Father Brown (TV Series) The Menace of Mephistopheles (2022) User Reviews

Old sins cast long shadows, great episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 9 January 2022]

Inspector Mallory is behaving very strangely, Sergeant Goodfellow believes he's framing an innocent man.

I perhaps enjoyed this a lot more than some of the other reviewers on here, for me this is the show at its best, it's a great story, and unlike many it's played with a straight bat, don't expect laughs (apart from the beer barrel,) it's a more serious affair. Let's be honest, who isn't glad to see Father Brown back on the box, Covid seemed to have no impact on this one.

Jack Deam, perhaps the best episode for him since he joined, he was awesome here.

It plays out like a 1950's action movie, some fun during the shootouts, good old fashioned cops and robbers.

It's great to see Alex Price back as Sid, such is the depth of character in the show, that it doesn't matter if we have Lady Felicia or Bunty, they're all wonderful.

Loved it, 9/10.

Well I liked it anyway

[boxyfella · 8/10 · 20 January 2022]

It was great to see the return of Sid, but where was Bunty? It was fairly obvious from the start why Inspector Mallory was behaving in such an underhand fashion, and I have to agree, it was the best episode for Jack Deam to date, he showed Mallory to be more than a one-dimensional cartoon character.

"What the Flaming Nora . . .?"

[irishizan · 8/10 · 6 March 2022]

Obviously from that expression, Inspector Mallory is back. I know people love to hate him. He is definately a curmudgeon. My favorite was the handsome Inspector Sullivan. If you watch the previous episode of Season 8, Ep 10 there is a funny moment when both Inspector Valentine and Inspector Sullivan are back & Mallory is mad & comments to Srgnt Goodfellow about not wanting their "chiselled chins" in his office LOL. Anyway, keeping in mind the effect Covid Restrictions had on filming, this is still a good episode.

Looking to be the best season yet!

[katherinemch · 9/10 · 17 May 2022]

I've always hated how the Inspector role is so blah. Poor guy's job is just to be grouchy about the Father constantly outshining him at his own job, and bitterly obstruct the Father's efforts to solve the cases. Over and over. No growth. Tiresome enough to watch, must be misery for the actor. But finally they wrote a script that lets him ACT! I am happy for him. And he did a great job. But it was sad that at the end he returned to being just a jerk who gets in the way, like Cinderella's ball gown going back to rags lol.

The friendship between the motley crew is touching and funny as always. I am delighted to see the chauffeur Sid back as one of the leads! Instead of just a couple guest spots a year. He is possibly my favourite character. I love how he has a scummy side but also is super honorable. I guess eventually they will explain his gig... is he still driving for the Lady, and if so why have we not seen her?

I'm on my third ep this season and they are all great. I think the writers used the hiatus to polish the scripts extra well? It is simply better, not more melodramatic or freaky or anything "shark jumpy" like that, just a better version of the usual.

The gorgeous gardens and comfy homes that create such an enjoyable atmosphere... ah how I have missed them during the pandemic! And the mysteries are interesting, the Father's wisdom uplifting. It's just such a good show all around! While some shows run out of steam after a few seasons, this one still brings their A game every time!

Never fails

[laurenburridge-03718 · 10/10 · 3 January 2022]

Love Father Brown.... Always amusing and easy to watch, great season opener, just sad Bunty was missing but lovely to see Sid back though and hoping he'll stay all season! Looking forward to the rest of the eps after such a long wait!

The Menace of Mephistopheles

[safenoe · 8/10 · 10 December 2022]

The Menace of Mephistopheles is the first episode of season 9, and it's only now that I've been able to finally watch it. Anyway, in The Menace of Mephistopheles, Inspector Mallory chews the screen big time, as we wonder if he's a corrupt copper who plants evidence to get his own way.

But there's a darker layer to this, and the ending was bit unsatisfactory about justice and whether Inspector Mallory really mended his ways for the sake of a convenient arrest and conviction.

What is in store for season 10? Perhaps introducing Danny Dyer to play Mallory's supervisor to shake things up in the village.

Distancing

[elisabethbeighton · 7/10 · 20 May 2022]

Not only is there social distancing among the cast, but emotionally there's is an element of distancing amongst the characters. The murder victim's son and daughter seem strangely indifferent to their father's death. The daughter seems unconcerned about her brother being arrested for the murder and when her new husband is revealed as a villain. The murderer, himself motivated by a miscarriage of justice, seems happy to see an innocent young man arrested for the crime and the police inspector, concerned for his abducted family, shows no sympathy for the innocent man he has framed.. That amiable and somewhat bewildered young man, in turn, is more worried about where he can get his next alcoholic drink than in his plight. At least the actor playing him adds a touch of humour.

The Menace of Mephistopheles

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 4 January 2022]

Father Brown is back after skipping a year due to lack of filming because of Covid 19.

He certainly has been missed. The first episode starts with a murder in a stately house. Inspector Mallory is seen placing a murder weapon.

Later Mallory destroys evidence and Sergeant Goodfellow is not happy that Mallory is trying to fit someone up.

Father Brown suspects there has to be a reason why Mallory is acting out of character. It seems Malloy's family has been abducted.

An intriguing opening with a race against time to save Mallory's family.

There is a cad who might has just married the dead man's daughter for her money. The arrested suspect does little to help himself. Mallory might be paying a price for once sending an innocent person to jail.

The new series sees the return of Sid Carter but no Bunty for now.

Get rid of Mallory

[southgatekid · 6/10 · 3 February 2022]

I've liked this show since the start, except for Mallory character. He is irritating, which can be a plus, but this is horrible. Nothing against the actor, but the part is poorly written and over the top. It's like a bad dream. I FF past any scene with him.

No Bunty, I'm gone...........

[girvsjoint · 3/10 · 20 March 2022]

I was hoping Father Brown would be back for a 9th season, but am devastated that my favourite character Bunty isn't in it, so that's what my low rating is for, they had a winning team with her, just won't be nearly as much fun if she's gone, which means I probably will be too?

An Unfortunate Return

[edyoung-90901 · 3/10 · 19 January 2022]

Father Brown is back. My guess is the budget for the season (at least the first couple of episodes) is about 10% what it used to be. The plot of Ep. 1 is just silly, the writing amateurish and the staging and casting is minimal. (A "pub" is a counter across a small alcove in a sitting room.) And there are hardly any extras. Finally, there's no continuity with past seasons. This felt thrown together in a most slipshod manner. It's a blot on the series' reputation.

Cheap under funded rubbish

[mike-4683 · 2/10 · 3 January 2022]

There were so many mistakes in this production that those who allowed this to be transmitted should be stood down by the BBC An insult to the actors, G. K Chesterton and any viewers over ten years old.