Barnaby and Jones investigate whether competition between ornithology enthusiasts led to murder.Barnaby and Jones investigate whether competition between ornithology enthusiasts led to murder.Barnaby and Jones investigate whether competition between ornithology enthusiasts led to murder.
- Patrick Morgan
- (as Alex Hanson)
- SOCO
- (uncredited)
- Parent
- (uncredited)
- CID Officer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe final episode to be produced by Brian True-May. He had been involved as producer or executive producer of every episode until this point but left the series after he told the Radio Times that the programme "wouldn't work" if there was any racial diversity in the village life.
- GoofsThe program/brochure that was on the wall of the room of the obsessed fan misspelled "Starring" Nina which was spelled "Staring" Nina.
- Quotes
[John Barnaby is reading from a book about rare birds, in connection with the murder case]
DCI John Barnaby: "The female blue-crested hoopoe has multiple partners and attacks the male viciously in the nether regions after mating".
Sarah Barnaby: Well, that should stop them feeling frisky.
DCI John Barnaby: Ouch!
[Sarah seductively strokes John's hand]
Sarah Barnaby: Are you, uh, feeling frisky?
DCI John Barnaby: Will you attack me viciously in the nether regions afterwards?
Sarah Barnaby: Quite possibly.
DCI John Barnaby: [eagerly] You're on!
After John Nettles retired and Neil Dudgeon and the new character of John Barnaby took over, 'Midsomer Murders' just hasn't been the same for reasons detailed in reviews for the previous Season 14 episodes. Season 14 on the most part was very disappointing, with "Echoes of the Dead" and "Night of the Stag", two of the show's embarrassments, faring worst and "The Oblong Murders" and "A Sacred Trust" being good episodes faring best. "A Rare Bird" belongs in neither extreme, and is a fairly average episode overall, with some things that are done well and others that still don't work.
Starting with the good things about "A Rare Bird", the production values cannot be faulted as usual, it's beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality (don't think "Scene" from Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake' has ever been used so ominously), and the haunting theme tune is one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
The story itself is fun with a creepy atmosphere, wisely on the most part not taking itself too seriously while never descending into over-silliness. The characters are not as dull or pantomimic as most supporting characters this season which is a major plus. The denouement is pretty creepy, even if the murderer's motives were very clichéd. The supporting acting is good, with Amanda Laurence, Genevieve O'Reilly and James Dreyfuss standing out, giving their all in quite juicy roles. Sykes as always steals every scene he's in, he has the cute factor and great comic timing.
However, am also in the camp of not caring for the character of John Barnaby or Neil Dudgeon's acting in this. They're not problems in every episode, but all too often Barnaby is too smug and disdainful and Dudgeon too stiff and lacking in nuance. The chemistry between him and Jones, here a tepid underused presence and still made to look like a dolt (felt really uncomfortable when 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' was referenced), is not there and Barnaby is far too mean-spirited towards him, what could have been witty came over as condescending put-downs.
Believe it or not, there's even less chemistry between him and Fiona Dolman's Sarah. She is charmless throughout and has no warmth while one never gets the sense that they're in love let alone husband and wife, how she speaks to him which is probably where his treatment of Jones comes from is a dead give-away. Dr. Bullard has been very sorely missed since leaving in "The Oblong Murders", even more so when none of his replacements have left a positive impression. Kate is a very bland character with not much personality (Kam, the current one, is even worse though). The script sometimes is fun with the supporting characters but the dialogue between the leads makes one cringe and yearn for the classic era writing.
Overall, average episode. 5/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 4, 2017
Details
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD