Midsomer Murders - Happy Families

 Agatha Christie homage hits the spot!

 Modern Midsomer Murders is often less intent on creating a strange mood or introducing quirky characters preferring to have a more grounded approach with just a few odd moments. There are episodes of recent vintage that could easily be mistaken for one of many other series. `Happy Families` however is not one of those but rather a well constructed gem that knowingly plays the tropes of detective fiction- especially that of Agatha Christie to whom this seems to be something of a tribute-  and yet seems fresh. Its set almost entirely in the house and grounds of  Victor Karras, millionaire games manufacturer, a grand estate  which can only be reached by a rather rickety looking ferry to the mainland. We know something will happen because the camera keeps focusing on just how rickety this metal vessel is...

 

"What time is Miss Marple getting here." Midsomer Murders finds it's inner Agatha Christie

Midsomer Murders - The Scarecrow Murders

 

A sombre episode seems out of place.

 Shown for the first time directly after a frothy documentary looking at the show’s twenty fifth anniversary, `The Scarecrow Murders` is an atypical episode and a little tame. Back in the day a title like that would probably involve a killer dressing up as a scarecrow and some suitably scary sequences. The name is something of a red herring even though events take place during a scarecrow festival. While the victims are left amongst the displays with a bit of straw adorning them the episode is actually about more serious issues. Curiously the location is simply referred to as Midsomer despite the documentary making a point that it’s a fictional county rather than a village. Perhaps they’ve run out of names.

 

Spoiler- The episode isn't as great as this picture makes it seem!