Midsomer Murders (TV Series) The Killings of Copenhagen (2014) User Reviews

A quality 100th episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 7 October 2018]

This episode is a great concoction, we get the killings of Midsomer, we very everyday village life, tinned biscuits, affairs etc, and we get the in vogue Scandinavian genre 'crime noir.'

You would think the clash in styles would make for a messy episode, but it's actually a brilliant one, plaudits to all concerned for being brave enough to do something different.

A clever plot that could have easily belonged to an earlier season, it's smart, slick, visual and cleverly crafted. Full of suspense it features some nice moments, and some welxome humour. A very strong one for Dudgeon, I especially liked Joanna Scanlon, she was great.

Loved it, 9/10

A great 100th episode

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 12 February 2014]

This, the one hundredth episode of 'Midsomer Murders' opens far from the series' usual setting; in Copenhagen. An English business man receives a package containing an empty biscuit tin and moments later he collapses and dies. It turns out the man was from the Midsomer area so the Danish police contact Barnaby and he starts to investigate. It turns out the man owned a local biscuit manufacturer and had been involved with setting up a business deal with a Danish company. It isn't long before the various suspects and motives begin to appear; the man's brother was having an affair with his wife, the man who created the company's most successful biscuit who expected to take over the factory and an antiques dealer who has a mysterious box seem the most obvious but this being Midsomer that makes them more likely to be future victims than the killer! Indeed one of them is soon murdered and his body turns up in a consignment sent to Denmark. Barnaby and Nelson fly out and work with a pair of attractive female Danish officers; uncovering more secrets about the dead men in the process. They then return to Midsomer and solve the crime… and more importantly for Barnaby to be with his wife when his child is born!

I had feared that attempts to make the 100th episode special would end up taking away the things that make Midsomer so much fun; thankfully I need not have worried; this was a fine episode; plenty of unusual murders; lots of suspects and motives and a cast that featured plenty of well-known actors… even most of the Danes will be familiar to fans of BBC4's Saturday night Euro-dramas: Birgitte Hjort Sørensen and Julie Agnete Vang from 'Borgen' and Eleonora Jorgensen from 'The Killing'. As is usual both regular and guest cast put in solid performances. This being Midsomer the story isn't only entertaining because of the mystery it is also pretty funny… certainly more light-hearted than the murder mysteries we usually see that feature Denmark! Overall I think fans of the series should this episode, I certainly did.

The 100th and good "Midsomer Murders"

[harrykivi · 7/10 · 18 January 2020]

"Midsomer Murders" has been one of my favorite shows and it was so nice to see the 100th episode of this long running series. "The Killings of Copenhagen" is a solid finale to the 16th season, but could have been a lot better.

Let's get through the good stuff first, shall we?

. The production values are usually great with wonderful direction by Alex Pillai and wonderful scenery.

. The story here has many sinister things going on and twists and turns keep coming.

. Copenhagen is a beautiful capital of Denmark, which captured well and has a fine place in this episode.

. The cast is pretty good with few exceptions. Especially liked the two danish actresses.

. Charming humor's finally back, which was awesome to see.

. The character are also colorful and most of them have their secrets...

But....

. Sanjeev Bhaskar does overact his character to a very high degree, making him unbearable human being. This is one of the most hammy performances I've ever seen on this show.

. The solution as well gets very silly with its execution of an attempted murder and killers imagination.

. There are aspects of "The Killings of Copenhagen" that have been done better in other episodes and with much more confidence.

Overall: a solid, but not a great episode.

7/10 HK

Lot of suspense

[ctyankee1 · 4 April 2014]

This episode was good, with lots of suspense.

A man named Eric Calder owns and operates a biscuit company in England and is murdered in Copenhagen by poison.

Later his brother is murdered and more people are murdered. It comes out in the process of the story that there are many secrets in the Calder family.

As usual church related people have their secrets and none of them good in the story.

The ending is a surprise and as usual I cannot understand how the killer killed all of these people. It seems the producers of Midsomer picks a person that is not fit, is old, weak fat or whatever to be a killer of many people in this episode and other episodes. Unbelievable.

What I do like about Midsomer is the people are pretty descent. There is no swearing or sexual stuff in the stories only talk of past or present close associations.

There is humor with the Barnaby dog. This episode has a nice ending though for a couple of reason besides the case being solved, one of the nice things is Barnaby becomes a father.

Great finish to a great season!

[barbrickey17 · 8/10 · 6 August 2020]

I watched this episode a little while ago, and I loved it! It's a great finish to a great season, and it is probably one of the best episodes I have watched of the show. I really enjoyed it and I feel like this is the best episode of Season 16, so far for me as I have only watched two episodes. Great guest stars, as always, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Joanna Scanlon are absolute delights, always fun to watch and they make such excellent additions in this episode. There are rarely any boring bits in the episode, the ending is unexpected which I always like, and Sarah has her baby! I love the idea of Barnaby and Nelson teaming up with some officers from Copenhagen, and although there is a lot to take in and a lot of sorta confusing bits, it's still a very good episode and it for me is defintely up there in the best episodes. I really enjoyed it.

