Murder of Innocence

There's a lot of "trash" talking about how much better Nettles is than Dudgeon. That's like comparing apples and oranges. No, the series hasn't declined because of the cast change. It's typical MM...good, fair and not so good episodes...just as in the Tom era. Neil Dudgeon is a different character completely, not a sub for another "Tom Baraby". I like him and Sarah and the cutie dog Sykes. People get off the Tom kick and embrace it for what it is...new actor..different character...different tone.

This episode has plenty of characters, but basically it boils down to a newly released ex-convict named Grady Felton, who served 18 years for murdering a local, Daniel Denning. The story also revolves around the Gideon family (mother Mandy, sons Will and Kyle) and the wealthier Denning family (father Ted, daughter Deirdre, and long-dead son Daniel). There is also a drug dealer named Fred Burns. In addition, several scenes include Sarah Barnaby's gym coach and Ben Jones' new lover, firefighter Susie Bellingham. The dog Sykes appears in a few scenes, but nothing special (he stole the show in episode 14:6, when poor Barnaby got sick).

I was really surprised by the plot. Lots of twists and turns. Engrossing.

Shallow characterization: From one season to another, Sergeant Ben Jones never seems to become wiser or more reflective. He doesn't grow a cynical skin. He doesn't learn to dig deeper, even after 18 years with the police. As truths became apparent, I would have expected to see Jones engaged in some soul searching, or at least in contemplation, but that didn't happen. Instead we got a silly ending — coppers taking a physical fitness test.

Character growth is a major weakness in the writing throughout this entire series (even the first 13 seasons). For example, one would have expected to see Tom Barnaby's sidekick, young Sergeant Troy, grow and change. He needed to learn how to drive more carefully, and to more thoroughly question suspects (even the straight, the rich, and the beautiful). Alas, no.

This episode with the new DCI John Barnaby has a lot of trash in it. Neil Dudgeon plays John Barnaby is much different than the former one. He is arrogant, confident, smart, focused on himself and his self centered wife who goes to the gym, practices yoga and runs. She takes up to much of the episodes from here on. Plus there is too much kissing.

It kind of reminds me of Inspector Morse always with a glass of ale, enough is enough.

In this episode DC Jones goes to bed with a female firewoman. This never happened in the other episodes with the other characters Troy or Barnaby. They were decent family people. The writers are really trashing this series with Neil Dudgeon, maybe that is why John Nettles.

This episode is about a man named Grady that goes to jail for killing a young friend. All the kids and adults are connected in this small village. Then Grady the killer is released from jail many years later and treated terrible by the inhabitants of the town he goes back to where the killing took place.

There are a lot of characters, a lot of murders and very violent -- sometimes confusing who is who. It has a surprise ending and some of it is so unbelievable like what happened to Grady in jail.

Neil Dudgeon is a good actor, Jason Hughes is a good actor too but, he acts too tough like a wise guy. I am happy the series continued but I do not like the new style or some of the tacky language.

The series before these with John Nettles as Barnaby was much better.

Whenever I watch Midsomer, I can rule out the "obvious" suspects with a fair degree of certitude from the start, leaving the not-so- obvious ones to be revealed as the culprit(s) by one of the Barnaby cousins.

"Murder of Innocence" was an amazing exception as from the start any one of the aggrieved suspects could be the guilty ones, depending upon one's perspective and timeline. All credit to Elizabeth-Anne Wheal for her intriguing script which really kept the audience guessing up the final moment...and what a revelation as to the murderer's identity in more ways than one.

I appreciate John Nettle is missed as the original Barnaby, but I like how Neil Dudgeon is coming into his own as Barnaby Mark II, and good to see some back story on Sergeant Jones. It's wonderful to comprehend the full sentences of Barnaby Mark II, as I felt John Nettle's sentences came across as a bit incomplete at times.

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, if anybody's read my reviews for the Season 14 episodes the reasons are detailed in those. After a mostly disappointing Season 14, apart from two good episodes and a decent one, Season 15 gets off to a very good if not quite classic start. Luckily that promising start continues into "Murder of Innocence".

Once again, am still not crazy about the characters of Sarah and Kate. Sarah has very little charm and warmth, pretty self-centred actually at times, and her chemistry with John is not really one of two people in love let alone husband and wife. Kate is just bland with little personality.

Can definitely understand too the criticisms of too many supporting characters. Loved that there were a lot of suspects, with previous episodes having cases with too few suspects making things less suspenseful or surprising, and that mostly they are of the eccentric and interesting kind rather than the dull and over-the-top kind that many of the previous season's episodes had. This said, there were so many supporting characters in "Murder of Innocence" that it was not always easy figuring out who was who and a few of them are given too much short shrift, including the murderer.

As always however, the production values in "Murder of Innocence" cannot be faulted as usual, it's beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery. 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.

The story itself is fun with a creepy atmosphere, wisely on the most part not taking itself too seriously while rarely descending into over-silliness even with the odd preposterous idea (then again even classic 'Midsomer Murders' had silly parts). It is easy to follow without being simplistic and has enough twists and turns and eccentric characters without being confusing. The script likewise doesn't feel as heavy as the later seasons tended to be.

Don't have as much a problem with Barnaby, who is not as smug or as disdainful as he can be. Jones isn't as much of an idiot and his subplot is a nice touch and doesn't slow things down, and the chemistry between the two is not as mean-spirited. The ending is on the silly side, but is nowhere near as contrived or as convoluted as "Death in the Slow Lane's", and there is a stronger sense of peril and less stoic expectation.

Much of the acting is good, while adorable and comedically gifted Sykes continues to be a scene-stealer.

In conclusion, decent second episode to a so far much improved fifteenth season. 7/10 Bethany Cox