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Midsomer Murders: A Climate of Death (2023)
Yes it's a bit silly, but worth it
For once, all the overacting was done on purpose. And under the lighthearted, colorful surface there is a solid plot, and good acting.
This was a very satisfying mystery. There were secrets to be uncovered, red herrings to avoid, and nobody was who they said they were. It felt at times like there might be too many balls in the air, but by the end of the episoede everything and everyone was accounted for, all ends were tied in a bow and everything made perfect sense. I love that.
The acting was truly great. It takes good actors to take silly and funny and not turn it into clownish and ridiculous. Corey Johnson really sells the colourfully American Mr Rooster, while Eve Austin is masterful in showing us the cracks in her character's influencer façade. Melissa Johns and Nathaniel Parker shine particularly in the final reveal, but they are great throughout, as is everybody else.
The only bit of weirness was... the chilli pepper shenanigans with Winter and Barnaby? Not sure they were really necessary, and made me cringe a little bit. In my humble opinion, ending the episode by giving a conclusion to Sarah's health spree might have been more appropriate, but I have a weak spot for Winter and his long-suffering looks and eye-rolls, so as long as he's there I'll take almost anything.
Midsomer Murders: Dressed to Kill (2023)
I'm sorry if you're too boring for this
This was so much fun!! Great writing, good actors (shout out to Felix Kai, I hope to see more of him anywhere!), tight plot, fun costumes... a ball!
The side stories were original and entertaining (Sophie Stone is always a guarantee, and her part was wonderfully played), I loved them all in different ways. The happy tears for Mr Dawlish and his daughter! The reveal was the only part a tad too overplayed. Seriously, there's a time and place for Shakespeare, and this is definitely not it.
Things I particularly enjoyed:
Personally I love Winter, finally a sergeant who doesn't get flustered with every little tease or indiscretion, though Jones did make a valiant effort to be honest (and Scott was smooth too, but in a creepy way). Also, Fleur is her usual delightful self. The drag show was cute, and the happy ending was edifying. Did you catch the "Someone likes it hot" reference at the end?
To everybody who is provoked by the 21st century being its sparkly, varied and colorful self: I pity you, your worldview must be gray and joyless. Have a laugh, there's plenty to cry about in real life, and being cheeky isn't a crime.
Midsomer Murders: The Witches Of Angel's Rise (2021)
Poor plot, poor script, and less than brilliant performances
I think this may be one of the least successful episodes in Midsomer Murders' history.
The murder plot has the weakest and most laughable motive to date, and the murders don't even get explained in details, just a "yes, I did it" from the murderer. How did he plan it? How did he get the victims there? These are elaborate, premeditated murders, and they make it sound like the murderer just lost his temper. It makes no sense, and we get no satisfaction at all.
The investigation is even worse, no alibis are checked (or in some cases even asked), and Barnaby and Winter hardly spend any time speaking to each other, or at the station doing some actual thinking in front of the board. Which may explain why it takes them so long to work out anything.
The plot in general is a mess. A part from the fact that it massively features an event in the past, around which everything seems to revolve, and then just writes it off and doesn't go anywhere with it; there are also way too many subplots and characters that do not contribute in any significant way to the mystery. I mean, what's the point of feng-shui guy? And don't get me started on Holly Willoughby, such waste of time. Also, the whole thing with Winter's granddad was cringey, exaggerated and really poorly written.
Which brings me to the script. So preachy, so cheesy, so absolutely, utterly unbelievable. The reveal scene was the worst, it was almost painful to listen to. Even the usual stars, Dudgeon, Badland, Dolman and Hendrix, couldn't make a script this bad any better.
Some actors do manage to make it even worse though, like the ones in the roles of Hattie Bainbridge and Jonas Wilson. Their theatrics are simply ridiculous. Again, a dishonourable mention goes to Holly Willoughby, who looks like she wandered on set by mistake and nobody knows exactly what to do with her, or how to react.
On the positive side, the village is lovely, the nature is beautiful, the idea of a psychic fair is cute, and Colin Salmon is a top-notch actor as always. The storyline with Gerard, Jeanie, Ginger and the witches was really good too. Should have stuck to that one.
Midsomer Murders: The Night of the Stag (2011)
Don't listen to all the prudish people, it's great
It's a very nice episode, of the good old kind like the early episodes. The villains are suitably villanous, at least one of the murders is very creative, the seemingly unrelated subplots converge nicely, and there is a very satisfying confrontation at the end. Bonus points for village fete and bucolic countryside. I liked the beekeeper with his bees, and the way they symbolically tied the episode together. I LOVED the over-the-top temperance preacher, he was hilarious and spot-on. And notice: the only potential rapists in the story are the villain-in-chief and his ridiculous buddy-buddy, neither of which succeeds in raping anybody. If people paid attention they would notice that the women of the opposite village open their doors for the men when they arrive on the stag night, and literally and rather enthusiastically jump into their arms. Is it adultery? Possibly. Do their husbands approve? Probably. Do we care? Not in the slightest.
Roadfood (2021)
Best TV show about the USA yet
This show has it all: delicious food, travelling to different parts of the USA, different cultures and subcultures, interesting and current topics of discussion treated with intelligence, balance and mutual respect, an incredibly cute and warm camera crew and host, and as a cherry on top a dash of hope for humanity, which is sometimes sorely lacking from our lives. Uplifting, heart-warming, funny, educational and mouth-watering. Love it.