Have always enjoyed 'Midsomer Murders', though the post-Tom Barnaby episodes are nowhere near as good. "Dead Man's Eleven" for me is one of the classics.
After two such exceptional previous Season 2 episodes "Strangler's Wood" and especially "Death's Shadow", there was the hope that "Dead Man's Eleven" would carry on this high standard. Rather than stumble a little like Season 1 did, when it started off exceptionally but disappointed a little with "Death of a Hollow Man" (luckily "Faithful Unto Death" was an improvement). Ranking the Season 2 episodes, "Dead Man's Eleven" is a little better than "Strangler's Wood" and almost as good as "Death's Shadow".
As always, the production values 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, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
Meanwhile, the script is smart, thought-provoking and suitably grim, with even some nice humour (can understand all about the house hunting situation in the episode, having just successfully come out of it myself) and welcome emotion. Nothing felt inconsequential, everything had a point, everything intrigued.
The story is not quite as dark or as complex as "Death's Shadow" for example, but is hugely compelling, and never simplistic or over-complicated, nor no less mature. There is a lot going on without being cluttered or rushed, and that nothing is what it seems, or very few people are who they seem adds to the complexity, while there are no out of kilter scenes. The twists and turns keep coming, and never in an obvious or press-the-rewind button, while there is an ideal balance of mystery, cricket (even as a non-cricket follower that was fun), house-hunting and the protesting.
"Dead Man's Eleven's" beginning mirroring a fairytale-like story with a tragic accident was incredibly effective, while the ending is one of the show's cleverest, most gob-smackingly unexpected and most satisfying.
John Nettles and Daniel Casey sparkle together, with Nettles characteristically superb and Casey a great contrast. Jane Wymark similarly charms, and Robert Hardy excels in a role that could easily have been over-acted but given a lot of meat while also reigning in the temptation to "ham-up".
All in all, classic 'Midsomer Murders' episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox
After two such exceptional previous Season 2 episodes "Strangler's Wood" and especially "Death's Shadow", there was the hope that "Dead Man's Eleven" would carry on this high standard. Rather than stumble a little like Season 1 did, when it started off exceptionally but disappointed a little with "Death of a Hollow Man" (luckily "Faithful Unto Death" was an improvement). Ranking the Season 2 episodes, "Dead Man's Eleven" is a little better than "Strangler's Wood" and almost as good as "Death's Shadow".
As always, the production values 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, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
Meanwhile, the script is smart, thought-provoking and suitably grim, with even some nice humour (can understand all about the house hunting situation in the episode, having just successfully come out of it myself) and welcome emotion. Nothing felt inconsequential, everything had a point, everything intrigued.
The story is not quite as dark or as complex as "Death's Shadow" for example, but is hugely compelling, and never simplistic or over-complicated, nor no less mature. There is a lot going on without being cluttered or rushed, and that nothing is what it seems, or very few people are who they seem adds to the complexity, while there are no out of kilter scenes. The twists and turns keep coming, and never in an obvious or press-the-rewind button, while there is an ideal balance of mystery, cricket (even as a non-cricket follower that was fun), house-hunting and the protesting.
"Dead Man's Eleven's" beginning mirroring a fairytale-like story with a tragic accident was incredibly effective, while the ending is one of the show's cleverest, most gob-smackingly unexpected and most satisfying.
John Nettles and Daniel Casey sparkle together, with Nettles characteristically superb and Casey a great contrast. Jane Wymark similarly charms, and Robert Hardy excels in a role that could easily have been over-acted but given a lot of meat while also reigning in the temptation to "ham-up".
All in all, classic 'Midsomer Murders' episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox