I enjoyed last night's episode too. I thought MM was back on target again. I really like the new sidekick too. And Sykes - well he just gets better and better.

Yes Nelson has finally grown on me and last night was back to typical village setting let's hope the future one's stay in this vein.

I must be nuts but I bought my other half most of midsomer on DVD (She is a huge fan) I admit I want to borrow them as I would love to see how everybody developed over the years (Can't judge nelson as he is the new kid on the block as to speak) she got me go hooked I have every ITV3 and ITV episode on planner

It was OK, I guessed the killer early on (clever me ) but it is what it is, a light hearted mid week romp and it does that very well.

I caught up with this last night... I just don't find it as interesting as I used to, I don't think its dreadful but for me it no longer feels like "Midsommer Murders"

I found the originals on netflix and have been watching from the start again and the recent stuff just doesn't work as well. I really can't put my finger on why.

I've changed my mind somewhat, since I last posted here (and said that with John Nettles there was no Midsomer).

The last couple with Neil in, that I've seen over the past few weeks, I have really enjoyed.

I'll now be watching all the time!

I noticed that Renny Rye directed this episode and thought I hadn't seen the name for a while. First episode since 2012 apparently. Definitely helped the feel of the episode I think.

In the originals the main characters were very innocent, Joyce took part in local events, Cully just spent all day at amateur dramatics, Tom just went to work then went home and had an innocent family life, Troy, well who knows what he did after work.

If you actually look at the books Troy was supposed to be sex obsessed and off with every woman he could find.

The new characters are not innocent, they are not shocked by the murders remember Troy would be shocked if anyone turned out to be gay or slightly doolally or was sleeping around.

The current ones expect that sort of thing, that is why it is different pure and simple it is the innocence of the characters.

Just to weigh in on the 'new Midsomer vs. old Midsomer' debate, I'd like to add that the music in the Neil Dudgeon episodes is a lot more sombre than the music in the John Nettles episodes.

When John Nettles was in it, a 'chirpy' theme would pervade village scenes - go back and look at the early episodes and you'll see what I mean. The series gradually moved away from that type of music, and I also think it doesn't try as hard to scare the viewer now in scenes where people are murdered and dead bodies discovered. They seemed to tone it down during Jones's tenure as sidekick. Again, this is obvious from comparing an old episode to the Neil Dudgeon ones.

The musical score is more understated than it used to be, and that gives the show a very different vibe.

By the way, it was nice to see Hayley Mills in the newest episode. Though it was obvious she couldn't be the murderer since she was too nice.

Tom always wore a waistcoat.
Joyce was always "experimenting" with Delia Smith.
Cully always came to stay for a while in between jobs/courses.
Troy always said the wrong phrase for "Ladies & Gentlemen"

It was comfy.

Except for the pining down on a lawn of a horrid man and lobbing wine bottles at him with a catapault while his wife encouraged from the window (one of my favourite episodes).

And if I found out that Mrs Barnaby was a member of a society I would immediately leave to save my life

I thought I was just imagining that the theme music had changed slightly

Oh it was most definety a little different at the start tonight

Isn't it a bummer when you're in a cornfield being chased by a light plane and there's no petrol tanker around to help you out?

A bit "North by northwestish"
I'll go for "Eth", purely because the character's a good flyer, and she's a national institution

A nicer touch when the victim arrived, would have been if he'd been on a bus rather than in a pick-up.



They made an issue of mentioning the old dear could fly, so it might be a red herring. I'd be more convinced if they hadn't. But there again...It is Midsomer.

What about the "night flying?" smuggling? So could be the the pilot with the beard who is broke?

Or could be the young RAF pilot who served in Afghanistan, who may have "drug contacts" from there.
A "shoal" of red herrings.

Barney Bee can twist this "any way he chooses," it's always been that way.

If only it was that easy to trace an individual computer by an IP address

TBH, I'm pretty confused as I'm not following it closely, and I got lost when the sidekick started listing out the character names and I didn't know who was who

But I am liking the comic relief of Tamzin Malleson's parent's and Neil feeding his dog at the table. Until now, it's been a bit dull since the new Barnabee arrived, so I'd like to see a more light hearted approach.

Edit. So is it now Gavin, who sabotaged his own plane, before swapping?

Neil Dudgeon looks like Cameron.

OK episode,not that exciting like last weeks and bernard cribbins badly underused

Yes, it was all a bit of a mess and a rather mundane murder scenario in the end.

Sykes played his part well.

Yeah, that's true. I loved Sykes tonight

Really enjoyed this tonight and was lovely to see the two golden oldies, good episode really beginning to enjoy this series once again.

"Eth" your showing your age there

You could never forget "Eth." Not bad for eighty-eight, was she?

This brings back memories of my early teenage years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYPOH4qZcGg

The days of good radio comedy.

Another Sykes fan and I do hope Mrs B takes weeks and weeks of maternity leave so those 2 can enjoy their box sets in peace. I'd rather have twee Joyce anhday over the perfect educationalist. ND is growing on me..he seems less pompous this series but no he won't ever be JN ( who I still see as Jim of Jersey if a squint at the screen)