The owner of Finchmere airfield is dropped from a plane to meet a gruesome death. Are anti-craft campaigners behind his murder? Or does it link back to a WW2 mission?The owner of Finchmere airfield is dropped from a plane to meet a gruesome death. Are anti-craft campaigners behind his murder? Or does it link back to a WW2 mission?The owner of Finchmere airfield is dropped from a plane to meet a gruesome death. Are anti-craft campaigners behind his murder? Or does it link back to a WW2 mission?
Photos
- Alex Darnley
- (as Oliver Rix)
- Director
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- All cast & crew
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode has the Doctor Who character Donna Nobel's onscreen mother and grandfather.
- GoofsYou cannot tell a computer user based on an IP address. You may be able to tell which computer used a specific IP address, but not which person used that computer.
- Quotes
[first lines]
DCI John Barnaby: [on phone] And how is the next member of the House of Barnaby? Still trying to kick his way out? Or hers? Uh-huh, good. I hope you and your mum aren't overdoing the whole baby-buying thing. Will grow, you know; they're not bonsai. OK, love to your lot. Bye.
[hangs up]
DCI John Barnaby: [to Sykes] You know what this is, don't you? This is going to be the end of life as we know it. No more peace and quiet for us, when the baby arrives. How many of these things do you have?
[Sykes barks three times]
DCI John Barnaby: You do not, you lying hound.
- ConnectionsReferences North by Northwest (1959)
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 got off to a very good start with "The Christmas Haunting", introducing us to Barnaby's new partner Nelson. "Let Us Prey", while not a terrible episode at all, was a disappointment and very problematic. "Wild Harvest" was very strong, even stronger than "The Christmas Haunting". "The Flying Club" is not the best of the season but hardly the worst.
It is a little lacking in suspense, with the murderer and motive being too guessable and obviously signalled too early. Like "Wild Harvest", some themes are typical of 'Midsomer Murders' and have been done better and with more spark before. Kate is still very bland and personality-less, and there are some glaring inaccuracies detailed in a previous review (not that it was a major turn-off but anybody a stickler for these kind of detail may find it an issue).
Production values cannot be faulted as usual. It's mostly 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.
What could have been heavy and dark, or too silly and outlandish, is nicely balanced in the script, some of the occasional grimness well contrasted with some amusing moments with Sykes and the cute chemistry with him and Barnaby. The story benefits from the intriguing setting, and is neither simplistic, convoluted or padded. Nor is it too heavy or overly silly, like some John Barnaby-era episodes have been. The murders are pretty good, including a Hitchcockian-like second murder that wasn't too silly.
Characters are closer to the colourful and eccentric characters than the bland and pantomimic ones, especially when compared to the cartoonish murderers of "Death in the Slow Lane" and "The Night of the Stag". Suspects are not too many or few, though motives and themes are familiar.
Neil Dudgeon is much more comfortable than he was in the previous two seasons, though he continued to have uneven moments since. Gwilym Lee is settling in very nicely, he is likable and isn't a dumbed down idiot like Jones became and the chemistry between him and Barnaby sees a much better treatment of him from Barnaby. The supporting cast are all strong, with Bernard Cribbons and particularly June Whitfield a sheer delight.
Overall, pretty good, solid episode without being a classic. 7/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 18, 2017
Details
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- Runtime1 hour 29 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD