"Midsomer Murders" The Fisher King (2004)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Richard Holthouse

Writers:

Isabelle Grey (screenplay)
Caroline Graham (characters)

TV Series:

"Midsomer Murders" (1997)

Original Air Date:

11 January 2004 (Season 7, Episode 3)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Long-suppressed family secrets, stolen ancient artifacts, and a thirty year old death at a Celtic burial site result in a series of murders in present day Midsomer.

Plot Keywords:

Spear | Celtic | Midsomer | Burial Site | Chalice

Cast

John Nettles	...	DCI Tom Barnaby
John Hopkins	...	Sergeant Dan Scott
Jane Wymark	...	Joyce Barnaby
Malcolm Tierney	...	Per Hansen
Lynda Bellingham	...	Jane Willows
Jim Carter	...	Nathan Green
Diana Kent	...	Anne Heldman
Nicholas Rowe	...	David Heartley-Reade
Rebecca Saire	...	Miriam Heartley-Reade
Susannah Doyle	...	Vanessa Stone
Terrence Hardiman	...	Dr James Lavery
Nick Barber	...	Harry Green
Henry Ian Cusick	...	Gareth Heldman
Tim Treloar	...	Uniformed Police Officer

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Great Haseley, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Quotes:

[first lines]
Miriam Heartley-Reade: Excuse me. Hello, Vanessa.
Vanessa Stone: Miriam. OK?
Miriam Heartley-Reade: Yeah.
Vanessa Stone: Sure?
Miriam Heartley-Reade: Yes. D'you want to come and have a drink?

Complicated Midsomer Murders.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Midsomer Murders: The Fisher King starts late one night at an archaeological dig called the Midsomer Barrow during 1970, a young Nathan Green steals a ceremonial spear from the site & also witnesses the murder of a Roger Heldman... Jump forward 30 odd years later & the Midsomer Barrow is now a site of historic interest that David Heartley-Reade (Nicholas Rowe) has written a book about based on his late father's diary who initially discovered the site back in 1970 & is organising a 'Solstice Festival' at the Barrow. However DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) & Sgt. Dan Scott (John Hopkins) are called in when a local resident named Garteh Heldman (Henry Ian Cusick), son of Roger, is found brutally stabbed to death with the stolen spear which is planted at David's house but used to be owned by Harry Green (Nick Barber) son of Nathan (Jim Carter). Barnaby is convinced the death of Roger & his son Gareth are connected & he discovers plenty of dark family secrets as he begins to do some digging of his own...

Episode 3 from season 7 this Midsomers Murders mystery was directed by Richard Holthouse & is a decent one but maybe a little bit too complicated for it's own good. The script by Isabelle Grey has all the usual intrigue, mystery & murder but there are constant flashbacks to 1970 which start to become confusing as all the character's just sort of blur & since these flashbacks are also told from a mystery whodunit point of view it becomes a bit difficult to concentrate on the present day murder mystery & this one from 30 years ago as they involve some of the same people. When the killer is eventually revealed I had to keep trying to remind myself of the part he played in the flashbacks during 1970 & why they wanted to kill these people, then there's the oddball fact that almost every character in the thing has some connection to Roger & it transpires that he fathered virtually the entire cast! It just felt a bit silly after the fourth time it is shockingly revealed that someone is in fact his illegitimate son/daughter, it felt like he fathered the entire village! The motive for murder isn't great but it's still an engaging enough mystery that could have done with a couple less character's & a slightly clearer plot, at least it's not predictable though. At almost two hours in length The Fisher King demands total concentration because if you miss any of it or don't get it in anyway it'll be even more confusing & make zero sense, that in itself may put some off as it's very exposition heavy. The Fisher King is also the episode in which the famous conversation between Scott & Barnaby takes place where Scott says 'Is the body count always this high around here?' & Barnaby replies 'It has remarked upon', very ironic.

This looks as nice as it usually does with a nice period English mill which in reality was Mapledurum Mill in Berkshire. There are four murders in this story including someone buried under some rocks, a vicious stabbing, a drowning & someone being shot with an arrow. The production values are as high as usual & it's very well made as a contrast to most British TV. The acting is strong from all involved.

The Fisher King is a Midsomer Murders episode that delves into the murky goings on surrounding archaeology & is a little bit too complicated for it's own good, I still liked it it anyway but I can see it losing a few people before it's end.