User Reviews

It was great to see Philip Quast in this Christmas episode. He plays one of the brothers - estranged for various reasons from his sister played by the majestic Haydn Gwynne during the Christmas gathering at the family mention. Philip I think is one of the few Australian actors to star in Midsomer Murders, and this was Haydn's first appearance in Midsomer Murders. Seven years later she appeared in the episode Dark Secrets where she was cast alongside her former Drop the Dead Donkey Stars Neil Pearson and Jeff Rawle.

Maybe it's the village snow or the English Christmas atmosphere that I adore (!), but I really liked this episode. It kept me guessing to the end and I don't think I really could have guessed who the culprit was and the motives. The teenage actor who played the kid with the skills of a magician and street smarts - I loved the way how he responded to Inspector Barnaby about coerced confessions a classic in the Midsomer annals.

What a spectacular episode, and I really mean it. I had heard it was good, but not this good. It's a fun little episode, most unlike other episodes with a different sort of vibe to it that I really, really love. The storyline in the episode is just really good and well done and I love how they combine it with Joyce and her parents. The ending is brilliant, and I don't mean when they catch the killer but when Tom plays a prank on Joyce's father, which is just hilarious and shows a side of Tom we had never seen before. This episode is definitely a stand out, with not too much twists and turns but enough to keep you fully intrigued. A great way to end season 7 and a classic episode as a whole. I really liked it, I think it's a nice little episode that is different to the other ones.

If you love the quaint English scenery and excellent acting this series is known for, this will be a favorite episode indeed! With its jingle bells, snowy lanes, and glowing Christmas decor, it's an even more cozy mystery than ever. An added bonus is seeing Detective Barnaby deal with his in-laws' extended visit and hours of Monopoly. Good cheer and fun that. The mystery itself takes place within a run-down manor with two deaths, well 4 if you count those in the flashbacks. This one had me until the end as I thought I'd figured out the killer earlier on, but was proved wrong--although I had correctly guessed the motive as being a type of revenge based on the past deaths. Sgt. Scott is shown in a loud bar flirting with yet another young woman which is getting tiresome, but luckily he cuts his outing short and gets on with the business of crime fighting. Loved it and had me wishing I could join the Barnaby Christmas dinner myself.

This Midsomer was a real festive treat with excellent casting (particular good young actor playing 12 year old Howard) and the great John Nettles who really is superb. Renny Rye is such a good Director and the show always has very high production values. The tension of the attic room at the top of the stairs, and the engine left running in the garage added to suspense. The elder sister was very good as an embittered and tyrannical sister and Aunt to Howard. But the acting and the seasonal feel did not make up for what turned out to be an unsatisfactory plot where the murderer seemed to be implausible because one just had to ask how they came to be in the house in the first place given the denouement of the piece. Could have had loose ends tied up more acceptably within the narrative with a little more effort.

The seventh season has been solid for this wonderful series, if we leave out "The straw woman" that is. "Ghost of Christmas Past", which is the best of the season by far, is a very good to ending to the season and one of the shows better episodes.

Let's start with good, shall we?

. The story of "Ghost of Christmas Past" is truly tragic and never simplistic. It's got real characters, twists and turns, which keep coming and wonderful humor. Especially liked the subplot with Joyce's parents coming to visit.

. The production values are always great. The direction is pretty good, though sometimes editing's bit off, and music's wonderful. The cast is also strong. Margery Mason is suitable vulnerable in her role, Haydn Gwynne powerful when needed, Philip Quast enjoyably edgy and Bruce Alexander sympathetic enough.

. "Ghost of Christmas Past" really gets the feel of the holiday with a nice cozy setting. Agree, the house is a great character on its own.

But...

. The solution of the mystery wasn't as surprising as I thought it was going to be. The killer's identity was unfortunately not a shock- the clue given with the cards was too obvious- even though the motives were great.

. Agree that "Ghost of Christmas Past" is a slow burn episode and sometimes early parts of the episode does drag.

Overall, very good, though not an amazing entry.

8,5/10 HK

Really like this one, pleased to see it being repeated Christmas 2020, shows just how popular Midsomer Murders continues to be.

All the action takes place in the house of one family which is obviously totally different to what we're used to but a welcome change. As usual some great performances.

The devil is in the detail with this episode though and with every repeat I pick up minor details I missed the first time round so you'll need to pay attention during the flashbacks.

