This is one of my favourite episodes in the whole series old and new. But be warned, it is a self parody of the series. Midsomer murders are nearly always theatrical, but to my thinking, this set of murders would likely not all have succeeded, e.g. the opening bludgeoning with a block of, albeit hard, cheese. The episode revolves around the making of gourmet cheese.
There is also a subplot about Sykes the dog, who for some reason, is being treated for dog bites, even though it looks suspiciously as if he were never bitten. The cinematography used to reveal the mystery is brilliant. I howled.
Maggie Steed as Sylvia Mountford is a treat. I would go to anything she does for the same reason I would go see anything Maggie Smith does. She reminds me of Peter Sellers as Grand Duchess Gloriana XII in the Mouse that Roared. She is so regally disdainful in her role. She would be a natural cast for an Oscar Wilde revival.
Jesse Fox as Jake Yapley (the hooded lurker) is probably the handsomest male ever to appear on the series, old or new. He is only on screen for a total of a few minutes. So savour. He has much the effect on me that Rudolph Valentino had in his day on his fans. A glance from his eyes is like a jolt from a defibrillator. Unfortunately, there is no photo of him at IMDb yet. (hint hint). However, I doubt any photo could do him justice. I hope Acorn reuses him in future episodes with a bigger role.
Child actress Eloise Webb as Poppy Ordish seems to have walked straight out of Mary Poppins. She could play Jane Banks in a Many Poppins sequel. She is the quintessential polite British schoolchild, utterly charming with her perfect diction.
Con O'Neill is over the top as the obsessed cheese maker who reminds me a bit of Harry Dean Stanton or perhaps Norman Bates.
As usual, I kept thinking I knew the culprit, only to have them bumped off in the next scene.
The height of my trip to England was visiting the Wookey Hole caves, which too are used for ageing fine cheeses. This helped cement my affection for the episode.
Even though, at the end, the culprit(s) (no spoilers here), mysteriously confess without any motive or pressure, I was left still puzzled exactly who committed each murder and why. Perhaps another viewing...
There is also a subplot about Sykes the dog, who for some reason, is being treated for dog bites, even though it looks suspiciously as if he were never bitten. The cinematography used to reveal the mystery is brilliant. I howled.
Maggie Steed as Sylvia Mountford is a treat. I would go to anything she does for the same reason I would go see anything Maggie Smith does. She reminds me of Peter Sellers as Grand Duchess Gloriana XII in the Mouse that Roared. She is so regally disdainful in her role. She would be a natural cast for an Oscar Wilde revival.
Jesse Fox as Jake Yapley (the hooded lurker) is probably the handsomest male ever to appear on the series, old or new. He is only on screen for a total of a few minutes. So savour. He has much the effect on me that Rudolph Valentino had in his day on his fans. A glance from his eyes is like a jolt from a defibrillator. Unfortunately, there is no photo of him at IMDb yet. (hint hint). However, I doubt any photo could do him justice. I hope Acorn reuses him in future episodes with a bigger role.
Child actress Eloise Webb as Poppy Ordish seems to have walked straight out of Mary Poppins. She could play Jane Banks in a Many Poppins sequel. She is the quintessential polite British schoolchild, utterly charming with her perfect diction.
Con O'Neill is over the top as the obsessed cheese maker who reminds me a bit of Harry Dean Stanton or perhaps Norman Bates.
As usual, I kept thinking I knew the culprit, only to have them bumped off in the next scene.
The height of my trip to England was visiting the Wookey Hole caves, which too are used for ageing fine cheeses. This helped cement my affection for the episode.
Even though, at the end, the culprit(s) (no spoilers here), mysteriously confess without any motive or pressure, I was left still puzzled exactly who committed each murder and why. Perhaps another viewing...