Neil Dudgeon is no pruned Danish.

[vitoscotti · 8/10 · 1 October 2022]

Ballooning Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) is 9 years older than beautiful trophy wife Sarah (Fiona Dolman). The odd couple make a cute pair even with their night and day looks. There is a wonderful chemistry with them teamed with Sykes also. Sykes and the baby's tie in have been very enjoyable. Nelson (Gwilyn Lee) has been a strong addition. His arrival has created more screen time for gorgeous Kate (Tazmin Wilding) that the series has been begging for. The Danish tie in worked well. Summer (Poppy Drayton) and Harry (Jonathan Barnwell) actually could pass for brother and sister. I really enjoyed Armand Stone's (Sanjeev Bhaskar) over the top performance as the flamboyant baker. Also the 2 weirdo brothers were a funny touch. Nice dramatic ending topped off a very intriguing episode.

Danish.

[valstone52 · 10/10 · 8 August 2018]

I enjoyed this episode, it was well written. The per whom said that the series is no longer good, that your opinion. I think Neil does a fantastic job, and Kate is very interesting. The author i agree with is that Armand was over the top.

Nice end to the season

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 26 September 2016]

The last episode of season 16 partially takes place in Copenhagen.

The British head of a biscuit-making company, Eric Calder, eats one of his biscuits and dies while in Copenhagen to close a deal. Since the biscuits were sent from England, a Danish detective, Birgitte Poulsen calls on Barnaby to investigate the murder.

Well, for a biscuit-making company, this place has a lot going on. Eric's son, Harry, had recently fought with his father, and his wife is sleeping with his brother, Julian. Julian is later murdered by being drowned in alcohol. Then there is the very talented and knowledgeable baker, Armand Stone.

Barnaby and Nelson travel to Copenhagen, where they meet two female detectives, one of whom sparks with Charlie. A floral arrangement at Eric's funeral was paid for by a credit card stolen from Pastor Thomas Madsen. They learn that Eric was involved with Ingrid Madsen and they have a daughter, given up for adoption.

As all of this is going on, Barnaby's wife is very close to giving birth. Then there is another death.

Red herrings abound as Barnaby and Nelson dig up past secrets and learn the history of the company.

I thought this was a good episode and particularly sweet at the end. The murderer and the reason for the murders comes late in the episode, and Barnaby has just learned his wife is going to the hospital.

I really like Gwilym Lee as Charlie Nelson; he seems to have less to do than the other assistants did at the moment, but Charlie is an excellent detective.

Can't believe this show is still running; it's definitely the "Law & Order" of the U.S. as far as longevity!

What the....?

[brs-67973 · 6/10 · 17 October 2020]

When the police are in the victims hotel room they are dressed in their normal work/street clothes while all the forensic people are covered head to toe in PPE and wearing masks. I would think that if you're investigating a poisoning you would be wearing PPE also. When the Vicar's credit card is used to buy flowers the Vicar said his card was stolen weeks earlier but he didn't report it out of embarrassment but wouldn't you at least cancel the card? Barnaby and Nelson didn't think that was odd?

Complex episode.

[kk-74321 · 9/10 · 26 February 2022]

The characters were better developed than most episodes. Quite a few twists. The writers surprised me with not tying the clergy with the murder. They did make the preacher evil but not a murderer...a little weak for the anti-christian writers.

'Midsomer Murders' goes to Copenhagen

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 22 March 2017]

When in its prime (a vast majority of Seasons 1-9), 'Midsomer Murders' was a great show and one that is watched and re-watched frequently. Seasons 10-13 became more uneven, with three of the show's worst episodes coming from Seasons 11 and 13, but there were a few solid episodes and "Blood Wedding" and especially "Master Class" were gems.

After John Nettles retired and Neil Dudgeon and the new character of John Barnaby took over, 'Midsomer Murders' just hasn't been the same on the most part. Season 14 was a disappointment outside of "The Oblong Murders" and "A Sacred Trust", with "Echoes of the Dead" and "The Night of the Stag" being show low-points. Season 15 was inconsistent, being a case of starting promisingly and then took a three-episodes-in-a-row strange turn with "Written in the Stars" before finishing on a good note.

Season 16 got off to a very good start with "The Christmas Haunting", introducing us to Barnaby's new partner Nelson. "Let Us Prey", while not a terrible episode at all, was a disappointment and very problematic. "Wild Harvest" was very strong, even stronger than "The Christmas Haunting". "The Flying Club" is decent.

"The Killings of Copenhagen" is unique for its change of location from Midsomer to Copenhagen and even more so for being the show's centenary milestone episode. And a good one it is too. Not classic 'Midsomer Murders' by any stretch of the imagination but you can do with far worse too.

