The Bleakridge Watch patrols the streets of their remote village, exposing anyone who steps outside the law. When one of their members dies, Barnaby uncovers just how far some people will go... Read allThe Bleakridge Watch patrols the streets of their remote village, exposing anyone who steps outside the law. When one of their members dies, Barnaby uncovers just how far some people will go for power.The Bleakridge Watch patrols the streets of their remote village, exposing anyone who steps outside the law. When one of their members dies, Barnaby uncovers just how far some people will go for power.
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- Lena Ferrera
- (as Katy Cavanagh)
- Police Officer
- (uncredited)
- Director
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- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaClive Swift's last role.
- GoofsWhen referring to the camera it is described as an expensive DLSR camera when the term is actually DSLR - Digital Single Lens Reflex.
- Quotes
Ingrid Lockston: Spending your days in here, doling out soup to the all old dears. I don't know how you do it.
Barbara Walton: Well, you should volunteer for a day.
Ingrid Lockston: Oh, I'd love to, but the Watch takes up all my time these days. Which reminds me: sandwich board ouside, bit of an eyesore? I'll leave it to you to bring it in.
Barbara Walton: [to Maxine, after Ingrid leaves the building] I swear, one of these days.
Maxine Lockston: I'll be right behind you.
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 bag, with the first two episodes being watchable but uneven and the other two, particularly "A Vintage Murder", faring better.
Season 18 was mostly unimpressive, with "Breaking the Chain" faring weakest and "Saints and Sinners" and "The Incident at Cooper Hill" not faring much better. The season did have two good episodes, the best being "A Dying Art" and "Harvest of Souls" being a close second.
"The Village that Rose from the Dead" was a very solid and promising start to Season 19. The proceeding episode "Crime and Punishment" (nothing to do with the book by Fyodor Dostoevsky) is just as good and does nothing to diminish the promise set by the previous episode.
Kam once again, and people are probably going to find this criticism rather old, does nothing for me. Dr Bullard is very much missed and while Kate was bland Kam lacks even more personality and still comes across as a condescending know-it-all. Her chemistry with Winter is quite good, but that's it. It is agreed too that the neighbourhood watch stuff was rather silly and far-fetched.
Conversely, the production values however 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.
Writing is thought-provoking and some of the quirky and gentle humour juxtaposes well with the dark murder theme and the twists and turns, the episode not feeling overly serious or heavy like some John Barnaby-era episodes as a result. The story is never simplistic, neither is it convoluted, with a surprising ending that manages to just about be plausible rather than convoluted or distastefully over-the-top. The ending and motive are somewhat recycled but luckily it isn't convoluted and doesn't verge on pantomime. The characters are closer to the eccentric and fun characters rather than the bland and pantomimic characters seen in too many latter season episodes, am including the later Tom Barnaby-era episodes too in this.
Winter has more to him and is settling more than he did in the previous episode. Liked the chemistry between Barnaby and Sarah, which has come on a long way since Neil Dudgeon first took over, didn't care for it at all at first but now it has really improved. Sykes is sorely missed however. Neil Dudgeon looks comfortable and doesn't take it too seriously. Frances Barber (have always liked her) stands out in support as does Vicki Pepperdine. Clive Swift's character could have been a little more fleshed out however.
Overall, another strong episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 29, 2017
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- Runtime1 hour 28 minutes
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- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD