The traditions of a local cult in Midsomer, the Temple of Thoth, appear to be related to a series of murders using poison of the poison dart frog.The traditions of a local cult in Midsomer, the Temple of Thoth, appear to be related to a series of murders using poison of the poison dart frog.The traditions of a local cult in Midsomer, the Temple of Thoth, appear to be related to a series of murders using poison of the poison dart frog.
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Did you know
- TriviaErnest Balliol and his daughter, Isolde Balliol, are played by real-life father and daughter Ronald Pickup and Rachel Pickup.
- GoofsThere are only three species of poison dart or poison arrow frog that are dangerous to humans. However, none of the frogs in captivity are toxic. Apparently their toxicity comes from their diet. Bugs and insects eat plant life that is toxic and the toxin is then passed on to the frog after eating the bugs and insects.
- Quotes
DCI Tom Barnaby: Don't tell Mrs. Barnaby about this. It might give her some expensive ideas for Halloween.
- ConnectionsReferences Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Featured review
Passable but could have been much better
As has been said by me a number of times, 'Midsomer Murders' is one of my most watched and most re-watched shows. It is nowhere near as good now and the Tom Barnaby-era wasn't alien to average or less episodes, but when it was on form or at its best boy was it good.
"The Magician's Nephew" (in case you're wondering there is no relation to CS Lewis and 'The Chronicles of Narnia') is a long way from 'Midsomer Murders' at its worst, but also nowhere near 'Midsomer Murders' at its best. Compared to the previous episodes of Season 11 it is a superior episode to "Shot at Dawn", which was a 'Midsomer Murders' low-point, but the excellent "Blood Wedding" in particular is much better, the other two "Midsomer Life" and "Left for Dead" were decent despite the latter having a terrible ending.
Starting with its strengths, the production values in "The Magician's Nephew" as always are just great, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
It gets off to an effectively creepy start and the concept of a cult was interesting as were some of the characters' names (any fans of opera and Wagner will be nicely surprised). The very end scene with Barnaby and his family dressing up for Halloween was a great touch.
John Nettles and Jason Hughes are both superb, individually and together (their chemistry, and the chemistry with Daniel Casey and John Hopkins before Hughes, being a huge part of their episodes' charm). Can't fault the supporting cast either (although the murderer was forgettable), with the always dependable Ronald Pickup and Stuart Wilson faring particularly strongly.
However, despite an effective start "The Magician's Nephew" was an example of an episode that could have done much more with its concept. It does suffer from far too much padding (something that all three episodes after "Shot at Dawn" and before this avoided), a sluggish pace and having a story that was too thin and under-populated to make up for it.
Suspects are too few and there are red herrings that come out of nowhere and are unresolved. Then there is the ending which is absurd, not quite as much as "Left for Dead" but the murderer was very sketchily developed and forgettably played throughout the episode and the motives didn't ring true. Was expecting more intrigue than the by-the-numbers one here.
Overall, passable but not very satisfying. 5/10 Bethany Cox
"The Magician's Nephew" (in case you're wondering there is no relation to CS Lewis and 'The Chronicles of Narnia') is a long way from 'Midsomer Murders' at its worst, but also nowhere near 'Midsomer Murders' at its best. Compared to the previous episodes of Season 11 it is a superior episode to "Shot at Dawn", which was a 'Midsomer Murders' low-point, but the excellent "Blood Wedding" in particular is much better, the other two "Midsomer Life" and "Left for Dead" were decent despite the latter having a terrible ending.
Starting with its strengths, the production values in "The Magician's Nephew" as always are just great, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
It gets off to an effectively creepy start and the concept of a cult was interesting as were some of the characters' names (any fans of opera and Wagner will be nicely surprised). The very end scene with Barnaby and his family dressing up for Halloween was a great touch.
John Nettles and Jason Hughes are both superb, individually and together (their chemistry, and the chemistry with Daniel Casey and John Hopkins before Hughes, being a huge part of their episodes' charm). Can't fault the supporting cast either (although the murderer was forgettable), with the always dependable Ronald Pickup and Stuart Wilson faring particularly strongly.
However, despite an effective start "The Magician's Nephew" was an example of an episode that could have done much more with its concept. It does suffer from far too much padding (something that all three episodes after "Shot at Dawn" and before this avoided), a sluggish pace and having a story that was too thin and under-populated to make up for it.
Suspects are too few and there are red herrings that come out of nowhere and are unresolved. Then there is the ending which is absurd, not quite as much as "Left for Dead" but the murderer was very sketchily developed and forgettably played throughout the episode and the motives didn't ring true. Was expecting more intrigue than the by-the-numbers one here.
Overall, passable but not very satisfying. 5/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•914
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 13, 2017
Details
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
- 4:3
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