Something is fishy about the clubbing deaths of two local residents.Something is fishy about the clubbing deaths of two local residents.Something is fishy about the clubbing deaths of two local residents.
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJames Hazeldine died a few weeks before broadcast.
- GoofsWhen Barnaby introduces himself and Troy to Derrick Seagrove, he identifies himself as "DSI Barnaby" - DSI is Detective Superintendent, while Barnaby is a DCI, Detective Chief Inspector.
- Quotes
DCI Tom Barnaby: I couldn't help noticing the Vegetarian Society magazine. Are you a member?
Angela Goff: Yes. Why?
DCI Tom Barnaby: Just curious. I know your husband was a keen fisherman and did a bit of shooting.
Angela Goff: We had a 'live and let live' household.
DCI Tom Barnaby: You didn't eat the trout he caught then?
Angela Goff: Fish may not be the cleverest of God's creatures, but to class them as vegetables is a little unkind.
Featured review
Solid Season 6 opener, if not a favourite
Despite not being anywhere near as good now, 'Midsomer Murders' is still a show visited and re-visited with great pleasure. There are episodes better than others, with a fair share of disappointments especially in the later seasons, like with any show in existence, but when 'Midsomer Murders' was good it was good to outstanding.
"A Talent for Life" is one of the good solid episodes. At the same time it is just missing the extra missing that could have made it great or even a classic. "A Talent for Life" signalled the first time, and one of not many times, in the history of 'Midsomer Murders' where the identity of the murderer was not that surprising and easily guessable too early (personally suspected them very strongly before the halfway mark). Not necessarily due to suspects being too few, but there could have been more and the motives more imaginative than here.
The motive was also agreed not very interesting and pretty mundane and clichéd. Again agreed the show was at its best when the motives were either fresh, darker and more outlandish (though some, especially the Neil Dudgeon episodes, went too overboard on the outlandish to the point of absurdity and were convoluted at times too), here in comparison it was bland.
Didn't mind the character building and establishing the characters and such for the first twenty minutes, and it was quite interesting stuff and added a good deal to the characters, but at the same time it took a little too long to set up and get to the meat of the story.
However, as always, the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's occasional grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. 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 humour and colourful characters. Nothing felt inconsequential, everything had a point, everything intrigued and any loose ends were tied together nicely.
The story is hugely compelling, and never simplistic and never losing any of the maturity of most of the previous episodes. There is a lot going on mostly without being cluttered or rushed (remarkable for an episode that as ever is heavy in exposition), and that nothing is what it seems, or very few people are who they seem adds to the complexity, while there are no out of kilter scenes. The twists, red herrings and turns keep coming, and rarely in an obvious or press-the-rewind button. The characters are colourful, eccentric and not what they seem.
John Nettles as always is a joy as Barnaby, with Daniel Casey contrasting him with ease. Honor Blackman absolutely relishes a juicy character, while Phillip Franks is strong too.
Overall, not a favourite but a solid season opener. 7/10 Bethany Cox
"A Talent for Life" is one of the good solid episodes. At the same time it is just missing the extra missing that could have made it great or even a classic. "A Talent for Life" signalled the first time, and one of not many times, in the history of 'Midsomer Murders' where the identity of the murderer was not that surprising and easily guessable too early (personally suspected them very strongly before the halfway mark). Not necessarily due to suspects being too few, but there could have been more and the motives more imaginative than here.
The motive was also agreed not very interesting and pretty mundane and clichéd. Again agreed the show was at its best when the motives were either fresh, darker and more outlandish (though some, especially the Neil Dudgeon episodes, went too overboard on the outlandish to the point of absurdity and were convoluted at times too), here in comparison it was bland.
Didn't mind the character building and establishing the characters and such for the first twenty minutes, and it was quite interesting stuff and added a good deal to the characters, but at the same time it took a little too long to set up and get to the meat of the story.
However, as always, the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's occasional grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. 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 humour and colourful characters. Nothing felt inconsequential, everything had a point, everything intrigued and any loose ends were tied together nicely.
The story is hugely compelling, and never simplistic and never losing any of the maturity of most of the previous episodes. There is a lot going on mostly without being cluttered or rushed (remarkable for an episode that as ever is heavy in exposition), and that nothing is what it seems, or very few people are who they seem adds to the complexity, while there are no out of kilter scenes. The twists, red herrings and turns keep coming, and rarely in an obvious or press-the-rewind button. The characters are colourful, eccentric and not what they seem.
John Nettles as always is a joy as Barnaby, with Daniel Casey contrasting him with ease. Honor Blackman absolutely relishes a juicy character, while Phillip Franks is strong too.
Overall, not a favourite but a solid season opener. 7/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•58
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 15, 2017
Details
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 4:3
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content