Midsomer Murders (TV Series) A Talent for Life (2003) User Reviews

problems with fishing lures

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 18 July 2014]

In the Midsomer village of Malham Bridge, outside the meeting of Midsomer Flyfishers Association, Margaret, the wife of the secretary accuses Isobel Hewitt (Honor Blackman) of using weighted lures. The argument escalates, ending in Isobel slapping Margaret.

Margaret files charges, which brings Barnaby and Troy to the village. Isobel, an older, vital woman, goes for a drive with a doctor, Duncan Goff in a jaguar. Later, they are both found murdered, beaten with a stake from a fence.

The detective team learns quickly that people weren't crazy about either Isobel or the doctor for different reasons, be it the doctor's womanizing with married women, or weighted lures, or something else.

Good mystery with an assortment of suspects, including relatives of Isobel's who actually owned her home, a friend who helped her financially occasionally, Margaret (she who was slapped)...but then, the use of weighted lures and a fight don't seem like motives for a bludgeoning murder. And who was the intended victim? Gorgeous settings, with Barnaby's family, Joyce and Cully, making an appearance. I really love this series. This is a good, if not great episode -- but it's been running for so many years, they can't all be great.

We're going to miss Dear Isobel rather badly.... Not wrong there.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 28 February 2019]

A Talent for life isn't a particular favourite, but it's a good episode nonetheless. From my part I like the formula, we get a good twenty minutes of character development, but sadly once they kill off Isobel Hewitt, it loses a little interest. Honor Blackman really is the show stealer, and a massively interesting character, a pity she didn't last a bit longer.

The episode does suffer a little from pacing, but the story is a good one, and as always the production values are spot on, it truly does look excellent.

Susan Woolridge and Jeff Rawle are very good, Suzanne Burden is given a bit of a flat character with Rebecca, she would be much better served in the episode The Great and the good, where she'd return as the memorable Zukie Richardson.

The dynamic between Barnaby and Troy is a little different, a bit warmer. They were a terrific team.

The conclusion comes as somehow of a surprise, but it's interesting enough.

Not classic, but watchable. 7/10

Fishing for Trouble

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 29 February 2016]

This is an episode where a false view of a relationship is at the center of the story. An elderly woman, who is filled with life, is admired by many is murdered with an adventurous friend. There are the usual interrelated affairs and suspicions. There is a cover up attempt where a man is frozen to death in his walk in freezer. He has been in his wife's face because she had had a couple meeting with a man, seen as an affair. As is usually the case, the townspeople are suspicious and rumor mongering. Also, there is a fishing club that would seem benign but, in reality, it is the center of everything. Anyway, this is one of those episodes that twists and pulls at our imaginations.

Dialogue Alone is Priceless

[Johnny_West · 8/10 · 19 June 2022]

I never expect Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) from Midsomer Murders, and I am rarely disapointed. I enjoy the dialogue between the town characters that are the guest stars of each episode. Some of the discussions are incredibly entertaining.

The rapport between John Nettles, his wife Jane Wymark, his daughter Cully (Laura Howard), and especially Gavin (Daniel Casey), is usually worth watching every episode. Casey has a classic remark about all the "wrinklies going at it" and whether the elderly could be suspected due to adultery.

John Nettles is great at delivering his lines to suspects, especially the arrogant, the wealthy, the upper-class, and those who think he is just a dumb copper. He is humble and yet you can see what he is thinking, and that is pretty cool. Nettles expressions do the acting!

Honor Blackman (of James Bond fame) is the top guest star, and she naturally gets a lot of screen time. Her antagonistic niece-in-law is played by Suzanne Burden, who disparages her aunt, and wants to save money at her wake by serving Doritos. Really priceless characterization.

Other good acting came from James Hazeldine as the instigator returning to live in town, and John Warnaby as the insecure Husband. Philip Franks (Quentin Roka) does an excellent turn as the great friend who saved the life of Honor Blackman when she was sick, and suffering from depression.

