Last Year's Model

This is an unusual episode. We are presented with a murder that happened 10 months ago, with the supposed culprit arrested then. She (supposedly) murdered her best friend because both were in love with the friend's husband. She has been in jail and the trial is about to start. Barnaby had arrested her.

There are flashbacks to tell us a lot of the story. We meet the families of the accused and the victim. There is an elderly "Miss Marple"-like character who is a key witness. Slowly a second plot develops with a real estate agent and the local news reporters.

Compared to many episodes, it is not exceptionally complicated -- and that is good! We see Barnaby begin to have doubts about the arrest he made. We meet a potential love interest for Barnaby!

The ending is very satisfying. Definitely worth a watch!

'Midsomer Murders' is one of my most watched and most re-watched shows. Granted, it is nowhere near as good now as it was and the Tom Barnaby-era did have some not so good episodes, but when it was at its best and on form it was riveting and hugely entertaining television.

Season 9 may not have had many classic/elite episodes ("The House in the Woods" being the only episode to be on that level, but this and "Country Matters" were close"), but to me it is one of the few seasons of 'Midsomer Murders' to not have a bad episode. Even my least favourite "Four Funerals and a Wedding" was still decent. Despite being a change of pace for 'Midsomer Murders', being more court-case-oriented and more psychological with a low body count, "Last Year's Model" is one of the show's best examples of how to do "different"/"change of pace" well.

Pretty much the only thing about "Last Year's Model" that could have been done better to me was that more could have been done with the character of Cully, underused and wasted, and the chemistry between her and Barnaby, which showed potential but it was potential not fully lived up to and underwritten.

However, the production values as always are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.

Meanwhile, the script is smart and thought-provoking with some nice humour (that luckily wasn't overused or out of place in an episode with such a serious story), a grimness and with characters that are colourful and eccentric. The story is absorbing, never simplistic, sometimes creepy in atmosphere, never dull (for an exposition-heavy episode) never confusing and the maturity that 'Midsomer Murders' has when on form is more than evident here. The courtroom stuff is fascinating and the flashbacks beautifully interwoven. Loved the chemistry between Barnaby/Jones (always a delight) and Barnaby/Pru.

John Nettles and Jason Hughes are both superb, individually and together, and the supporting cast are without complaint.

On the whole, a great episode that does wonders with a change of pace. Am happy to admit as well that there is much more appreciation for the episode and what it set out to do now than there was on first viewing. 9/10 Bethany Cox

This was excellent in all departments. If I could hazard a guess what the keystone for it all was, it would be the script. It provided a continuous thread, not just of exposition but of revelation and surprise allowing the characters to think, react and act according to their growing understanding. The dialogue was not simply recitation but very purposive causing the viewer to be a non-speaking participant rather than mere observer. The elderly lady who has been cheated out of a great deal of money at first has immovably closed ears to anything against a closest friends' son but changes to become very brave and determined to trap him. The brief cutaways of surprised expression exactly match the viewer's reaction. Having meaningful lines allowed the cast to deliver them really meaningfully. Court-room dramas are almost a cliché but this production brought quite novel aspects - movements in and out of the courtroom - the subtle tipping off of witnesses in passing and the sudden end where witnesses,friends and family step into the sunlight - some irrevocably separated, some once divided, brought together. And the end where Barnaby's subtle exchange with the expert witness is itself witnessed by his daughter, who like the viewer, infers an unsuspected revelation. There are many feature films not in this class

I was very impressed with the two back to back episodes of this fascinating mystery with its strong acting and characterization. The location of the trial and and action is the busy town of Causton, which seems an agreeable change to the often strange hamlet of Midsomer, whose inhabitants can be a rather depressing lot despite the landscape beauty. Detective Barnaby is for once cast in the role of a doubting detective, first brought on by the intuitive daughter of a murdered woman and then his psychologist friend Pru Plunkett. The doubts come after he amasses the critical evidence to charge Annie Woodrow with the murder of her friend Frances Trevelyan. Then he has to revisit the case once more. The character of Barnaby has never been stronger than he is here, realizing that his own work might not have been thorough enough to get the real murderer. His constable Ben Jones is also on the case every step of the way. There is great chemistry between the two actors during the two episodes. Mrs. Beverley, the elderly lady who is swindled by Annie Woodrow's husband and a shady real estate agent, becomes a key player in the strategy to capture the real killer. Annie Woodrow and John Trevelyan, husband of the murdered woman, are secretly attracted to one another but too proper to break up John's marriage and family. John was excellent as a classy family man and Annie was the antithesis of a murderer, being reluctant to even put John in an embarrassing light. The plot was complicated and required all of Barnaby's talents with the aid of Jones and others intent on finding the truth.

Great episode! The mystery is complex and straightforward at the same time. I enjoyed the look into UK courtroom procedures.

The little old lady is a standout. Not quite Miss Marple, who would have remembered the fishmonger's boy and known the truth immediately, but very well-written and played. Also a standout is Lance, the defendent's soon-to-to-be ex. Made my skin crawl. And the little girl Ed was very good.

As usual, the scenery is lovely, if a bit sparse this time. Excellent production values.

There are some funny moments (the dripping secretary). And Jones is now a DS! He and Barnaby work well together.