So far I've liked all of the new seasons with John Barnaby. I don't know why people are still hating on him. He and Tom are different, and handle things differently. I think Neil is doing a great job, if dislike his role so much, no one is forcing you to watch it.
11 Reviews
Would you visit The Circus of Death?
Sleepin_Dragon20 January 2020
The Circus comes to Town, Midsomer true to form, it's not long before we get murder.
It wasn't the best I would say, a slightly disappointing end to what has actually been a very good series, now we've actually gotten to see it.
Your belief needs to be suspended permanently here, after one murder you think the Circus might have ended, but they keep on going.
I wonder if a wet midweek night in January was the right time to put this out, would Halloween not have been better? If so they could have played on the kitsch, clown horror element.
The cast do a good job, Neil Stuke and Jason Watkins in particular, but let's face it they are up against it with the material they've got to with here.
The major plus side I thought being the regular cast, very assured performances from all, with some great humour from Fleur.
Better than some, but one of the weaker entries in this series. 6/10
It wasn't the best I would say, a slightly disappointing end to what has actually been a very good series, now we've actually gotten to see it.
Your belief needs to be suspended permanently here, after one murder you think the Circus might have ended, but they keep on going.
I wonder if a wet midweek night in January was the right time to put this out, would Halloween not have been better? If so they could have played on the kitsch, clown horror element.
The cast do a good job, Neil Stuke and Jason Watkins in particular, but let's face it they are up against it with the material they've got to with here.
The major plus side I thought being the regular cast, very assured performances from all, with some great humour from Fleur.
Better than some, but one of the weaker entries in this series. 6/10
A slightly weaker episode
Tweekums15 January 2020
The circus is coming to town and DCI Barnaby is taking his family despite his fear of clowns. Inevitably this family day out turns into a murder mystery. In this case because one of the two clowns shoots the other during their act. It should be an open and shut case; he had a motive and he shot the man in front of an audience... the only problem is that he fired a blank and there is a very real bullet in the corpse. As the investigation gets going plenty of suspects and motives emerge; the circus owner's brother, whose rifle is missing; a local councillor, who also owns a rifle, a woman whose sister died in an accident many years before and a local abattoir worker who is clearly up to something. There is also a clown scaring people in the village who may or may not be connected to the murders.
I wouldn't say this was a bad episode but it was weaker than usual. Midsomer Murders has a reputation for creative murders but two of the three deaths in this episode are somewhat cliché with variations on the switched prop theme... thankfully the third and final death is more original. On the plus side there are plenty of suspects to keep the viewer guessing as well as assorted subplots not obviously related to the murders. The cast, which includes plenty of faces familiar to watchers of British television does a fine job with the material. Overall I'd say that even if this is a weaker episode it is still a fun enough way to pass a couple of hours.
I wouldn't say this was a bad episode but it was weaker than usual. Midsomer Murders has a reputation for creative murders but two of the three deaths in this episode are somewhat cliché with variations on the switched prop theme... thankfully the third and final death is more original. On the plus side there are plenty of suspects to keep the viewer guessing as well as assorted subplots not obviously related to the murders. The cast, which includes plenty of faces familiar to watchers of British television does a fine job with the material. Overall I'd say that even if this is a weaker episode it is still a fun enough way to pass a couple of hours.
No meat for a while
xbatgirl-300299 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This episode may have put me off meat for a while. But it did remind me of traditional Midsomer Murders in that the crime always has something to do with a secret from the past. You knew everything had to relate to the sister's death so all the red herrings were going to be just that.
Like many these days, I don't feel much attraction for circuses, but I do still enjoy the scary clown trope. It even seems like a detective show trope to do a clown episode. On Bones, Booth has a fear of clowns also and has had to confront them. Still I'm good with seeing it again. The creators also really went for it, cranking up the horror movie atmosphere with the murder basement. Appreciated.
I also appreciated that the actors playing the circus owner, his son, and brother all looked like they could be related. This show involves a lot of families and they rarely look alike. Another positive is that the writers seem to be settling into Fleur's character. I enjoy hearing about her wild personal life, and also enjoy that she's stopped with inappropriate jokes over the dead body, like she was doing a couple episodes ago. Her call back to her first episode and getting Paddy neutered was cute. The side plots were a little boring since you knew they weren't involved in the main crimes, especially the cheating wife. But altogether this was a solid, middle of the road, workhorse episode.
Like many these days, I don't feel much attraction for circuses, but I do still enjoy the scary clown trope. It even seems like a detective show trope to do a clown episode. On Bones, Booth has a fear of clowns also and has had to confront them. Still I'm good with seeing it again. The creators also really went for it, cranking up the horror movie atmosphere with the murder basement. Appreciated.
I also appreciated that the actors playing the circus owner, his son, and brother all looked like they could be related. This show involves a lot of families and they rarely look alike. Another positive is that the writers seem to be settling into Fleur's character. I enjoy hearing about her wild personal life, and also enjoy that she's stopped with inappropriate jokes over the dead body, like she was doing a couple episodes ago. Her call back to her first episode and getting Paddy neutered was cute. The side plots were a little boring since you knew they weren't involved in the main crimes, especially the cheating wife. But altogether this was a solid, middle of the road, workhorse episode.
Circus Idiocy
priscillahodgkins-2145622 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
If you ran a circus where people were getting killed during circus acts would you ask a beloved to do an extremely risky acrobatic maneuver?
Would you, if you were the acrobat, take that risk?
Of course not.
But this is Midsomer and there have to be a few dead people.
Terribly stupid.
The producers have taken suspension of disbelief to its extreme.
Alas as it is usually a good show.
Would you, if you were the acrobat, take that risk?
Of course not.
But this is Midsomer and there have to be a few dead people.
Terribly stupid.
The producers have taken suspension of disbelief to its extreme.
Alas as it is usually a good show.
Strong episode
vitoscotti7 June 2023
Few things about the circus were curious. Don't circus's travel as opposed to this stationary one? How could a stationary circus survive? Yet alone produce somewhat well paying jobs to bright, articulate people who are satisfied to live in meager trailers for years, and years? The dedication to the circus by the loyal oddballs made me think of some Monty Python skits. Once you get past the circus thing it was a very well written episode. I enjoyed the work of the stunning Joni Kamen as Sophia Bellini, and Lorraine Burroughs as Freya Ferabbee. The ending worked well, but got a little too sappy. Neil Dudgeon's fear of clowns comforted by Paddy the dog was a funny subplot.
A half enjoyable episode
dageckodude1 October 2020
I know a lot of people don't like this episode, and I can see why. It's almost terrible, but some scenes are still watchable and a little bit enjoyable.
The whole thing with the clowns sorta worked out. It didn't work out as well as I thought it would, but I didn't hate this episode. It was sort of scary and I liked that. I thought I had guessed the killer but I was wrong so that was a plus. Yeah there are some boring bits but it's not the worst episode I've seen. The cast was good, and I am so in love with Fleur. She brings so much wit and charm to each scene.
Send in the Clowns isn't the best episode. It certainly lacks a lot, but I honestly think you just need to watch it and see what you think. I thought it was alright.
The whole thing with the clowns sorta worked out. It didn't work out as well as I thought it would, but I didn't hate this episode. It was sort of scary and I liked that. I thought I had guessed the killer but I was wrong so that was a plus. Yeah there are some boring bits but it's not the worst episode I've seen. The cast was good, and I am so in love with Fleur. She brings so much wit and charm to each scene.
Send in the Clowns isn't the best episode. It certainly lacks a lot, but I honestly think you just need to watch it and see what you think. I thought it was alright.
Sent as a disappointment
harrykivi31 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
If you have read from my review of "The curse of the ninth"-you know that I wasn't a big fan of it. (Mainly because of the horrible contrived twist.) But I have not given up on writers, that have done a mistake, before, so I put my hopes up for "Send in the clows", which sounded interesting enough. Even though I was disappointed by the episode, it does fare much better than "The curse of the ninth" for several reasons.
Let us go through the good stuff:
At first: The direction by Nicholas Laughland is beautiful and fits to scenery( as pretty much all "Midsomer murders" episodes do). The episode also offers some nice creepy atmosphere( mainly because of unsettling subplots ) and cool music composed by wonderful Jim Parker, who continues to do fantastic work.
The circus theme surrounding "Send in the clowns" was nice and it's definitely one of the interesting locations for a murder mystery.
There are twists and turns as usual with a creeping clown subplot and a story about Barnaby's uneasiness with clowns that I thought was compelling.
Murders are committed in bizarre ways. Especially liked Ashley Denton's (The scene is with a bunch of swords.) Even though Curtis Ferrabbee's death comes pretty close (because of how it was staged.)
The humour is also present here and the killer's identity somewhat suprising.
