Ranking the Season 7 episodes, "Ghosts of Christmas Past" for me is the second best of the season. The best being "The Green Man", and, despite the contrived final solution of "Sins of Commission", the only stinker being "The Straw Woman".
"Ghosts of Christmas Past" is a slow burner compared to most 'Midsomer Murders episodes before it and is not as eventful in terms of plot. The story is still interesting, there is a great and mystery seasonal atmosphere and the twists and turns great, but a few of the early parts drag a little.
It is another episode too to try to make the killer a sympathetic one, something that was attempted in the endings "Blue Herrings", "Destroying Angel" and "Sins of Commission" before and unsuccessfully due to the nature of the killings primarily. "Ghosts of Christmas Past" does fare better than those two, because the story that led to the killings is a truly tragic one but it was just too many murders (and a nail biting attempted one) and in too brutal and calculating methods that stopped it being successful in this regard.
However, the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's darkness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. Love the house, like a character of its own. 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 quirky humour (especially the Barnaby's in-laws subplot), a suitable dark grimness and good characters, Howard and Jennifer being the most interesting supporting characters. The story is compelling, and never simplistic and never losing any of the maturity of most of the previous episodes. The twists and turns are executed in classic 'Midsomer Murders' fashion, and the identity of the perpetrator was a surprise with the final solution explained well. The ending with Barnaby was terrific.
Acting is very good, John Nettles is a joy as is John Hopkins and their spirited chemistry together and Jane Wymark. In support, Rory Copus makes the most of some truly enjoyable scenes, Haydn Gwynne is suitably beastly, Margery Mason suitably vulnerable and Bruce Alexander shows a different side to his acting than as Superintendent Mullet in 'A Touch of Frost' (another favourite of mine).
Concluding this review, not quite a classic but a Christmas cracker and one of the season's better episodes. 9/10 Bethany Cox
"Ghosts of Christmas Past" is a slow burner compared to most 'Midsomer Murders episodes before it and is not as eventful in terms of plot. The story is still interesting, there is a great and mystery seasonal atmosphere and the twists and turns great, but a few of the early parts drag a little.
It is another episode too to try to make the killer a sympathetic one, something that was attempted in the endings "Blue Herrings", "Destroying Angel" and "Sins of Commission" before and unsuccessfully due to the nature of the killings primarily. "Ghosts of Christmas Past" does fare better than those two, because the story that led to the killings is a truly tragic one but it was just too many murders (and a nail biting attempted one) and in too brutal and calculating methods that stopped it being successful in this regard.
However, the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's darkness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. Love the house, like a character of its own. 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 quirky humour (especially the Barnaby's in-laws subplot), a suitable dark grimness and good characters, Howard and Jennifer being the most interesting supporting characters. The story is compelling, and never simplistic and never losing any of the maturity of most of the previous episodes. The twists and turns are executed in classic 'Midsomer Murders' fashion, and the identity of the perpetrator was a surprise with the final solution explained well. The ending with Barnaby was terrific.
Acting is very good, John Nettles is a joy as is John Hopkins and their spirited chemistry together and Jane Wymark. In support, Rory Copus makes the most of some truly enjoyable scenes, Haydn Gwynne is suitably beastly, Margery Mason suitably vulnerable and Bruce Alexander shows a different side to his acting than as Superintendent Mullet in 'A Touch of Frost' (another favourite of mine).
Concluding this review, not quite a classic but a Christmas cracker and one of the season's better episodes. 9/10 Bethany Cox