"Midsomer Murders" Ring Out Your Dead (TV Episode 2002) Poster

(TV Series)

(2002)

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7/10
"It's amazing where an interest in campanology can land you." Great Midsomer Murders mystery.
poolandrews11 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Midsomer Murders: Ring Out Your Dead is set in the Midsomer village of Midsomer Wellow where six locals are preparing for the annual Midsomer bell-ringing contest headed up by Peter Fogden (Adrian Scarborough) who is desperate to win, it seems at any cost. The ringers meet to practise except one, a womaniser named Greg Tutt (Dugald Bruce Lockhart) who hasn't turned up, as one of the bell-ringers Emma Tysoe (Lyndsey Marshal) prepares her bell drops of blood fall from the ceiling & Greg's dead body is discovered upstairs amongst the bells. It turns out Greg was shot through the heart & so DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) & Sgt. Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey) have a murder on their hands, they are stumped & don't know where to start. Then when Emma is shot dead on her wedding day one murder becomes two & the race is on to unmask the killer before they strike again...

Episode 3 from season 5 this Midsomer Murders mystery was directed by Sarah Hellings & in my opinion has that certain magic & charm that made the first few seasons so successful & has been noticeably absent of late. The script by Christopher Russell is well paced & features three murders & a death of natural causes although it takes about 15 minutes to get to the first kill. I thought this one had some nice red herrings like large amounts of money won gambling, affairs, secret love letters, the whole village seem to be gun enthusiasts & there's a decent amount of plausible suspects as well who could have done it, I also like Midsomer Murders episodes where the motive for murder is dark, sinister & something a little different which is the case with Ring Out Your Dead. I mean the motive here is a little silly & I don't think many will be able to second guess them but in an odd way it all comes together nicely at the end & just feels both satisfying & right if you know what I mean although I don't understand why the killer only wounded Liam at the end & not kill him outright when their intention has been murder all along. There's some nice humour here to, Troy poking fun at Barnaby for his wife's interest in bell-ringing & a funny moment where Liam tells Emma their wedding is off to which she replies 'but my mom's cooked all the food'! It's nice to know she's got her priorities straight! As usual Ring Out Your Dead is an exposition heavy 100 odd minutes mystery drama so you really need to pay attention or you won't get it.

The locations are as nice as ever, the real life Church used in this episode was located in Watlington in Oxfordshire, Bray Church in Berkshire was used for the interior bell-ringing scenes & the actual bells themselves were at Monks Risborough Church in Buckinghamshire while Northstoke in Oxfordshire was used as the location for Midsomer Wellow. I must say one thing that really irritated me about Ring Out Your Dead was the constant sound of bells ringing, I know they were essential to the plot but the noise of them just grated on my nerves so much! It's no wonder people generally don't like them. There are four deaths in this with three being cold blooded murder, there's nothing graphic in this episode apart from some blood splatter. The acting is strong as usual.

Ring Out Your Dead is a deservedly well liked Midsomer Murders mystery, I liked it & consider it to be amongst the show's finest. A must for fans of the series & armchair sleuth's everywhere.
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9/10
This one has it all.
Sleepin_Dragon23 November 2018
Ring out your dead is without a shadow of a doubt worthy of the tag 'classic episode,' it's funny, it's well written, it has some huge, interesting characters, plus it ends in some style.

The sun story of the bell ringers is great, it's attention to detail like that, that made the earlier episodes so much better. After a dramatic opener, it's a mix of funny, dark and shocking. The music throughout is simply brilliant, melodic, and so in keeping.

Some fabulous characters, Fogden, Maisie, the glorious femme fatale, and of course the wing commander. Great acting too, loved Gemma Jones and Graham Crowden in particular.

A creepy, eerie Vive throughout, it's original, clever and witty. 9/10
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7/10
has a bell-ringing competition brought out the worst in people?
blanche-210 December 2012
Bell-ringers are being murdered, and the question is, why? in this 2002 Midsomer Murders from season 5.