Have nothing bad to say about the acting either . It is generally good. Really liked Neil Stuke with his mentally hurt character, Jason Watkins I found good too, and especially Lorraine Ashbourne, who shined as an innocent-looking Daniella Bellini.
But...
. Few characters could have been much more better explored ( Harry Ferrabbee, who didn't bring anything compelling on screen.
. The pacing of this episode seemed really off. There are some elongated scenes, where you are more watching a circus, then solving a mystery with a circus theme.
. How the script solves all the subplots I found bit lazy as well . ( Who steales- Mostyn Cartwright, sells pigs blood- also Mostyn, which felt more like an overkill then clever.)
. If the killer's identity was about buyable, then the motives were not. When you find them out , it feels kind of.... you killed a bunch of people even though you could have easily sued them...
. And last : there is a lot of unneeded vulgarity in this episode. Watch out for the slaughter house scene! If you have kids, who watch this episode, I suggest you watch that part with them. It is not that gory, but even I, as an adult, was struck by blood and slaughtered pigs in this scene.
Overall a disappointing one 5/10
HK
Let us go through the good stuff:
At first: The direction by Nicholas Laughland is beautiful and fits to scenery( as pretty much all "Midsomer murders" episodes do). The episode also offers some nice creepy atmosphere( mainly because of unsettling subplots ) and cool music composed by wonderful Jim Parker, who continues to do fantastic work.
The circus theme surrounding "Send in the clowns" was nice and it's definitely one of the interesting locations for a murder mystery.
There are twists and turns as usual with a creeping clown subplot and a story about Barnaby's uneasiness with clowns that I thought was compelling.
Murders are committed in bizarre ways. Especially liked Ashley Denton's (The scene is with a bunch of swords.) Even though Curtis Ferrabbee's death comes pretty close (because of how it was staged.)
The humour is also present here and the killer's identity somewhat suprising.
Have nothing bad to say about the acting either . It is generally good. Really liked Neil Stuke with his mentally hurt character, Jason Watkins I found good too, and especially Lorraine Ashbourne, who shined as an innocent-looking Daniella Bellini.
But...
. Few characters could have been much more better explored ( Harry Ferrabbee, who didn't bring anything compelling on screen.
. The pacing of this episode seemed really off. There are some elongated scenes, where you are more watching a circus, then solving a mystery with a circus theme.
. How the script solves all the subplots I found bit lazy as well . ( Who steales- Mostyn Cartwright, sells pigs blood- also Mostyn, which felt more like an overkill then clever.)
. If the killer's identity was about buyable, then the motives were not. When you find them out , it feels kind of.... you killed a bunch of people even though you could have easily sued them...
. And last : there is a lot of unneeded vulgarity in this episode. Watch out for the slaughter house scene! If you have kids, who watch this episode, I suggest you watch that part with them. It is not that gory, but even I, as an adult, was struck by blood and slaughtered pigs in this scene.
Overall a disappointing one 5/10
HK
Circus of death
TheLittleSongbird18 February 2020
Am somebody who has always gotten a lot of enjoyment out of 'Midsomer Murders' and there are a lot of good to outstanding episodes throughout. More the Tom Barnaby era than the John Barnaby era (where the show in general has not quite felt the same), but there are some surprisingly good later episodes about. Really liked the idea for "Send in the Clown" and the cicus setting has much nostalgic value, so a large part of me was really looking forward to the episode.
Only to be met with disappointment. As has been the case too often with the John Barnaby era 'Midsomer Murders' episodes. Does that mean that "Send in the Clown" is a bad episode? No, not at all. Considering the premise and the setting, this had potential to be one of 'Midsomer Murders' best episodes. The sadly quite average execution here sadly only makes it as far as the show goes a middling episode. Not one of the best later episodes, or episodes in general, at the same time also not one of the worst (nowhere near in both cases).
"Send in the Clown" is certainly watchable and has things good about it. It looks great, the scenery is both picturesque and atmospheric and the circus has a nostalgic and even unsettling look. All beautifully photographed, Even in the worst episodes, and the show was hardly immune ftom weak episodes, the music never disappinted and was continually one of the good things. That is the case here with "Send in the Clown", the main theme is still immortal.
The episode does well in evoking the excitement and danger of the circus setting, doing better at that than with the mystery, and the murders themselves are cleverly staged. Especially the last one overall, which had the most suspenseful build up, though the second was the most elaborate. There is some nice humour here and there, the clown sightings were genuinely creepy and the cast are fine, Jason Watkins and Neil Stuke do a particularly nice job of the guest stars (Lorraine Ashbourne also does very well but her character felt underdeveloped) and Annette Badland continues to be a hit as Fleur, proving to still a worthy addition. Neil Dudgeon isn't taking it as overly-seriously as he did when he took over from John Nettles. Not hard to relate either to Barnaby's uneasiness with clowns, being somebody who was scared of mascots when younger.