Classic

[Schweizer85 · 10/10 · 3 May 2021]

Loved the storyline of the fridge incident and how Barnaby and Troy worked it out together, especially the clincher which was that the light was off rather than on, I don't think we've ever seen a murder as a decoy in any other episode, so so clever.

Quentin was an utterly detestable character, glad to see they nailed him in the end.

As always, stunning houses used for filming, this episode is definitely in the top five.

"There's nothing to say murderers have to be members of Mensa, sir." Another Midsomer murder...

[poolandrews · 6/10 · 8 July 2007]

Midsomer Murders: A Talent for Life is set in the Midsomer village of Malham Bridge where a scandal is tearing the local fly-fishing association apart, it seems someone might be using weighted lures! Margaret Seagrove (Susan Wooldridge) the wife of Midsomer Flyfishers association club secretary Derrick (Jeff Rawle) accuses Isobel Hewitt (Honor Blackman) & they have an argument in which Isobel slaps Margaret. DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) & Sgt. Troy (Daniel Casey) investigate an assault complaint made by Maragret but things become much more serious when the bodies of Isobel & a local womanising doctor named Duncan Goff (Richard Durden) are discovered beaten to death with a fence stake, they now have a double murder on their hands. As they begin to investigate Barnaby & Troy uncover lots of resentment in the village towards both victims...

Episode 1 from season 6 this Midsomer Murders mystery was directed by Sarah Hellings & is another great whodunit. The script by David Hoskins is one of those stories where it takes about twenty minutes before a murder happens & spends time on building up the character's including the victims, while this obviously slows things down a bit the writing & acting is so good I don't usually mind. I wouldn't call A Talent for Life a true Midsomer Murders classic as I personally like the stories which have dark sinister over-the-top motives for the crimes committed like lesbian lovers, teenage kids murdering for kicks or homicidal butler's upholding a schools tradition while A Talent for Life has a rather mundane & forgettable motive although it still works very well. There isn't quite the number of suspects I would have liked either & the motive given to some of them are flimsy to say the least, I also have to say at this point that I actually guessed who the killer was & that doesn't usually happen. A good solid & absorbing murder mystery but it perhaps lacks a little something extra, something dark & something that would make this stand out just that bit more.

As usual the English countryside takes center stage here with more beautiful locations nicely shot, the cricket pavilion from the previous Midsomer Murders story Dead Man's Eleven (1999) from season 1 was actually used as Quentin's antique shop in this. Shabbington in Oxfordshire was used for the pub & river scenes. This episode isn't particularly violent despite three murders, a few dead & bloodied bodies are seen but that's it. The production values are high as usual & it's very well made, the acting is top notch as always with Honor Blackman & Philip Franks making guest appearances.

A Talent for Life is a decent way to kick off season 6, it's not quite a classic Midsomer Murders as far as I'm concerned but it's still a highly watchable & entertaining murder mystery that is a must for all armchair detectives everywhere.

Enjoyable, but not of the best episodes.

[harrykivi · 6/10 · 5 March 2020]

I've always loved "Midsomer murders", especially when Tom Barnaby was around (that would be 1-13 seasons), but after John Nettles left, the show has not been the same. The 5th season was pretty strong throughout. ( In my opinion only not very good episode being "Market for murder"). The sixth season however starts of quite decent with "A talent for life".

Let's go through the positives first:

. The production values are usually great with smooth direction by Sarah Hellings and wonderful music in the background.

. When the story of this episode gets on track, it is very interesting. Twists, turns, red herrings are well present here as is charming humor.

. The cast's also nice. Honor Blackman in particular has a juicy character to play and she does it with ease. Philip Franks was quite good too.

. There are some clever ideas spread out in the story. Especially liked the thought of Gavin Troy almost solving the case.

But...

. The solution is indeed disappointing with kind of obvious murderer and dull motives, which could have been much more compelling. I would go that far and name it underdeveloped.

. It would have been nice if the main suspects had a lot more in them. For example: the fishing plot line, which many characters are part of does feel bit mundane for its own good.

. The biggest problem however is the pacing. I am not one of these people who do not appreciate character building, but in this case the story does take too much time to settle down and get compelling. Mainly because of unfocused storytelling.

Overall fine, but not great "Midsomer murders"

6/10 HK

Solid Season 6 opener, if not a favourite

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 15 January 2017]

Despite not being anywhere near as good now, 'Midsomer Murders' is still a show visited and re-visited with great pleasure. There are episodes better than others, with a fair share of disappointments especially in the later seasons, like with any show in existence, but when 'Midsomer Murders' was good it was good to outstanding.

"A Talent for Life" is one of the good solid episodes. At the same time it is just missing the extra missing that could have made it great or even a classic. "A Talent for Life" signalled the first time, and one of not many times, in the history of 'Midsomer Murders' where the identity of the murderer was not that surprising and easily guessable too early (personally suspected them very strongly before the halfway mark). Not necessarily due to suspects being too few, but there could have been more and the motives more imaginative than here.

The motive was also agreed not very interesting and pretty mundane and clichéd. Again agreed the show was at its best when the motives were either fresh, darker and more outlandish (though some, especially the Neil Dudgeon episodes, went too overboard on the outlandish to the point of absurdity and were convoluted at times too), here in comparison it was bland.

Didn't mind the character building and establishing the characters and such for the first twenty minutes, and it was quite interesting stuff and added a good deal to the characters, but at the same time it took a little too long to set up and get to the meat of the story.

However, as always, the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's occasional grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.

Meanwhile, the script is smart and thought-provoking with some nice humour and colourful characters. Nothing felt inconsequential, everything had a point, everything intrigued and any loose ends were tied together nicely.

The story is hugely compelling, and never simplistic and never losing any of the maturity of most of the previous episodes. There is a lot going on mostly without being cluttered or rushed (remarkable for an episode that as ever is heavy in exposition), and that nothing is what it seems, or very few people are who they seem adds to the complexity, while there are no out of kilter scenes. The twists, red herrings and turns keep coming, and rarely in an obvious or press-the-rewind button. The characters are colourful, eccentric and not what they seem.

John Nettles as always is a joy as Barnaby, with Daniel Casey contrasting him with ease. Honor Blackman absolutely relishes a juicy character, while Phillip Franks is strong too.

Overall, not a favourite but a solid season opener. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Isobel Hewitt and a talent for life

[hossychristie · 6/10 · 11 September 2023]

"A Talent For Life" takes place in the Midsomer village of Malham Bridge and the story starts when Isobel Hewitt slaps Margaret Seagrove in the face. Margaret wants to press charges and Barnaby and Troy come along to have a word. Isobel Hewitt brags about her slap against Mrs Seagrove and as she talks with her nephew, Melrose Plunkett and his wife Rebecca, they inform Isobel that they can not carrying on paying off her overdraft. Shortly after, Isobel Hewitt and Duncan Goff are found murdered by the river.

"A Talent For Life" is a decent start of series six of Midsomer Murders. The episode is not that interesting to be honest, and it takes a bit of time before the two murders of Isobel Hewitt and Duncan Goff happen. Quentin Roca turning out to be the murderer was not a huge surprise and quite obvious from the start. His motive for killing Isobel Hewitt is rather bad and Duncan Goff was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. "A Talent For Life" is also that kind of episode that lacks more dark and intriguing scenes. I also would have liked to see some other suspects with more credible motives for killing Isobel and Duncan.

Littlewick Green was once again used as a filming location, a location I loved in the "Dead Man's Eleven" classic episode from series two. Honor Blackman was wonderful in the role of Isobel Hewitt, even though she was just on the screen for about twenty minutes. Richard Durden was likeable as Duncan Goff, while James Hazeldine and Amanda Root played their parts wonderfully.

"A Talent For Life" is a decent start to series six of Midsomer Murders. The episode is indeed watchable, but could have been a lot more intriguing. 6/10 Hossy Christie.