Father Brown (TV Series) The Serpent Within (2023) User Reviews

An entertaining finale.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 12 March 2023]

Hardened thief George Kavanagh is released from prison, and instantly gets up to his old tricks, possibly setting up Inspector Sullivan in the process.

I thought this was a rather amusing end to the tenth series, not a classic, and something of a strange episode to close with, but fun and very entertaining.

A case of corruption in high places, I liked the intrigue and suspense, and of course there was the very dramatic conclusion. Good use of Sullivan and Mrs Devine, and it was nice to see a real, hardened criminal feature.

Poor Inspector Sullivan has been arrested more times than most of the criminals put together.

I was really pleased to see an announcement from Claudie Blakley that there is going to be an eleventh series, it would be nice if they brought back a few faces from the last, I truly hope that Inspector Sullivan stays on.

8/10.

What about Sgt. Goodfellow?

[wrabvideo · 8/10 · 23 July 2023]

This was a very good episode to end the 10th series. The cast changes have their pluses and minuses, but the show continues to be interesting and entertaining.

I don't know if they are using it as a cliffhanger for the eleventh series, but I feel that the situation with Sgt. Goodfellow, one of my favorite characters, was left unresolved. With Chief Inspector Sullivan choosing to stay in Kembleford, does Sgt. Goodfellow still get promoted to Inspector, or will he remain a sergeant who is dutifully loyal to his Chief Inspector, but allows Father Brown access to various pieces of evidence? I guess we will have to wait until the eleventh series to find out.

The Serpent Within

[Prismark10 · 8/10 · 4 May 2023]

It starts off with Inspector Sullivan's informant getting murdered by a ruthless burglary gang led by Kavanagh. He has done time but not forgotten his criminal ways and good looks.

Sullivan is wrong footed by Kavanagh as well as losing his informant.

Worse still when a new sergeant arrives from London, she finds stolen jewellery in his desk and his house. Now under arrest, Sullivan thinks that Kavanagh has fitted him up.

It is up to Father Brown to prove his innocence but in doing so. Mrs Devine is taken hostage by Kavanagh's gang to put pressure on Sullivan.

Father Brown ascertains that the real brains behind this scheme is not Kavanagh. It is the senior policeman who was responsible for Sullivan returning to Kembleford once again.

A good wrap up to the series which has not been quiet the best this time. Even though there were flaws to the story such as Mrs Devine having been recognised as an actress for local musicals. There was real peril for both her and Inspector Sullivan.

It was nice that corruption in the London police was touched on as well.

Excellent end to a great season!

[SunnyDaise · 10/10 · 11 March 2023]

Father Brown has handled the cast changes well and I've enjoyed this slightly new direction, as it is all in the same spirit as before. Life changes a lot for many of us, especially during the pandemic, and seeing how Father Brown overcame his sense of loss is really comforting. Sometimes loss can ultimately be a good thing as it makes space for new experiences, as we have this season with Mrs Divine and Sullivan, plus Brenda having a fresh in life too. In addition, of course, we always have returnees to Kembleford, so hope is never lost that we see our beloved former characters again and see how they interact with the new set up.

The Sullivan/Devine romance is awful

[deering24 · 11 March 2023]

I was hoping the season finale would justify this development, but it confirmed what was already apparent: Devine and Sullivan's romance is unbelievable and lacks chemistry. And by wrapping up a lot of Devine's appeal in that, the show makes her irritating and Mary-Sue as all get-out. She and Sullivan are just not compatible enough. Sullivan needs someone who will challenge him and push him out of his stiffness/occasional arrogance, not someone trailing around making puppy-eyes at him. These two don't spark writing-wise, and they sure as hell don't spark chemistry-wise. A really good romance makes you interested in what the lovers bring out in each other--and makes you want to see them together. That is decidedly not happening here--does anyone really want to see Sullivan settle down in tedious village domesticity? And it doesn't do Devine's character any favors either--it's like she was designed to appeal to FB fans that the writers think are married cat-ladies or something. :P I seriously hope the show pairs both of them off with someone else.

Why all the season 10 hate?

[WhodunnitJB · 10/10 · 15 August 2023]

It took me a while to start watching season 10. I was very sad Sid, Bunty, and Mrs. M weren't going to be part of the season at all.

Thankfully, adding these new characters also shook up the Father Brown formula. I thought that was really wonderful. If it had stayed the way it was, the loss of those beloved characters would've overshadowed the season.

