Midsomer Murders Series 15: The Dark Rider [DVD]

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The police hustle around the building to where Ludo is lying crushed by the gargoyle. Barnaby is really angry, "You had to watch one elderly man. ( My question is, why wasn't a police officer stationed inside by Ludo's side?). I want full reports by 10AM!" Kate examines the body. She surmises that Ludo "wouldn't have known what had hit him. Actually, he may have done. It hit him full in the face, so presumably, he was looking up at the time." Jones says, "So why didn't he get out of the way?" ( MY QUESTION AS WELL!). Barnaby asks, "What sort of effort would it take to dislodge a gargoyle?" Kate says, "It depends how secure it was in the first place."

As Sasha is driving off, she sees Toby. Julian was driving into town and he dumped him. Sasha gives him a lift. At Quitewell Hall, Betty asks what the Fleetwoods wanted. Toby tells her about the wager. Jones calls Barnaby to tell him that he found out that Betty used to work for the Norfolk branch of the DeQuettevilles. She managed the estate up there until Rupert DeQuetteville died- he fell off a horse. Jones goes to talk to Amanda at the stables. She says she's not providing horses for the DeQuettevilles. Julian never paid her last year. She says Sasha and she were at uni together. They had similar ambitions to use their brains to get a good life. Sasha's got there whilst Amanda is still up to her eyebrows in debt and horse dung. 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.

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The Dark Rider is the first episode of the fifteenth series of Midsomer Murders and originally aired 1st February 2012.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Cavaliers and the Roundheads: The English Civil War lasted from 1642 to 1649. The followers of King Charles I were known as Cavaliers, meaning gallant gentlemen. His opponents were known as Roundheads. The name came from the men’s habit of cropping their hair close to their heads, rather than wearing their hair in the long, flowing style of the aristocrats who supported the king. For the first two years of the war, the king and his forces were successful. However, in 1645, the Roundheads defeated the Cavaliers at the Battle of Naseby. By 1646, Charles had surrendered, Cromwell’s supporters seized control of Parliament, installed 100 members who agreed with his idea of eliminating the monarchy in favor of a republic. Another round of fighting broke out. Though Cromwell’s supporters were in the minority, they controlled the army and within a few months had defeated the supporters of the king. Jones and Barnaby discuss the case. Barnaby thinks someone he knew and trusted called Ludo outside. Then rushed up to the roof and dumped the gargoyle on his head. Or, he got his accomplice to do the gargoyle bit.In the library, Barnaby asks how everyone is doing. Izzy says, "Everyone's fine. Just get on with it." Barnaby says, "Lady Isabel, would you mind sitting down and shutting up just for once?" Barnaby asks, "So you're still feeling a bit upset, are you, Betty?" Betty says, "Obviously. Who wouldn't be?" Barnaby says, "Just as well you have Toby. And Toby, you have Betty. At last, someone who would accept you for what you were." Toby says, "She... She never said I was silly or anything." Diana tries to leave, but Barnaby tells her to stay. As the near series begins it is time for more murder and mayhem is the most dangerous corner of rural England. The episode opens with an elderly man going onto the roof of his house to fix the flag; he is startled by what appears to be a headless horseman on a grey horse and falls to his death. This isn't any old house it the hall belonging to the DeQuetteville family and one of their ancestors, Geoffrey DeQuetteville, lost his head in the Civil War; could his ghost have returned… or was the horseman all too human? It doesn't take long before there is another death and this one is clearly murder. As is usually the case in Midsomer there are plenty of suspects including just about every member of the DeQuetteville family and their neighbours, whose family, the Fleetwoods, clashed with the DeQuettevilles centuries ago at the battle of Naseby. We don't just have ancient bad blood between the families; there is also a bet on how a forthcoming battle re-enactment will go. Toby and Betty take a stroll outside. Toby worries that Betty will leave him. They hug and over her shoulder Toby sees the headless horseman. Season 15 Episode 1 of Midsomer Murders resulted in a 0.00 rating in the 18-49 demographic. Midsomer Murders Season 15 Episodes... Toby tells Barnaby and Jones that his relationship with Julian was all good. He would be the next in line to inherit. Toby admits that he is uncomfortable with being called a sir and running the place. He is a bit... socially... clumsy. Toby mentions that The Fleetwoods have been in a family feud with the DeQuettevilles for "yonks"- a long time.