When in its prime (a vast majority of Seasons 1-9), 'Midsomer Murders' was a great show and one that is watched and re-watched frequently. Seasons 10-13 became more uneven, with three of the show's worst episodes coming from Seasons 11 and 13, but there were a few solid episodes and "Blood Wedding" and especially "Master Class" were gems.
After John Nettles retired and Neil Dudgeon and the new character of John Barnaby took over, 'Midsomer Murders' just hasn't been the same on the most part. Season 14 was a disappointment outside of "The Oblong Murders" and "A Sacred Trust", with "Echoes of the Dead" and "The Night of the Stag" being show low-points. Season 15 was inconsistent, being a case of starting promisingly and then took a three-episodes-in-a-row strange turn with "Written in the Stars" before finishing on a good note. Season 16 was mostly good, especially "Wild Harvest", with the only disappointment being "Let Us Prey". Season 17 was a mixed, with the first two episodes being watchable but uneven and the other two, particularly "A Vintage Murder", faring better.
"The Incident at Cooper Hill" continues the eighteenth season, which started off with the dull and bizarre "Habeas Corpus". On my first watch, it came across as a pretty dire episode and one of the episodes personally enjoyed least. On re-watch, "The Incident at Cooper Hill" fares better, and does fare better than the over-stuffed, underdeveloped, dull and strange "The Electric Vendetta" (the first bad 'Midsomer Murders', though still suffering from a couple of similar problems.
There is a good deal to like still certainly. The production values cannot be faulted as usual. It's beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the haunting theme tune is one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
Most of the acting is good. Gwilym Lee's Nelson is likable and charismatic, Betty is adorable and Sykes steals every scene he's in though Season 18 got to a stage where he was deserving of fresher material (though faring better than in "Habeas Corpus"). Fiona Dolman has been growing on me since her and Barnaby's relationship was made more interesting. Alison Steadman and Pip Torrens are the standouts of the supporting cast.
On the other hand, Neil Dudgeon is both pretty wooden and sleepwalks through his role, and Kam not only has much less appeal than Kate she is also a very cold fish with a condescending air, very difficult to warm to.
Like "Habeas Corpus" (and "The Electric Vendetta"), the story is weak often. The alien sightings do threaten to take over the mystery, which feels padded with some parts not given the development needed and also outlandish, with the whole link with the murders and alien sightings improbable and not adequately explained. Parts are also a bit confused and the ending feels on the rushed side with cramming to cram in too much in a short space of time. Tonally, it feels on the heavy side and also gets a bit silly.
In summary, nowhere near as bad as remembered but it's a change of pace that doesn't come off. 5/10 Bethany Cox
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