Not everything works. Sanjeev Bhaskar overdoes it dreadfully in a way that his character feels like an exaggerated cartoon caricature rather than a real person, which really takes one out of the setting and the story. What should have been a suspenseful climax is instead ludicrously contrived and goes well overboard on the silliness, which dissipates the suspense completely, not helped by an all too convenient rescue and the rather indifferent acting of the victim. Kate continues to be bland and without much personality.

However, the production values cannot be faulted as usual. It's mostly beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery and Copenhagen like a strikingly moody and colourful character in itself. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the haunting theme tune is one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.

Despite an awful lot going on, the story doesn't feel over-stuffed or convoluted. It is also neither tediously padded or simplistic, with some nice suspense and unusual murders. Surprisingly, the gentle whimsy of 'Midsomer Murders' and the moody grittiness of the Scandinavian crime dramas (even more grim than the grimmest episode of 'Midsomer Murders' previously) contrasts very well. The writing is rarely too heavy or too serious and only in the climax does it get silly or outlandish.

Most of the characters, with the exceptions of Kate and Armand Stone, are welcome returns to the colourful, eccentric and occasionally smarmy ones of classic 'Midsomer Murders' than the colourless and pantomimic ones of late 'Midsomer Murders'. Particularly enjoyable were the Bradley brothers, played with smarmy glee by Nicholas Jones and Richard Cordery.

Neil Dudgeon is much more comfortable than he was in the previous two seasons, though he continued to have uneven moments since. Gwilym Lee is settling in very nicely, he is likable and isn't a dumbed down idiot like Jones became and the chemistry between him and Barnaby sees a much better treatment of him from Barnaby. Sykes is an amusing and adorable scene stealer and Sarah's chemistry with John is more playful and warmer than before. Ann Eleonora Jørgensen and particularly Birgitte Hjort Sørensen bring spark and grit, and work well with Barnaby and Nelson.

Overall, a good milestone episode without being outstanding. 7/10 Bethany Cox

The killings of Copenhagen

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 12 August 2023]

The murder of Midsomer resident and biscuit factory boss Eric Calder leads Barnaby and Nelson to Copenhagen. The pair join forces with local detectives Birgitte Poulsen and Anna Degn in the hunt for the killer, and during the course of their investigation they discover the businessman had numerous links to the capital.

Business as usual episode, which means it's enjoyable with usual nutty suspects and well done Murders, however the switch to Copenhagen adds a refreshing scenery change and some flavour. Good suspense and a satisfying ending. Guest stars include Ann Eleonora Jorgensen, Birgitte Hjort Sorensen, and Joanna Scanlan, alongside Neil Dudgeon and Gwilym Lee.

The slow death of a once excellent series

[KenLiversausage · 15 February 2014]

SPOILER ALERT (although you could easily guess the ending anyway ...)

Midsomer Murders used to be good. But ever since rubber-faced clown Neil Dudgeon and his stupid dog took over from the legendary ex-Bergerac, John Nettles, the series has been on a slow but inexorable decline.

The formula grows ever more hackneyed, the plots grow ever more farcical, the characters ever more caricatured, the political correctness that blew up in ex-producer Brian True-May's face a few years ago ever more intrusive.

There is a guaranteed, cast iron method for determining who the killer is in Midsomer Murders these days. It is always, without fail, the least likely suspect. Always. That shifty looking character with the criminal record - it's never him; that cuckolded wife with a drink problem - its never her. It's always some seemingly sweet, kind, 'normal' character who appears in just enough of the action for you not to feel totally cheated when they're unmasked at the end.

This episode, although given some spark by the addition of the female Danish detectives from The Killing and Borgen, was depressingly true to the formula: ostensibly normal middle-aged woman turns out to be murderous psychopath with a chemistry professor's knowledge of poisons (there must be a shop selling bulk discounted poison in Badger's Drift or somewhere, it's so rife in Midsomer) - supernaturally fast-acting poisons at that. Miscast guest star - in this case Goodness Gracious Me's Sanjeev Bhaskar - overacts in ridiculous role as duplicitous chef, and is just saved from a horrible death by last minute intervention of the bobbies.

Let's just shine a spotlight on Sanjeev's near demise shall we? He almost meets his maker by being fed into the industrial oven of the factory where he and the female Dr Harold Shipman work, on a conveyor belt. We see him lying face down on the conveyor belt with his hands tied behind his back. From the expression on his face you'd think he's just about to undergo a back rub or something, so unafraid does he appear. (If you were about to be burned alive I suspect you'd be a sweating, gibbering, pants-wetting wreck. Not Sanjeev.) And then when Mrs Lecter hits the button to start the conveyor belt and send him to his fiery demise, he does - absolutely nothing. A three-month old baby could have done a better job of simply rolling off the conveyor belt and hence cheating the hangman, but Sanjeev simply lies there gurning. Pathetic. This sort of unbelievable nonsense eliminates what little trace of suspense lingers in the climax.

One bright spot in an otherwise moribund series is Gwilym Lee as DS Charlie Nelson. At least he brings credibility to his role. The rest of the cast come across like they're acting in a local am-dram production for the amusement of their families and mates.

Come back Bergerac, all is forgiven.