As has been said by me a number of times, 'Midsomer Murders' is one of my most watched and most re-watched shows. It is nowhere near as good now and the Tom Barnaby-era wasn't alien to average or less episodes, but when it was on form or at its best boy was it good.
Season 12 got off to a decent start with "The Dogleg Murders", and this promising standard continues with "The Black Book". "The Black Book" is not a 'Midsomer Murders' classic like ("The Killings at Badgers Drift", "Written in Blood", "Death's Shadow", "Dead Man's Eleven", "Judgement Day", "Ring Out Your Dead", "The Green Man", "Hidden Depths" and "The House in the Woods". It's also not one of the worst like "Second Sight", "Shot at Dawn", "The Electric Vendetta", "Blood on the Saddle" and "Night of the Stag" (remember disliking "Incident at Cooper's Hill" too).
"The Black Book" does suffer somewhat from too much padding, enough of it drawn out enough to make some of the pacing drag badly, and while most of the exposition is revealing and interesting not all of it is necessary. The killer's motives are agreed rather mundane, the motives for some episodes did become quite toned down in later seasons, and will probably the first person to feel that the killer's identity was not that much of a surprise due to a couple of foreshadowing moments (like at the auction).
However, the production values as always are just great, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
There are some thoughtful and humorous moments in the script, which is generally well structured and crafted with a great balance of humour and drama. The supporting characters are pretty good. The story has enough twists and turns, that keep coming even at the end, to make it absorbing. The intricacy of the atmosphere was nice on the most part and things don't get too confused thankfully.
John Nettles and Jason Hughes are both superb, individually and together (their chemistry, and the chemistry with Daniel Casey and John Hopkins before Hughes, being a huge part of their episodes' charm). Can't fault the supporting cast either, particularly Susannah Harker.
Overall, another decent episode to Season 12. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Season 12 got off to a decent start with "The Dogleg Murders", and this promising standard continues with "The Black Book". "The Black Book" is not a 'Midsomer Murders' classic like ("The Killings at Badgers Drift", "Written in Blood", "Death's Shadow", "Dead Man's Eleven", "Judgement Day", "Ring Out Your Dead", "The Green Man", "Hidden Depths" and "The House in the Woods". It's also not one of the worst like "Second Sight", "Shot at Dawn", "The Electric Vendetta", "Blood on the Saddle" and "Night of the Stag" (remember disliking "Incident at Cooper's Hill" too).
"The Black Book" does suffer somewhat from too much padding, enough of it drawn out enough to make some of the pacing drag badly, and while most of the exposition is revealing and interesting not all of it is necessary. The killer's motives are agreed rather mundane, the motives for some episodes did become quite toned down in later seasons, and will probably the first person to feel that the killer's identity was not that much of a surprise due to a couple of foreshadowing moments (like at the auction).
However, the production values as always are just great, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
There are some thoughtful and humorous moments in the script, which is generally well structured and crafted with a great balance of humour and drama. The supporting characters are pretty good. The story has enough twists and turns, that keep coming even at the end, to make it absorbing. The intricacy of the atmosphere was nice on the most part and things don't get too confused thankfully.
John Nettles and Jason Hughes are both superb, individually and together (their chemistry, and the chemistry with Daniel Casey and John Hopkins before Hughes, being a huge part of their episodes' charm). Can't fault the supporting cast either, particularly Susannah Harker.
Overall, another decent episode to Season 12. 7/10 Bethany Cox