The 'garage incident' as they called it I thought was exceptional, the swapping of remotes and how the boy Howard works out that the garage door wasn't in fact locked as was claimed, I thought that was brilliant, proper crime writing, very Agatha Christie esque.

The house used for filming is stunning as well, I just love the setting of Midsomer Murders, the sinister subject of murder against the backdrop of the English countryside, definitely a worthwhile watch for Christmas

Saw this years back on TV when I was 10 & remember it all too well from when I first saw it to now! Now, I'm not much of a fan of the TV Show, never mind Crime Drama's in general, but this particular episode interested me!

This Episode follows Barnaby who is investigating a murder during Christmas 2004, where a murder in a family manner takes place. As he & the other detective investigate they find there is more to this story & that a dark revelation is about to be uncovered from the past...!

I found the Episode to be dark & twisted! There's a sense of horror going about & the mood is pretty brooding & sinister! The story unfolds well & there's plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing who the murderer is! The story & the back story are done well too & marry each other as the Episode comes to a climax! The Christmas feel is nice & the dark theme works well in the creepy old Manner the family are staying in!

Overall, it's a pretty good Episode! It's a classic one from the 00's & one of the best & most memorable!

9/10.

Midsomer Murders: Ghosts of Christmas Past starts in 1995 as amateur magician Ferdinand Villiers (Kevin Doyle) commits suicide with a shotgun... Jump forward nine years to Christmas Eve 2004 at Draycott House, a large somewhat rundown Country manor house lived in by Ferdy's sister Jennifer Carter (Haydn Gwynne), her teenage son Aidan (Dominic Colenso) & their elderly aunt Lydia (Margery Mason) where various other relatives & friends are gathering for a traditional family Christmas get together. Ferdy & Jennifer's other siblings are present, Kate (Mel Martin) & Ross (Philip Quast) as well as other assorted children, partner's & friends. During a Christmas Eve dinner Kate's son young Howard (Rory Copus) opens a cracker & finds a threatening message inside, a message that claims 'evil' people present will die before midnight Boxing Day. Old lady Lydia Villiers is the first to be killed, DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) is saved from a Christmas with his in-laws as he gets to figure it all out...

Episode 7 from season 7 this seasonal & festive themed Midsomer Murders was directed by Renny Rye & is alright but in my humble opinion it's not amongst the show's best. As I write this the date is 22nd December so there's a mere three days left until Christmas & I thought I'd get in the mood with some murder, revenge & good old family feuding Midsomer Murders style! The script by David Hoskins feels like a game of Cleudo as it's almost entirely set within a large Country manor house where the murders take place, I felt that any moment Barnaby was going going to explain it all & say something like X killed so & so with the candlestick in the attic! It's fully more than half an hour before the first murder happens which is too long for me although there's a nice explanation at the end involving the use of flashbacks to reveal a somewhat convoluted but imaginative story & expose a killer. This is one of those Midsomer Murders episodes where the killer is shown in a very sympathetic light, they don't try to run, they end up openly admitting it & in a way you sort of want them to get away with it considering the rather sad & unfortunate motives. As usual this is very exposition heavy with lots of red herrings as there are plenty of suspects who could have & wanted to do it, although there are only two murders & a lot of silly arguing which comes to nothing. There's a nice humorous sub-plot about Barnaby having to put up with his in-laws during Christmas Day, I love the little scene when he peers through the net curtains & worryingly says to himself 'he's brought the Monopoly'! Unfortunately one five second scene can't save Ghosts of Christmas Past from being good but not great.

Since this is a festive edition of the show the main theme music has been slightly rearranged with a nice jingle bells riff running through it, it's sounds better than it sounds if you know what I mean! During this episode Sgt. Scott is outwitted by a young teenage boy. Being set at Christmas there's plenty of traditional decorations, trees, dinners, chorus singing & snow covered English countryside to get you in the Christmas spirit. A house in Harpsden in Oxfordshire was used as Draycott manor in this. There are only two murders in this one, neither of which are graphic at all. As usual it's impeccably made with high production values, strong acting & nicely evocative photography.

Ghosts of Christmas Past is an OK Midsomer Murders, it's slightly above average but not up there with the show's best stories. I liked it but felt it was a bit slow, didn't have enough incident to really keep me glued although it does have a neat explanation & a more low key & sombre than usual killer with slightly more believable motives than usual. Worth watching if your a fan of the series but for more casual viewers there are better episodes out there.