However, the mystery could have been a lot more engaging outside of the murders. It tends to be pretty mundane and quite padded, as well as a little too overshadowed by everything to do with the circus. Which caused some of the episode to drag, quite badly in places. The subplots intrigue initially, but too many of them felt under-explored (the clown sightings could have been better explained) and the same can be said for too many of the supporting characters in general, Curtis being by far the most interesting.
Like too many 'Midsomer Murders' episodes nowadays, the denouement felt rushed and almost last-minute, the identity of the murderer was a surprise but the motivation for the killings felt too came out of nowhere and extreme. Also felt rather cheated by that for the last murder, you have such a suspenseful build up and cleverly staged scene and you go and give it the weakest and almost cop-out-like motive. While the dialogue is not necessarily awful, it doesn't stand out either.
In summary, watchable but disappointing. 5/10
Only to be met with disappointment. As has been the case too often with the John Barnaby era 'Midsomer Murders' episodes. Does that mean that "Send in the Clown" is a bad episode? No, not at all. Considering the premise and the setting, this had potential to be one of 'Midsomer Murders' best episodes. The sadly quite average execution here sadly only makes it as far as the show goes a middling episode. Not one of the best later episodes, or episodes in general, at the same time also not one of the worst (nowhere near in both cases).
"Send in the Clown" is certainly watchable and has things good about it. It looks great, the scenery is both picturesque and atmospheric and the circus has a nostalgic and even unsettling look. All beautifully photographed, Even in the worst episodes, and the show was hardly immune ftom weak episodes, the music never disappinted and was continually one of the good things. That is the case here with "Send in the Clown", the main theme is still immortal.
The episode does well in evoking the excitement and danger of the circus setting, doing better at that than with the mystery, and the murders themselves are cleverly staged. Especially the last one overall, which had the most suspenseful build up, though the second was the most elaborate. There is some nice humour here and there, the clown sightings were genuinely creepy and the cast are fine, Jason Watkins and Neil Stuke do a particularly nice job of the guest stars (Lorraine Ashbourne also does very well but her character felt underdeveloped) and Annette Badland continues to be a hit as Fleur, proving to still a worthy addition. Neil Dudgeon isn't taking it as overly-seriously as he did when he took over from John Nettles. Not hard to relate either to Barnaby's uneasiness with clowns, being somebody who was scared of mascots when younger.
However, the mystery could have been a lot more engaging outside of the murders. It tends to be pretty mundane and quite padded, as well as a little too overshadowed by everything to do with the circus. Which caused some of the episode to drag, quite badly in places. The subplots intrigue initially, but too many of them felt under-explored (the clown sightings could have been better explained) and the same can be said for too many of the supporting characters in general, Curtis being by far the most interesting.
Like too many 'Midsomer Murders' episodes nowadays, the denouement felt rushed and almost last-minute, the identity of the murderer was a surprise but the motivation for the killings felt too came out of nowhere and extreme. Also felt rather cheated by that for the last murder, you have such a suspenseful build up and cleverly staged scene and you go and give it the weakest and almost cop-out-like motive. While the dialogue is not necessarily awful, it doesn't stand out either.
In summary, watchable but disappointing. 5/10
'Jumping the Clown'
lbowdls5 August 2019
When it comes to murder mysteries and detective shows Circus episodes are the 'Jumping the shark' of the genre. Every one has done it from Charlie's Angels to Murder she Wrote yes usually American ones but now it's finally come to Midsomer and it is no different from those before it that is there are accidents which turn out to be murders happening it's always something to do with the circus losing money or keeping secrets. But most of all like the others this is rather predictable and mundane!
Wake Me Up After the Circus
ummajon20038 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A boring start, what with no murder, ridiculous circus life, council meeting arguments, and did I mention ugly clowns? And then there's the bloody bloody butcher, dirty pigs and their dead carcasses, one head shoved into a locker, not pleasant! What type of viewer enjoys that? By the way, Jamie's ringtone always startles me. And it's cooler when the detectives drive black cars instead of silver. I am a set director at heart. Ha! Characters were not likable and not interesting--and not acted well either. Plot was flat and splat. Oh well, they can't all be winners.
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