Death of a Stranger

Barnaby was on vacation, and very unhappy to hear that someone he considers an idiot, Ron Pringle, his replacement, solved a murder while he was away. Pringle arrested a man named Billie Gurdie, a poacher, for a tramp's murder in the village of Upper Marchwood. Then Billie's father is found dead, an assumed suicide.

This is too much of a coincidence for Barnaby, and an autopsy shows that Billie's father was also murdered. He asks himself, who was the tramp, and how was he connected to Billie's father? An old woman who lives in the woods seems to know more than she's saying. Barnaby soon learns that fake identities and an inheritance spell murder.

Really good beginning to season 3, with John Nettles as Barnaby in fine form as he investigates a very complicated case with a few bodies. You have to pay attention, but I like that about the show. Loved the beautiful countryside as well, even though it's used for fox hunting. Boo.

The first two seasons of 'Midsomer Murders', which when in its prime was one of my favourites and one of my most watched shows (although it's nowhere near as good now it's still being stuck with), were extremely good, with the best episodes, "The Killings at Badgers Drift", "Written in Blood" and "Death's Shadows" being among the show's classics.

"Death of a Stranger" is not quite a 'Midsomer Murders' classic, but still a very good start to Season 3. It was interesting to keep the real identity of the tramp ambiguous until very towards the end, but at the same time it was disappointing to find it very difficult to find fun in guessing possible motives for the killing, which has often been part of the show's charm and what makes it so fun.

Mostly loved the final solution, which was extremely clever and very sinister but with so much needing to be explained (which at least the episode manages to do) it did get a little complicated (especially when the motives were also of that nature) and slightly over-stuffed.

However, 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. This may look like reiterating exactly what was said about what was so good about the previous episodes, but only because when 'Midsomer Murders' was in its prime its strengths were the same and with similar impact.

Meanwhile, the script is smart, thought-provoking and suitably grim, the humour also being a breath of fresh air. Nothing felt inconsequential, everything had a point, everything intrigued and it was explained and cleared up well, though not quite overcoming the tendency towards the end of convolution.

The story is hugely compelling, and never simplistic and never losing any of the maturity of the previous episodes. There is a lot going on mostly 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, red herrings and turns keep coming, and rarely in an obvious or press-the-rewind button. The characters are colourful.

John Nettles and Daniel Casey sparkle together, with Nettles characteristically superb and Casey a great contrast. Jane Wymark similarly charms, while Diane Fletcher and James Bolam (ever the national treasure) stand out of the supporting cast.

All in all, a very good start to the third season. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I've been watching MM in chronological order. I'm pretty sure that I saw all of them twenty years ago, but luckily I've forgotten the details. Death of a Stranger must be the most convoluted plot ever, but it did all come together in the end. Barnaby put his intuition intuition into warp drive to solve this one.

Death of a Stranger is a truly great early episode. I can remember this one when it first went out on New Year's Eve 1999, the opening scenes of The Barnaby's sat enjoying lunch, they had cemented themselves as firm favourites. The mystery that followed was particularly good. For me, it's the show at its best, some huge characters, a poignant story, a dramatic conclusion, and some fun at the expense of Joyce's cooking.

We get some huge characters, Linda Wagstaff, Ron Pringle and James Fitzroy. The performances are terrific, James Bolam was great as the slightly bumbling ex Detective desperate for a different life, and to pull one over on Barnaby, Jeanne Hepple is wonderful also as Linda Wagstaff, the very zany woman living in a Railway carriage.

I think they hit on the exact perception many people outside of the UK have about middle England, Range Rovers, infidelity, Fox hunting, poachers, and slightly odd people living in strange forest dwellings. It showcases some wonderful eccentric characters, when in reality here, the killer comes from an unlikely source, someone who seems normal throughout.

They don't make them this good anymore sadly. 9/10

A good, slightly darker episode from the earlier series with some very good script writing. The plot is complex so you'll have to pay attention. Joyce and Cully up to their old tricks, Joyce being a terrible cook and Cully being a terrible actor.

Quite a large cast in this one, no standout performances though.

This episode has a lot to be said for it, its very stylishly produced and we get some brilliant views of the English countryside.