I laughed more this season than any other. I really enjoyed this infatuation between Mrs. Devine and Inspector Sullivan.

Brenda is wonderful. This character adds so much depth to the show, and Mrs. Devine adds a lighthearted sense of adventure in ways we haven't seen in previous seasons.

I liked how different things were this season. I rewatched all of Father Brown before I got to season 10. I thought it was fresh, interesting, and just delightful.

On to Season Eleven!!

[FridayGal · 9/10 · 28 July 2023]

I enjoyed this last episode for the end of a good season. I was a bit surprised by who the criminal "boss" really was, but thought it was an interesting way to link two plot lines. I will admit that after all of Inspector Sullivan's hopes and plans to escape Kembleford, it seems too easy for him to decide to stay. Capturing the bent copper in his past - a great evil character portrayed by Jonny Phillips - I didn't think Sullivan was given time to realize that what motivated his return to London had been replaced by a different motivation to stay. I also wondered about Sergeant Goodfellow's future and was curious about the missing presence of Mrs Goodfellow - not with him at church nor a celebration of his promotion?

Painful end to an awful season

[info-51826 · 1/10 · 15 December 2023]

Bad casting, bad acting, and bad writing summarize this season.

Claudie Blakley and. Ruby-May Martinwood may be decent actors, but both are woefully miscast in this program and their characters very poorly written. Martinwood's character is particularly bad with her overacting and silly accent poorly done making her all but unwatchable.

Blakley's character just does not fit as a member of Father Brown's "team" and the forced no-chemistry-at-all budding romance with Tom Chambers' Chief Inspector Sullivan is just cringe-worthy.

Speaking of Chambers, his return is a welcome improvement over (speaking of overacting) Jack Deam's Inspector Mallory. This stands out as the one re-casting bright spot of the season.

However, on balance, Father Brown has now become nearly unwatchable. Either the writing/character development need to SIGNIFICANTLY improve WRT Martinwood and Blakely, or the new cast members need to be ditched. If neither is done, I may be done with Father Brown. And, that would be sad.

Bad acting is bad acting regardless

[labenji-12163 · 3/10 · 12 July 2023]

I just had to write a review to counter one reviewers audacity to suggest just because one points out someone's lack of acting ability makes them racists. As an AA female, I think Brenda needs to go, quickly. She can't act, and her fascial expressions make her come across as mentally challenged. What's racist, is just hiring someone for to check a box, rather than for their skills. This show has had other female of color before and each one (Sid's last girlfriend, Flambeau's wife, and the voodoo priest's girlfriend), there were 1 or 2 others, but these ladies had skill and talent, the actress that plays Brenda is just a hack, and her skin color is not an issue.

Terrible finale, awful season, very little to like...

[Jordan76958696 · 1/10 · 18 December 2023]

This episode was so full of plot holes and stupid character behavior it was insulting. Why did Father Brown think no one would recognize Devine, who is an actress in the local small-village theater group? Really?

But the whole season was loaded with poor mysteries, weak plotting, and cringe-worthy new characters. Brenda and Devine are so hard to watch it's agonizing. They don't bring nearly enough to the show to justify being so irritating and unbelievable. (And poor Father Brown often looks as if he wished he was anywhere but here dealing with them.) The writers think telling us that these two are cute, smart, and fun automatically makes them that way. Sorry, no. And as replacements for the former excellent cast . . . Forget it.

Not worth watching anymore unless major changes are made...

Season 11 episode 3

[tinarennett-80202 · 1/10 · 30 January 2024]

Episodes 1 and 2 were bad but episode 3 proves me wrong because it's worse, what a huge disappointment. From storylines to acting and directing it's pathetic if this is going to actually make it to the 10th episode of season 11 those involved need to swap out everyone except the leading actors and come up with something worth watching once again right now it's so a awful it makes a person wonder if they're just bored and hoping they don't have to complete their contracts and just get paid off and on their way. Faithful fans like me deserve better than this it's as if everyone is sedated told to ad lib and never acted in their lives.

Appalling end to a very weak season.

[rosey-14 · 3/10 · 26 January 2023]

Unfortunately this episode ended a very poor series, what a shame for one of my favourite programmes.

This episode was full of ridiculous cliches and plot holes. How ridiculous to end the season on this episode. The characters were comedy portrayals of people, poorly written and developed. This series had potential with the removal of Jack Dean's poorly acted character and the return of Tom Fletcher, unfortunately due to the dreadful scripts and storylines, this series was the worst ever, what a shame to see the demise of a once perfectly decent programme. If there is to be a series 11, get rid of Brenda (poorly acted) better scripts,, better plots and far better wigs!

I no longer watch this show

[refbumrulz · 2/10 · 30 December 2023]

I no longer watch this show. You would tune in and get settled down with Mrs. McCarthy, Bunty and others to see they all left in season 10?

Season 10. I skipped shows to see if I could get into it and I just could not. The two female characters they hired could not have been worse picks.

That dipsy girl brings nothing. That hair brained woman is all over the place. This show isn't for me anymore. It's not the same by any means or standards.

Sorcha Cusack was bigoted, nosy and a real gossip but she was a real character and you took her as what she was worth when watching. It made the show enjoyable.

Now it has gone down hill to the point I just don't watch anymore.

Not a very good season

[WhiteTigerRedPhoenix · 3/10 · 2 February 2023]

I was delighted to learn Mrs McCarthy and the horrid inspector left the show, and even more delighted to see Tom Chambers back. However, Father Brown's new housekeeper is absolutely terrible. Half the time she looks stupid, and when she opens her mouth, things get even worse. The only good thing to this series was Claudie Blakley's Mrs Devine. I can't shake the impression that they tried to squeeze Bunty, Lady Felicia and Mrs McCarthy into those two characters and it doesn't work. Please get rid of Brenda the housekeeper. Let her go have fun to London.

The story lines of this season aren't very good either. The love story between Mrs Devine and the Inspector is painfully predictable.

Shame. This show used to be so good. I wish Nancy Carroll would return on a permanent basis.

Unfunny, dark, heavy episode - violated a working formula

[snootusmaximus · 4/10 · 6 August 2023]

For some reason, the writer(s) changed the working formula of their usual, lighthearted, fun-to-watch episodes into a heavy, dark episode that was not fun to watch.

Whether it was a different set of writers or just to try to gain viewership, I can't tell, but this isn't the Father Brown I have enjoyed for 9.9 seasons.

Bad writing, giant plot holes, asinine and needlessly vitriolic characters all made for an unenjoyable episode. Where in previous episodes, Father Brown plays a major role, with a lighthearted, intelligent acumen, in this episode, he's been given a smaller, almost useless role.

I hope this isn't going to be the norm in season 11... otherwise this is another series I'll have to jettison.

This episode perfectly describe the 10th series

[yohiyoc · 3/10 · 10 August 2023]

This episode perfectly describe the 10th series. Beginning had some promise, but that wasn't enough.

Acting was a bit poorer than usually.

Script was full of plot holes and cliches. The premise was implausible. Episode was also too similar to one series 3 episode, except this one made far less sense.

Direction was well below the average of whole show and this series, definitely worst of 10th.

It seemed that no one in crew anymore wanted to make this show, and just wanted to get get something scraped together as fast as possible.

Sad end for sad series. Hopefully 11th will be better, and this was the rock bottom of the show.

The Show Just Gets Worse

[jethrojohn · 2/10 · 29 June 2023]

Jeez. I thought Mrs McCarthy was bad...

But Mrs Devine is so unbearably stupid that it gets right on my nerves. She acts ESPECIALLY dumb here.

Once again, she decides to "disguise herself" to infiltrate the criminal lair. And once again, it falls apart as soon as she gets in costume. Brenda has to save her stupid butt once again, as she gets captured immediately.

And to see people complaining about Brenda? Excuse me, your racism is showing. Brenda is awesome.

But this is as bad as every other episode of this show at this point. The writers obviously have a template to work from.

Crime is committed. Wrong person is arrested on very little evidence. Father Brown talks to them multiple times so that they can reuse the jailhouse set over and over, and inevitably, Father Brown solves the case. I swear I know that jail cell more than I know my own house at this point.

The acting gets worse with each consecutive episode. The female copper in this one was obviously told to "look shady" when she walked on-screen, so it is no surprise when she does something shifty. I discovered that it is only her second acting credit, so she deserves some leeway.

The rest of the acting is panto levels of silly. I feel like yelling "he's behind you" half the time. The mystery here isn't much of one, either. Also, Panto levels.

I have to say, the actors can't be entirely blamed, because the scripts are so atrociously written. I assume some kind of writing mill with writers all in a room typing away to come up with 10 scripts over a weekend. Booze is probably involved. Copious amounts of it.