a bad thing that he did the extra work to be better at his job. It is Jones who constantly refers to it, probably because it makes him feel inferior as he thought that he should have gotten the promotion instead of an outsider. But that is something he is projecting upon himself, it is not coming from the new DCI Barnaby. I do have a problem with how they have written Jones's (and earlier detectives) character, it's like he's never learned a thing from working with the first DCI Barnaby who like his cousin looks at the whole picture and thinks outside of the box while processing the evidence. Neither of them jump at the first and most obvious solution. The writers still have Jones looking and acting somewhat duhhhh, which is unfair to the character(s). I know they have to create a difference in their skill sets to justify their respective positions, but... Jones hasn't been overly welcoming to his new supervisor either -- he's been quite resentful overall. Oh, and the earlier Barnaby never encouraged his detectives to hang out and be chummy neither. Pay attention, people. I guess fond memories are causing some serious loss of facts here. People don't seem to want to let the new DCI find his own way of fitting into this new clique of old coworkers who are also missing Tom Barnaby. He's not supposed to be a direct copy. Watching him maneuver through it all, mistakes and all, is what makes it fun for me.
I enjoyed this episode (despite some serious plot holes, as discussed by others here). I also liked the first two episodes with the new DCI and company. This series desperately needed a shot in it's arm, they were running out of places to go with the first Barnaby, or maybe running out of "how" to go to to those places. The series is feeling refreshed now, with new possibilities opening from within the same oldness that is human kind itself.
The other thing reviewers are complaining about the new DCI Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon), is how he treats Jones. Were none of these people actually watching the earlier episodes with Tom Barnaby? He blatantly treated Jones and all of his previous assistant detectives like lowly servants. He even made one put their coat down over a puddle so he could step on it. Anything physical or potentially difficult or dangerous, Tom would send the poor detective in to do it first. He was quite smug about it. It was pretty obvious, so much so that I started to think it must be a running gag.
I also don't see the new Barnaby lauding over Jones with his degree in psychology -- he himself has never brought it up, except to finally address it toward the end of this episode when Jones yet again throws it at him like it's somehow a bad thing that he did the extra work to be better at his job. It is Jones who constantly refers to it, probably because it makes him feel inferior as he thought that he should have gotten the promotion instead of an outsider. But that is something he is projecting upon himself, it is not coming from the new DCI Barnaby. I do have a problem with how they have written Jones's (and earlier detectives) character, it's like he's never learned a thing from working with the first DCI Barnaby who like his cousin looks at the whole picture and thinks outside of the box while processing the evidence. Neither of them jump at the first and most obvious solution. The writers still have Jones looking and acting somewhat duhhhh, which is unfair to the character(s). I know they have to create a difference in their skill sets to justify their respective positions, but... Jones hasn't been overly welcoming to his new supervisor either -- he's been quite resentful overall. Oh, and the earlier Barnaby never encouraged his detectives to hang out and be chummy neither. Pay attention, people. I guess fond memories are causing some serious loss of facts here. People don't seem to want to let the new DCI find his own way of fitting into this new clique of old coworkers who are also missing Tom Barnaby. He's not supposed to be a direct copy. Watching him maneuver through it all, mistakes and all, is what makes it fun for me.
I enjoyed this episode (despite some serious plot holes, as discussed by others here). I also liked the first two episodes with the new DCI and company. This series desperately needed a shot in it's arm, they were running out of places to go with the first Barnaby, or maybe running out of "how" to go to to those places. The series is feeling refreshed now, with new possibilities opening from within the same oldness that is human kind itself.