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Father Brown
S3.E14
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IMDbPro

The Deadly Seal

  • Episode aired Jan 22, 2015
  • TV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
404
YOUR RATING
Bill Buckhurst and Yolanda Kettle in Father Brown (2013)
CrimeDramaMystery

A mysterious visitor to the confession box informs Father Brown that choleric Bishop Talbot will be murdered so Father Brown joins Talbot at a shooting party where a shot is indeed fired tho... Read allA mysterious visitor to the confession box informs Father Brown that choleric Bishop Talbot will be murdered so Father Brown joins Talbot at a shooting party where a shot is indeed fired though the victim is the seemingly innocent Albert Davies. The bishop had argued with actor P... Read allA mysterious visitor to the confession box informs Father Brown that choleric Bishop Talbot will be murdered so Father Brown joins Talbot at a shooting party where a shot is indeed fired though the victim is the seemingly innocent Albert Davies. The bishop had argued with actor Peter Redhill over his divorce and there is certainly intrigue among Redhill and his fellow... Read all

  • Director
    • Diana Patrick
  • Writers
    • G.K. Chesterton
    • Rachel Flowerday
    • Tahsin Guner
  • Stars
    • Mark Williams
    • Yolanda Kettle
    • Sorcha Cusack
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    404
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Diana Patrick
    • Writers
      • G.K. Chesterton
      • Rachel Flowerday
      • Tahsin Guner
    • Stars
      • Mark Williams
      • Yolanda Kettle
      • Sorcha Cusack
    • 6User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos63

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    Top cast16

    Edit
    Mark Williams
    Mark Williams
    • Father Brown
    Yolanda Kettle
    Yolanda Kettle
    • Natasha Farrango
    Sorcha Cusack
    Sorcha Cusack
    • Mrs McCarthy
    Malcolm Storry
    Malcolm Storry
    • Bishop Talbot
    Aden Gillett
    Aden Gillett
    • Bentley Duke
    Nancy Carroll
    Nancy Carroll
    • Lady Felicia
    Bill Buckhurst
    • Peter Redhill
    Tom Chambers
    Tom Chambers
    • Inspector Sullivan
    Kate Anthony
    Kate Anthony
    • Ethel Davies
    Alex Price
    Alex Price
    • Sid Carter
    John Burton
    John Burton
    • Sergeant Goodfellow
    Tom Knight
    Tom Knight
    • Winston Grater
    Leo Chell
    • Theater Goer
    • (uncredited)
    Nick Owenford
    Nick Owenford
    • Villager at Theatre
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Price
    Richard Price
    • Villager at Theatre
    • (uncredited)
    Chris Wilson
    Chris Wilson
    • Albert Davies
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Diana Patrick
    • Writers
      • G.K. Chesterton
      • Rachel Flowerday
      • Tahsin Guner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews6

    7.6404
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    Featured reviews

    4coltras35

    The deadly seal

    Father Brown finds himself in an impossible situation when he is told, under the seal of confession, that Bishop Talbot will be assassinated tomorrow. Started out good but flounders halfway and loses steam. It's watchable but just about. It was a little dull and confusing.
    6Prismark10

    The Deadly Seal

    When Father Brown hears a confession from someone who plans to kill Bishop Talbot the very next day, Father Brown leaps into action to save the cantankerous old goat who has decided to go shooting with a theatrical producer.

    Unable to tell the Bishop as to why Father Brown has also decided to attend the shooting party, during the shoot the Bishop's Assistant Albert Davies is shot dead.

    Father Brown thinks that the Bishop might not had been the intended victim all along. A performance of a farce gives him an important clue about the killer but Father Brown gleans that there might more to Davies's death.

    The episode has an element of 'Strangers on the Train' about it but also raises issues regarding the confessional seal as a young girl believed she could had been saved from abuse.
    6planktonrules

    A confusing case for Father Brown...as well as the audience.

    The story begins with someone going to confession with Father Brown and telling him that they plan to kill the Bishop. And, since it was told during confession, the Father isn't about to tell anyone...but he does stick like glue to the Bishop to protect him. However, when a shot rings out, it misses the Bishop and kills someone else. What is going on here?! Is the killer a bad shot or is there much more to the story?

    This is a decent but confusing story. You really need to pay attention and the ending is a bit convoluted. Not a bad story...but certainly one of the weaker ones because of all the twists and turns.
    9Sleepin_Dragon

    One of the best episodes in the series.

    Father Brown hears a confession from a man who explains he plans to murder The Bishop. Bound by his code, Father Brown cannot tell the Bishop,but does what he can to protect his life.

    The Deadly Seal is one of my favourite episodes, it is bursting with quality, it plays out almost like an Agatha Christie, with a very Poirot like conclusion. It does a great job at highlighting what for many is a ridiculous situation where a Priest cannot act on information obtained in a confessional, even murder. It's handled in such a thoughtful manner, posing probing questions, without demeaning.

    Beautifully acted as always, Malcolm Storry in particular always brilliant as the cantankerous Bishop Talbot.

    This is a very good watch 9/10

    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Father Brown says "Revenge is mine, I will repay, sayeth the Lord" he is quoting Romans chapter 12 verse 19.
    • Goofs
      The seal of confession applies when a penitent confesses his sin and asks for forgiveness. It does not apply to someone who has not yet sinned but tells the priest he intends to sin. That does not indicate repentance.
    • Connections
      References The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)
    • Soundtracks
      Father Brown Theme
      Written by Debbie Wiseman

      Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 22, 2015 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK(Cheltenham Rep Theatre)
    • Production companies
      • BBC Drama Productions
      • BBC Worldwide
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 45m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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