Ring Out Your Dead

For many Americans, the past time of ringing church bells, much less, cut throat competition in it will seem a little screwball, and indeed, there are moments of burst out laughing in this episode.

There are also scenes of scariness, walk in the dark while something ominous pursues you, like bits from an old 1960's Hammer horror film. And even a few moments of real human pain and tragedy.

And in a sometime tradition of this series, the motive for the murders is totally off the wall wackiness with the murderer the last person you'd ever suspect.

Anyway, the scenery of a series that seems at times to come from House And Country Magazine is pleasant to look at.

All in all, a pleasant way to past an evening in front of the telly.

I too noticed the time on the clock as always being 6.25. It was mentioned in the goofs. What is the reason for it? Maybe too, like other titles there could have been an explanation of the murder and how it was done at the end. It was an interesting episode and I have a feeling that the writer tends to portray quite a few women as murderers, or should I say, murderesses. I find it absolutely bizarre that a person could murder innocent bell-ringers just because her ancestor was murdered by 'bell-ringers' who are unrelated to the present ones. The judgmental old man was super. As was the character of Peter, who was only interested in winning at all costs. He was thoroughly insensitive to the deaths around him. Super film all round!

Ring out your dead is without a shadow of a doubt worthy of the tag 'classic episode,' it's funny, it's well written, it has some huge, interesting characters, plus it ends in some style.

The sun story of the bell ringers is great, it's attention to detail like that, that made the earlier episodes so much better. After a dramatic opener, it's a mix of funny, dark and shocking. The music throughout is simply brilliant, melodic, and so in keeping.

Some fabulous characters, Fogden, Maisie, the glorious femme fatale, and of course the wing commander. Great acting too, loved Gemma Jones and Graham Crowden in particular.

A creepy, eerie Vive throughout, it's original, clever and witty. 9/10

Love it! What a fantastic episode. Not the best episode of the show, but certainly an interesting and unique one. You can really tell the actors are giving it their absolute all. Certainly an interesting storyline, not too gruesome and gripping you at some points. I really enjoyed the character of Reggie Barton, played fabulously by the incredible Graham Crowden. Like I said the actors all did a sensational job, and the plot with the bell ringing really is a well thought one, and obviously a well scripted one. In all I enjoyed the episode, not too many faults or boring bits, even if there were any, they'd be well covered up by the good acting. Interesting ending, and all round pretty good episode.

Bell-ringers are being murdered, and the question is, why? In this 2002 Midsomer Murders from season 5.

The church bell-ringers of Midsomer Wellow are preparing for a big bell-ringers' competition. As rehearsal begins, blood starts falling on the face of one of the ringers, Emma Tysoe (Lyndsey Marshal).

It turns out to be blood from the body of Greg (Dugald Bruce Lockhart), who was somewhat of a playboy. Well, there are a few people who could have wanted him dead, including his soon to be ex-wife.

But when there's another murder, and another - with a message near each, going back to the history of the church, it seems like someone is determined to knock off all those bell-ringers.

Interesting story tied to an old tale about the church itself which Barnaby and Troy attempt to untangle. As an amusing sideline, Troy finds himself in a flirtation with an older woman who is very up front about her sexuality, and had been a lover of the first victim.

Entertaining, with some good performances, particularly by Gemma Jones as Maisie Gooch, Graham Crowden, and Hugh Bonneville.