I love watching Midsomer and, I know that during the Tom Barnaby years, there has been some not too great episodes ("The Electric Vendetta", "Blood on the Saddle", "The Made to Measure Murders") to name a few (yes, I know there are a LOT of ppl who didn't like "The Straw Woman" or "Second Sight" but I didn't mind those). In fact, "Blood on the Saddle" was my LEAST favorite....until THIS. OMG...wow.
Basically, you have a village run by some bootlegging, blowhard, bully pub owner who's everyone is in some sort of fear of and is like the "leader" of said village, with his 2 co hort goons, Dumb and Dumber, doing said bidding.
He kills the tax man, not because he was about to find out the man's schemes, BUT, because he got married to a village girl-a village girl who was supposed to ONLY marry someone in that village or in the neighboring village. So, guess who has to die? The innocent young married tax man. The Rev (a recovering alcoholic) because he performed the ceremony, and ANY one else that got in his way. Then, framed an innocent drunk and made HIM sign away some deed. Yea... But wait, that's not what makes this cringe worthy. In said village, the pub owner (played by Warren Clarke) and in all of his disgustingness, also wants to promote a "stag night", where both village have their men go over to the other side and go a "hunting" (i.e. Rape) because that's what they did back in the days and the village idiots agree what great fun to be "taken advantage" of because, why not? Worse, one of the characters is a woman who is loud, brass, kind of a whorey slag/Tart, who banishes her sweet daughter (besties and MOH to the loud mouth "leader") so SHE can be "handled" by said loud mouth. While HIS daughter is at home (and when he encounters the lone man who made it over the hill because there were some people who thought, like I did that, that this was insanely stupid) HE tells he should get his reward: HIS OWN DAUGHTER! Are you kidding me?
Anyway, lead bully of disgust passes Older Sad Sack Slag, and goes to "hunt" for her daughter (and to get "back" at her for being married to an outsider). The mother is upset (of course) but...eww.
Then the ending. All the town's people are around to arrest Dumb, Dumber and Bully and one pulls out a shotgun. To kill them. They were going to kill a DCI and a Sargent. In front of people? And no one was going to stop them? I was actually waiting for them to form a circle and sing/chant and do some Wickerman ish (the classic with Edward Woodward not the awful remake). And, again, John talks and tries to reason with these people (because he studied psychology so of course he has put it to good use).
They finally got the Blowhard Bully after the daughter admitted to everyone his intent. And then the villagers? They walk away. Hopefully from the shame they allowed this from ever happening. Not consoling the 2 young girls that were about to be raped. Not the sorry, shaggy, mother. After watching this the first time, I make it that ONLY time watching this mess.
Jason Hughes is great but, really didn't do much here. Neil Dudgeon...eh. Warren Clarke, was disturbingly sick as the Bully Pub Owner/Wannabe Rapist/ Murderer.
Anyone who likes this particular episode...wow. As for me, when this ever comes on, I will find ANYTHING else to watch.
Basically, you have a village run by some bootlegging, blowhard, bully pub owner who's everyone is in some sort of fear of and is like the "leader" of said village, with his 2 co hort goons, Dumb and Dumber, doing said bidding.
He kills the tax man, not because he was about to find out the man's schemes, BUT, because he got married to a village girl-a village girl who was supposed to ONLY marry someone in that village or in the neighboring village. So, guess who has to die? The innocent young married tax man. The Rev (a recovering alcoholic) because he performed the ceremony, and ANY one else that got in his way. Then, framed an innocent drunk and made HIM sign away some deed. Yea... But wait, that's not what makes this cringe worthy. In said village, the pub owner (played by Warren Clarke) and in all of his disgustingness, also wants to promote a "stag night", where both village have their men go over to the other side and go a "hunting" (i.e. Rape) because that's what they did back in the days and the village idiots agree what great fun to be "taken advantage" of because, why not? Worse, one of the characters is a woman who is loud, brass, kind of a whorey slag/Tart, who banishes her sweet daughter (besties and MOH to the loud mouth "leader") so SHE can be "handled" by said loud mouth. While HIS daughter is at home (and when he encounters the lone man who made it over the hill because there were some people who thought, like I did that, that this was insanely stupid) HE tells he should get his reward: HIS OWN DAUGHTER! Are you kidding me?
Anyway, lead bully of disgust passes Older Sad Sack Slag, and goes to "hunt" for her daughter (and to get "back" at her for being married to an outsider). The mother is upset (of course) but...eww.
Then the ending. All the town's people are around to arrest Dumb, Dumber and Bully and one pulls out a shotgun. To kill them. They were going to kill a DCI and a Sargent. In front of people? And no one was going to stop them? I was actually waiting for them to form a circle and sing/chant and do some Wickerman ish (the classic with Edward Woodward not the awful remake). And, again, John talks and tries to reason with these people (because he studied psychology so of course he has put it to good use).
They finally got the Blowhard Bully after the daughter admitted to everyone his intent. And then the villagers? They walk away. Hopefully from the shame they allowed this from ever happening. Not consoling the 2 young girls that were about to be raped. Not the sorry, shaggy, mother. After watching this the first time, I make it that ONLY time watching this mess.
Jason Hughes is great but, really didn't do much here. Neil Dudgeon...eh. Warren Clarke, was disturbingly sick as the Bully Pub Owner/Wannabe Rapist/ Murderer.
Anyone who likes this particular episode...wow. As for me, when this ever comes on, I will find ANYTHING else to watch.