The church bell-ringers of Midsomer Wellow are preparing for a big bell-ringers' competition. As rehearsal begins, blood starts falling on the face of one of the ringers, Emma Tysoe (Lyndsey Marshal). It turns out that the body of Greg (Dugald Bruce Lockhart), who was somewhat of a playboy. Well, there are a few people who could have wanted him dead, including his soon to be ex-wife. But when there's another murder, and another - with a message near each, going back to the history of the it seems like someone is determined to knock off all those bell-ringers.

Interesting story tied to an old tale about the church itself which Barnaby and Troy attempt to untangle. As an amusing sideline, Troy finds himself in a flirtation with an older woman who is very up front about her sexuality, and had been a lover of the first victim.

Entertaining, with some good performances, particularly by Gemma Jones as Maisie Gooch, Graham Crowden, and Hugh Bonneville.
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The perils of bell-ringing
cp-779-68740723 June 2018
A very well-written script. Previous reviewers seem surprised that there is a competitive element to bell-ringing (though often the "competition" is with the past, as witness the plaques on the wall of the ringing chambers), and indeed that not all those who ring are members of the host church congregation.

As a former churchwarden it may be helpful to explain that many pearl of bells are of 8 or 10 bells. There would be very few churches who could muster a sufficiency of ringers from their own congregation, so it is quite normal to offer membership of the tower to bell-ringers from other parishes and to those who are not regular church-goers. There are of course some, such as the Chairman of the Parochial Church Council (not incidentally a deacon), Reggie, who would rather have no bells at all, but they are a in a minority.

The one thing that does not ring true is the idea that the bells could be sold simply by asking the bishop to agree. As a matter of church law, the sale of church bells and almost everything else in a church requires an order, called a faculty, from a church court. These are not lightly granted and in a case such as this the likelihood that the court would allow the sale of the bells is negligible. Reggie would probably have known this, but the others might not.

Many church clocks show the same time constantly. They are complex and expensive. There are very few clock-makers in England who are able to service the turret clocks in all the churches, town halls etc throughout the country, so delay is inevitable. They are also expensive to maintain, and the expense is not likely to sit high on the church's priority list if the roof is leaking. It used to be the custom to set the hands manually to 12 noon if the clock was not working, but that is seldom done these days.

Finally I was advised that if I was going into the church on a weekday to do something in the vestry, or somewhere else out of sight of the door, to lock the door behind me. At one time parish churches were commonly left open all day and all night. It is however a sad fact of our current times that if you do you soon find all the candlesticks missing, so the church insurers insist on keeping the church locked except during the times of services unless there is someone stationed in the church to watch the door.

A very good and accurate episode.
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8/10
I Had No Idea Bell Ringing Was a Sport
Hitchcoc23 February 2016
This is an interesting episode. As is often the case, there is a piece of weird history that lies just beneath the surface. It has to do with the ringing of church bells in a competitive way. I had no idea it was a competition. But this is England, and, of course, I don't know what sort of ancient "sports" they involve themselves in. It turns out that there is an angry faction, including and old man, a deacon, who resent the fact that the church is used for something "secular." But again, there is that history. The show begins with a man who is murdered and dropped into a well (these well seem to be a natural place to put bodies). There is a subplot with Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), who has designs on the old man's money. It is a neat episode because of the subject matter.
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8/10
Interesting yet lacking in detail
Pelhamj200025 August 2009
I too noticed the time on the clock as always being 6.25. It was mentioned in the goofs. What is the reason for it? Maybe too, like other titles there could have been an explanation of the murder and how it was done at the end. It was an interesting episode and I have a feeling that the writer tends to portray quite a few women as murderers, or should I say, murderesses. I find it absolutely bizarre that a person could murder innocent bell-ringers just because her ancestor was murdered by 'bell-ringers' who are unrelated to the present ones. The judgmental old man was super. As was the character of Peter, who was only interested in winning at all costs. He was thoroughly insensitive to the deaths around him. Super film all round!
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8/10
Loved it! What a fantastic episode!
barbrickey178 July 2020
Love it! What a fantastic episode. Not the best episode of the show, but certainly an interesting and unique one. You can really tell the actors are giving it their absolute all. Certainly an interesting storyline, not too gruesome and gripping you at some points. I really enjoyed the character of Reggie Barton, played fabulously by the incredible Graham Crowden. Like I said the actors all did a sensational job, and the plot with the bell ringing really is a well thought one, and obviously a well scripted one. In all I enjoyed the episode, not too many faults or boring bits, even if there were any, they'd be well covered up by the good acting. Interesting ending, and all round pretty good episode.
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7/10
Funny Scary
zboston316 November 2009
For many Americans, the past time of ringing church bells, much less, cut throat competition in it will seem a little screwball, and indeed, there are moments of burst out laughing in this episode.

