The Problem at Gallows Gate: Part 1

This one's an absolute delight, and mind-bendingly puzzling. There's so much humour, and Adam's sister Kitty is the source of much of it. The fact that the story was spread over two episodes helps enormously, as the characters are given plenty of scope to develop.

Whilst out badger watching with Jonathan and Maddy, Adam Klaus's sister Kitty witnesses a man strangle a woman, the trouble is the man she saw doing it had recently committed suicide.

It's a great first half, the story is very clever, it's also outrageously funny. Being a two parter there really is plenty of time for the characters to develop, and that they do. It has so many layers, there's a lot going on, but it's a cohesive, well crafted mystery.

Hewie Harper is a great character, so outrageous, but even he is outdone by Adam's sister Kitty, who is an absolute joy to watch. Amanda Holden is pretty good.

Huge credit to Alan Davies, a talented actor, one who always understands the art of subtlety.

Excellent 9/10.

When Johnathan Creek first came onto our screens, it was a breath of fresh air. It gave a humerous and unique twist to the usual detective show format. Alan Davies was excellent as the eponymous hero.

The earlier episodes of the show were very well written, and extremely funny, until this two part mystery. The episode begins badly, with a group of very unlikable characters, who in all honesty you end up not caring what happens to them. This seems to be a theme running through the entire episode, I didn't bother with the second part.

I can only conclude that the writer must have been having a bad day, when he wrote these episodes. The series does improve, with the episode The Black canary, which is a must see.

I am reviewing this episode without having seen the second part, but even before seeing the second part, it is obvious that this should not have been a two part story. The premise is interesting, but unfortunately, the episode is full of scenes that are neither funny, interesting or have anything to do with the plot and just feel like padding and waste of time. And the scenes that have to do something with the plot are unnecessarily drawn out until they are thinner than cobweb. It is completely obvious that they needed a certain number of episodes for a season, but they didn't have enough ideas, so they decided to stretch a single episode to within an inch of its life in order to make it into two. Maybe the second part will be tighter, but so far it seems that this should have been a single episode.

(Review is of both parts).

Jonathan and some fellow nature-lovers are on a badger watch late at night. With them is Adam's sister Kitty. Later that night she is convinced she saw a man strangling a woman, a claim borne out by the woman being found dead. One problem though: the man she saw strangling her committed suicide three weeks previously.

One of the better Jonathan Creek episodes. The average episode is okay and reasonably intriguing but isn't overly engaging, feels a bit gimmicky and has a few plot holes and contrivances. This one is quite Agatha Christie-esque in its build-up and crime. Add in the wonderfully funny character of Hewie Harper and it's very entertaining.

There are a few contrivances towards the end but overall it's wonderfully entertaining.