The plot of "The Murder in a Small Village" is absolutely old hat. You might have seen it in such films as "The Lady Vanishes" or "So Long at the Fair" or even such TV shows as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" or "Monk". No surprises there. However, it is the execution here that is faultless and that is what makes this one of the best episodes of "Furuhata Ninzaburô".
This script is one of Kôki Mitani's best. Starting with the set-up which sees Furuhata bedridden with a fever, he cleverly integrates the characters from "Furuhata Ninzaburô" into a plot which is reminiscent of a Kindaichi Kosuke mystery. The foggy village setting, the creepy atmosphere, and the family-like bond between the villagers all feel like they're straight out of "Gokkumon-to" or "The Honjin Murders". Unexpectedly, Furuhata fits right in despite being far from his home ground of Tokyo. His perceptive logic, sharp reasoning, and puzzle-box thinking make him a perfect detective for what is essentially a honkaku mystery.
Another smart move on Mitani's part is making Saoinji the only person Shintaro can rely on. The two have had a bitter rivalry throughout the season and it is a wonderful change of pace to have a plot which forces them to work together for a change. Still, Mitani gets a lot of comedic mileage out of their oneupmanship in the episode's opening scenes which see them compete in shogi and ping-pong. As expected, Masahiko Nishimura and Masanori Ishii rise to the challenge and are a delight to watch.
Another superb aspect of the production is the casting. The villagers are played by a band of actors who can be best described as Felliniesque. It's such a memorable parade of toothless, cockeyed, gaunt faces which are a constant reminder that Furuhata is playing away from home. The killer's right-hand man, a kind of spokesperson for the villagers, is played by Hachiro Oka, giving a wonderfully grotesque performance.
Meanwhile, the killer himself is an unexpectedly sympathetic figure, especially in the poetic final scene between Furuhata and him. He is played by Tatsuo Matsumura who lends The Master grace and gravitas, two qualities never before seen in a "Furuhata Ninzaburô" villain. His presence alone suggests a quiet stoicism and inspires the kind of respect his villagers have for him.
The episode was directed by Keita Kôno who in his unassuming way has managed to craft a creepier and more mysterious episode than "Terror of Dr Kuroiwa". He is not a stylish or particularly inventive director but his nuts-and-bolts approach works well in conjunction with the beautiful village location. The night shots especially have an eery quality to them reminiscent of the best episodes of the wonderful TV show "Trick".