There are also scenes of scariness, walk in the dark while something ominous pursues you, like bits from an old 1960's Hammer horror film. And even a few moments of real human pain and tragedy.

And in a sometime tradition of this series, the motive for the murders is totally off the wall wackiness with the murderer the last person you'd ever suspect.

Anyway, the scenery of a series that seems at times to come from House And Country Magazine is pleasant to look at.

All in all, a pleasant way to past an evening in front of the telly.
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10/10
Perhaps the best episode since Season 3's "Judgement Day"
TheLittleSongbird12 January 2017
The first three seasons of 'Midsomer Murders' were more consistent, with all the episodes ranging from decent to classic. Season 4 became less consistent, with "The Electric Vendetta" being the show's first bad episode and "Who Killed Cock Robin?" only being a marginal improvement, while the rest were very good.

Season 5 got off to a very promising start with "Market for Murder", and continuing to go strong with "A Worm in the Bud". "Ring Out Your Dead" is for me the best of Season 5, and as said in the review summary the best episode since Season 3's "Judgement Day". Have often heard it described as a show favourite, and for good reason.

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 creepy in places (the build up to the third murder setting the hearts racing, even though it is obvious what is going to happen there is some real tension in that scene), the humour also being a breath of fresh air. Nothing felt inconsequential, everything had a point, everything intrigued and any loose ends were tied together nicely.

The story, over the top and elaborate sometimes, but appropriately and wonderfully so and with a suitable grimness and creepiness (like with the ominous opening sequence), 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 (remarkable for an episode that as ever is heavy in exposition), 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, eccentric and not what they seem.

With the identity of the murderer, that was one of the show's most surprising and a strong case of it not being who you'd expect it to be, the last one in this case. The motives are pretty wacky but makes sense at least, much more forgivable than when later episodes had wacky motives but ended up feeling convoluted, "Ring Out your Dead" doesn't do that.

Acting is very good, superb in the case of John Nettles, and his chemistry with Daniel Casey (a great contrast as ever as Troy, and his subplot is not distracting at all when it could easily have threatened to), Jane Wymark (love their loving chemistry) and Barry Jackson always convincing and more. Gemma Jones and Hugh Bonneville are particularly great in support.

In conclusion, a favourite of mine and 'Midsomer Murders' returns to classic territory. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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7/10
the most outlandish villain ever
mgl-9203722 April 2022
Of all the episodes I've watched, this one has the most preposterous conclusion. Nevertheless it's quite enjoyable. The cougar is quite something too.
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9/10
Great if not flawless murder mystery.
harrykivi24 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The 5th season of "Midsomer murders" has left quite an impression with "Market for murder" being solid , "A worm in the bud" very good. "Ring out your dead" one the other hand is easily the best of this season and one of shows greatest episodes.

Let's see the positives first.

. The production values of this episode are usually amazing with wonderful music in the background, clever direction by Sarah Hellings.

. The story of "Ring out your dead" is one of "Midsomer murders" most compelling. Twists, turns, red herrings keep coming throughout. Characters here are colorful and interesting. 3 occurring murders are also committed in brutal manners, which is always awesome to see.

. Lovely humor is well present. "The lady of the manor" subplot being particularly juicy in its execution :)

. The cast is very strong as well. Hugh Bonneville, Gemma Jones, Adrian Scarborough and others giving extraordinarily good performances.

But...

. ... not all of the script is that well crafted. The ending falls most flat of "Ring out your dead" in my opinion. Even though the identity of the killer is a surprise- one of shows best- and everything comes together beautifully at the end, the motives for the murders could have been a lot more interesting than portrayed in the last few minutes.

. Also agree with the fact, which wonders why the killer only wounded one supposed victim and didn't kill him. Even though the aim was to... How the victim managed to stay alive I found quite coincidental here.

Still, "Ring out your dead" is a great episode and one of shows best.

9/10 HK
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6/10
Who'd have thought bell ringing could be such a risky hobby
Schweizer8524 February 2021
This is your typical Midsomer Murders episode of the time, the early 2000s where we saw the best, it's totally changed now.

Very summery episode, stunning houses and gardens, great to see Hugh Bonneville and Gwen Taylor, brilliant performances.

The conclusion is extremely silly but it wouldn't be Midsomer Murders without this. The usual over the top characters but strangely, this episode presents some rather more down to earth ones as well. Strange that we don't see Dr Bullard in this one, he isn't called in for any of the deaths.

As usual, Joyce Barnaby getting involved and causing a nuisance, most entertaining.

This doesn't rank in the top 10 by any means but worth a watch.
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4/10
Whoever wrote the screenplay for this episode has bats in their belfry
Dagwoodie10 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Yet another of those episodes on 'Midsomer' in which there is no logical way to determine the killer(s), and there's no lack of red herrings. This is yet another occurrence in the series of the writer opting to employ some impossible-to-deduce critical revelation in order to expose the killer. And as is usually the case in such episodes, they've chosen the character least likely, from all appearances, to be the culprit.
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Episode where church is used in a negative way
ctyankee129 August 2015
Another episode with a church and church people being used in a negative way in Midsomer Murders.

Church bell ringers start being murdered in this town one at a time. The head man of the ringers is obsessed with practicing and winning an award. That is his only goal in life.

It is said that this church Reverend was killed years ago by bell ringers. His body is found in a well. The cause is said is that he wanted the ringers to attend the church. This seems so bogus. I never heard of heads of churches allowing non-members of a church to go into the church tower to ring the church bells and enter a contest but this is how the story went.

Nobody seems to know why these killings take place. A theme but not the cause of deaths is a rich woman is like the town prostitute. She has sex with younger men and it is just a game with her, she broke up a marriage in the village and the wife caught her husband in their bed. She threw her husband's clothes out the window which was funny, even his pants. This loser woman also made a play for Sgt Troy and he looks like he gives in to her advances. I was disappointed in Troy.

A red headed male bell ringer is with a woman that is like his mother is walking near the church the bells start ringing when they are not supposed to ring. The woman wants to go see who is up there and the the young male said he is afraid of heights something like that. This makes no sense, he has to go up to the tower to practice ringing the bells when they are scheduled to practice.

The plot of killing all the bell ringers is interesting but stupid. The killer in the end does not seem physically competent to commit all these murders. It is a good mystery but a fantasy.
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8/10
Put down that blasted pill bottle!!
2Tissues15 June 2021
I really like these earlier seasons - the writing is top-notch, but I was ready to wring that actress's neck when she was whimpering to Barnaby whilst trying to open a child-proof cap.

It was so distracting!
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8/10
Handguns?
bob-11353 August 2019
Bit concerned to see Gwenllian Taylor blasting away with a pistol since all handguns had been banned in 1997.
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3/10
What?
lizzieqever26 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I love mysteries for the challenge of solving the mystery. So note there will be spoilers ahead.

In general, I love Midsomer mysteries. I love who done it in general. This one though had one of the worst motives I've ever seen. How are you supposed to figure out the killer with the motive is so off-the-wall?

The killer was angry because they're distant relative and I mean by seven generations distant was killed? So you're gonna kill current bell ringers for that I don't even know who my great great grandfather was, much less going back more generations.

This was a ridiculous motive, and made solving this relatively impossible. Unless you took a wild guess just based on who was left in the bowl rigging crew. Bad episode in my opinion, a waste of my time I will say I didn't know there was competitive bell ringing until I watch this.
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