Midsomer Murders (TV Series) Claws Out (2023) User Reviews

Another fine episode!

[harrykivi · 6/10 · 20 December 2023]

The 24th season of "Midsomer Murders" has not been very strong. Wasn't that impressed with "The Devil's Work", "The Book of the Dead" was not great either. This episode, "Claws Out" is the best of the season so far, but it is still nothing to write home about.

Let's start with the good aspects.

. The production values of the episode are great. The music fits the scenery and "Claws Out" is well-directed. Out of the solid guest stars Josette Simon does very well.

. The murders are clever and did like the pet detective theme. There are relatable themes touched upon and some well-written characters (Lorna being one of them).

But....

. The story is not always very easy to follow, at times there's too much going on and some characters feel underused (William Fleming for instance).

. The solution as well felt rushed and a bit more explaining for it to fully work.

Overall, a fine episode.

6/10 HK.

Cats and Dogs of Midsomer

[TJR21 · 9/10 · 21 December 2023]

This episode brings out all the very essence of the old Midsomer we all got addicted to back in 1997/98.

There is plenty of scenes with green lush fields/meadows, country lanes, pubs, cottages, Manor House's and their gardens. Filmed in early summer this one is definitely a feast for the eyes.

The storyline felt very accustomed to the earlier episodes and whilst the craziness and eccentricities of the whole plot seemed so plausible at the same time, there was so many things going on.

The characters/acting are very strong and the quirkiness is very evident here and the script is very thought provoking. The red herrings are very subtle and in a good way.

Music is once again in the background and really helps the episode flow along.

The comedy and humour aspects are what we've come to expect from earlier episodes too and I loved the finale on the riverbank. Reminded me so much of how let's say Dead Man's Eleven ends around a table.

Another really enjoyable episode which I'm sure will become a favourite of mine and many. 9/10.

Great mystery shows

[emptynester-19251 · 10/10 · 12 April 2024]

I love Midsummer Murders! It's one of my favorite shows. My Aunt is from England and she's is the one who introduced me to Midsummer Murders and other English shows. I just love, love, love the actors. Tom Barney, Troy and Jones were three of my favorite cast members. To bad those 3 aren't on any the show anymore , Jones & Troy were very funny, with the way Troy & Jones said things that Barnaby frowned on their descriptions about sex. I was sad to learn that they left the show. But the characters, John Barnaby is a good actor and Tom Barnaby as well.

There are so many episodes that are very funny.

WHAT is wrong with Fleur?

[volare12 · 1/10 · 22 December 2023]

I could barely make it through this episode, because the writers seem to have decided to make Annette Badland's character an increasingly unpleasant b---- whose preferred mode of snark is making fun of DI Winter and implying that he's an idiot every chance she gets. Winter has never been presented as less than an intelligent person and astute cop, nor has he ever demonstrated any animosity toward the M. E., so where this is suddenly coming from makes no sense at all. Badland is a good actress, but if the writers think that Fleur's many "fringe" past interests and snippy and condescending attitude make her funny, they're seriously mistaken. This episode is the worst example yet of their miscalculation. As for the actual story... well, some people get killed (a couple rather gruesomely), there are dogs and cats involved, and the case gets solved. And Fleur ends up with ...wait for it ....an insult-comic parrot as a pet! Uyyyyy. Next....

Grade: F--

Re: What is wrong with Fleur?

[sharer-70051 · 4/10 · 3 January 2024]

I wholeheartedly agree with this review. In previous seasons Fleur was portrayed as intelligent, insightful and extremely knowledgeable in her craft. She not only discharged her duties investigating COD, but she provided insight and guidance to the detectives. Now, she's less learned, more condescending to Barnaby and just plain mean and nasty toward Winter. If you're employing a new writing team, they are not achieving the same levels of quality and depth as in previous seasons. Additionally, Sarah Barnaby has been relegated to a diminished and dumbed down role in this season. What happened to the insightful, bright and charismatic character we've seen previously? Current episodes are missing the mark in terms of the standards set for plot and character development we've grown accustomed to seeing in past seasons. It's strange but my favorite character now is Paddy!!! If this is the shape of things to come, I'm out!

So over the Fleur character

[scubatke · 2/10 · 5 January 2024]

Fleur was never a great character but has really gone off the deep end this season. The references to her past sexual escapades have always been way over the top. But the ridiculing and bullying of the Winter character isn't as humorous as the writers seem to think it is...and they have made it more frequent and more pointed!

Fleur is mean, nasty, condescending and very unprofessional. How does this make the show better? I get that it's a TV show and we need to suspend reality but c'mon...even a fraction of this behavior would never be allowed to occur in the real world.

And then to end the episode with Fluer's new parrot calling Winter a nitwit to which Fleur responds by calling the bird her 'soul mate'. TERRIBLE! Time for a re-casting!

Frogger & Dognapping

[Johnny_West · 1/10 · 8 January 2024]

So we get the ugly bag of frogs who is still working at the coroner's office at the age of 80? I thought there were standards and mandatory retirement for government workers in the UK?

Doctor Froggy never added much to this show. The original coroner George Bullard (played by Barry Jackson), was leaps and bounds better than Froggy (played by Annette Hagland).

Hagland is grumpy every time she shows up for work. She shares gross and unprofessional banter about her active sex life, bumping uglies with other oldies, and she bullies Hendrix too.

The story of a dog trainer kidnapping dogs because she thinks the owners are not giving them good care is really bizarre. Who writes this nonsense? In a small town nobody could get away with that, not once, but several times. Not to mention murdering the dog owners. Why take a shot like that at dog trainers? There are enough psychopaths around. Why create a myth that some resentful dog trainer is going around killing pet owners?

Like the rest of this season, Barnaby waddles around like he needs the BBC to buy him a scooter. A few filler minutes of his trophy wife and their android kid telling him they are going to a party. Just a lot of empty time-filling because the writer has no story to tell, and ran out of dog owners to kill off.