The eighth season of "Midsomer Murders" has been indeed up and down. "Things That Go Bump in the Night" was decent at best, "Dead in the Water" sadly mediocre, "Orchis Fatalis", "Bantling Boy" and especially "Hidden Depths" being great. "Second Sight" was really a bore, "Sauce for the Goose" being solid, though nothing to write home about. "Midsomer Rhapsody" unfortunately continues the average "Midsomer Murders" line. It's not an awful episode, but not interesting at all.
Let's start with good, shall we?
. The production values of the episode are usually wonderful. "Midsomer Rhapsody's" well shot and good-looking episode as most "Midsomer Murders" entries are. The music is just wonderful and agreed very moving, especially at the end. The acting's fine too. David Burke does well in particular.
. There are some humorous moments in the story and intrigue, which for me was compelling. There's some atmospheric scenes in the episode and the murder of Harvey Crane is gruesome indeed.
But...
. "Midsomer Rhapsody" does get very melodramatic at some point and it does not feel like a murder mystery. The story is agreed a combination of lost family members (daughter, father, grandfather) coming together, which takes too much of the narrative.
. I can also understand why some people might call the story confusing, because the are many relationships that need exploring and screen-time. There are more confusing episodes in "Midsomer..". Like "Death by Persuasion", "The Curse of the Ninth", but "Midsomer Rhapsody" does not go far behind.
. The script gets lazy towards the end as well. How our sleuth works out the solution was agreed coincidental. Barnaby just happens to be in the right place in the right time, which for me is not a strong detective work.
Overall, a very soap-opera- like and not compelling "Midsomer Murders".
5/10 HK
Let's start with good, shall we?
. The production values of the episode are usually wonderful. "Midsomer Rhapsody's" well shot and good-looking episode as most "Midsomer Murders" entries are. The music is just wonderful and agreed very moving, especially at the end. The acting's fine too. David Burke does well in particular.
. There are some humorous moments in the story and intrigue, which for me was compelling. There's some atmospheric scenes in the episode and the murder of Harvey Crane is gruesome indeed.
But...
. "Midsomer Rhapsody" does get very melodramatic at some point and it does not feel like a murder mystery. The story is agreed a combination of lost family members (daughter, father, grandfather) coming together, which takes too much of the narrative.
. I can also understand why some people might call the story confusing, because the are many relationships that need exploring and screen-time. There are more confusing episodes in "Midsomer..". Like "Death by Persuasion", "The Curse of the Ninth", but "Midsomer Rhapsody" does not go far behind.
. The script gets lazy towards the end as well. How our sleuth works out the solution was agreed coincidental. Barnaby just happens to be in the right place in the right time, which for me is not a strong detective work.
Overall, a very soap-opera- like and not compelling "Midsomer Murders".
5/10 HK