Death by Persuasion

The use of a drone as a killing machine was novel and soars this show into the current century. Entertaining as inspiration was that many cast members were wearing attire from three centuries ago. Equally entertaining were the dance routines of that earlier period., accompanied by the courtly grace of the persons keen to be absorbed into that earlier time.

On one point I must distance myself from numerous reviewers on this forum. Dismay has been expressed as to the acting performance of Mr. Dudgeon when compared to Mr. Nettles. All I can say is that the former is creating a character who is NOT A CLONE of the character created by the latter. You can take the character as you find him- he is not the same as his cousin. If all you wish to do is see Tom Barnaby , then endlessly watch re-runs of the first few seasons. People ARE DIFFERENT. They are not clones of each other.

I am watching this as I write and it is a typically well done and researched British murder mystery (Magdalen College - surely you pronounce that 'Maudlin' says Barnaby - aka Neil Gudgeon).

Don't know who 'dun it' yet - but I can spot a liar by the tremour of an eyebrow. Not the tremor of an earthquake.

Dave Mellor, UK

Murder and mayhem looms large once again in that sleepy village and this time in a Jane Austin-era reenactment. It's a typical episode that has all the ingredients that you would expect in a MM series. Everyone is dressed up in period costumes, even our heroes, and it's fun all the way.

It's murder, mayhem, and, of all things, drones circling around a festival celebrating Georgian times in "Death by Persuasian."

This episode has all of the typical Midsomer elements: an old situation that bears on the present, secrets, blackmail - and the setting is very gentile, right down to the Georgian costumes.

And there's a second murder.

Barnaby and Winter investigate, in the midst of Barnaby's wife writing a novel and as the detectives deal with a temporary replacement coroner, who is quite the flirt. But it's clear Winter's mind is on Kam, who is due back soon.

I found this pretty average as these shows go and a little difficult to follow. I put that down to it not really holding my attention as it should have.

Firstly, I feel I need to take issue with the delay British audiences have had waiting for this episode to be shown, seen everywhere else in the world, bar Britain. ITV shame on you, not on.

The episode itself, first twenty minutes I was absolutely blown away, a stylish sleek opening, real quality in those opening scenes, menacing, smart, hugely professional. The cast list, fantastic, so much talent, including Samuel West, Claire Skinner, and the fabulous Anamaria Marinca. Even the use of vintage Midsomer music made me think we were onto a real winner.

Then comes the point where Dudgeon dons fancy dress, and the whole thing unravels. None of us watching it at home knew who, what or why, the story absolutely lost us all, was so hard to follow. Even on a second viewing the conclusion seemed totally ridiculous.

It wasn't all bad, Marinca was excellent as the flirtatious pathologist, even if it is just a short term project for her, with Annette Badland due to take over. Winter was great, and the acting was generally very good, apart from the encounter where Samuel West fell over, I mean come on!

I love Midsomer Murders, there have been so many classics, I just feel in the hands of whoever has it now it's going to vanish into obscurity, please go back to basics, check out some of the vintage episodes, and capture that core element that made it compulsive viewing. This sucked. 5/10