Midsomer Murders Series 13: Noble Art [DVD]

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John Nettles and Jason Hughes are both superb, individually and together (their chemistry, and the chemistry with Daniel Casey and John Hopkins before Hughes, being a huge part of their episodes' charm). The supporting cast are good, especially Kevin McNally. Very little is ridiculous (though there is the odd part that's a bit of a stretch agreed) and the story is mostly involving, plausible and easy to follow, but also too easy to solve and resolved slightly on the pat side in the episode. The killer is one suspected somewhat too early, and while the motives are far easier to swallow than most middle-period 'Midsomer Murders' episodes they're a little too restrained too. Grace grabs Iris Holman's hand. Camilla says, "I'm not much of a boxing fan." Joyce says, "You're not alone there." Tom Barnaby says, "Not by a long shot. I'm surprised that Grace Bishop hasn't got more of a stomach for this kind of thing." Joyce Barnaby ( Jane Wymark) (series 1–13)—DCI Tom Barnaby's long-suffering wife. She is tolerant of her husband, despite his being a workaholic who spent their honeymoon solving the case of the " Pimlico Poisoner", which suggests that they met in London. Joyce is an easy-going and friendly woman who likes to be involved in community activities. She has long possessed a desire to move out of their Causton home and into one of the picturesque Midsomer villages—only to be put off by the grisly murders that occur there. She's known to her family as an experimental, but not always successful, cook. Thus, Tom is often seen taking advantage of every opportunity to dine out. She married Tom in 1973 and their only child, Cully, was conceived on their honeymoon. Her parents are Muriel and Douglas.

There were a few other characters here that just filled in space, like Bishop's wife (and mother to John). The sculptor who was commissioned to do a beautiful metal piece who is engaged (or was) to an equally aggressive, hurt feelings brute of a bully who also hated John because of how he was treated by the ladies. Wouldn't have mind if he was murdered, btw. This whole episode basically had me wanting MORE people dead. Is that sad for me to say? Trust me...there are episodes of MM where the people you think or, wish that should die, doesn't. Elizabeth Spriggs and Richard Cant appeared in the pilot episode ("The Killings at Badger's Drift"), as mother and son Iris and Dennis Rainbird; they appeared again in "Dead Letters", this time as Iris' sister Ursula Gooding and her son Alistair.Tom finally gets to the bottom of the case by telling Joyce that he has purposely steered clear away from one suspect (his friend) because he just can't seem to understand why...because he doesn't want to believe it. Some of the inconsistent supporting cast could have done a better job, too, in particular Glenn Murphy as Frank and Henry Garrett as John. Much of their line delivery was so wooden I was amazed it made the director's cut.

Detective Sergeant (later Inspector) Gavin Troy ( Daniel Casey) (main: series 1–7; guest: series 11)—DCI Barnaby's first assistant. Troy is bright and ambitious. Early in the series, Troy is also known for his careless driving, causing a number of near-accidents. He is less enlightened than his boss who, in the first episode, tells Troy that he is “as politically correct as a Nuremberg Rally.” For example, Troy is uncomfortable with gay people (he calls them “ass bandits”) and the elderly, whom he calls "wrinklies". Writing provokes a lot of thought mostly, and has a healthy balance of the humorous and the darkly twisted. Love the chemistry between Barnaby and Jones, the incorporation of boxing is entertaining and there are some nice twists and turns along the way and intriguing subplots. Giles Braithwaite receives a call from Frank Bishop. Frank wants to meet with Giles at 2 am after his flight gets in. Joyce Barnaby says, "Thank goodness for that! I could do with a breather myself." Camilla Farquaharson says, "It's the excitement." Joyce says, "It's the sleep deprivation." Camilla says, "I didn't realise they'd be fighting at four in the morning." Sebastian Farquaharson says, "They're not. They're five hours behind us." Camilla says, "And I thought it'd be outside. Well, aren't they in some sort of garden?" Sebastian says, "Madison Square Garden! It's a world famous sporting arena. Not bloody Kew! My wife's not known for her intellect." Gerald Farquaharson says, "Whereas my son is renowned for his charm." Gerald pours a drink for Camilla and tells her, "Ignore him." On the TV: "Let's hear from Teddy Molloy, his trainer. Let's see what he's saying to John." At the forge, Ken Touhy tells Libby he is going out. Libby is unhappy that he isn't interested in her sculpture. Ken is jealous of the man who posed for the statue, John Kinsella.

Guest Stars

Sebastian looks at Gerald and then walks out. Gerald says, "Ladies and gentlemen! Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses to the champion of Midsomer Morchard. Now champion of the world! John Kinsella!" ( Cheering ) Jones is considerably less naive than Troy or Scott, possessing an insight into cases that neither would have. Jones was born in Wales and remarks about his love for Wales when he and Tom travel there in the episode "Death and Dust". He is a Welsh Baptist, as Barnaby calls him in "A Sacred Trust" (Series 14, Episode 7), to which Jones replies "What's wrong with that? Except the teetotalism."

Serena Gordon appeared as Ginny Sharp in "Market for Murder" (2002) and later appeared as widowed Christina Finleyson in "Midsomer Life" (2008). Gerald says, "Have you no idea how to behave?!" Sebastian says, "Look who I've had as a role model." Gerald says, "How dare you say that! I would never be so crass to guests in my own house." Sebastian says, "How about somebody else's house? Oh, everyone loves Gerald Farquaharson. So charming. A proper gentleman. Not like that son of his. Well, I might be crass. But it's your louche behaviour which has brought us to losing this house and the entire estate! So what are you going to do about it?" Estate agent Olive Beauvoisin (Eileen Davies) appeared in "Death's Shadow", "Dead Man’s Eleven", and "Hidden Depths" (but was credited in that particular episode only as "Estate Agent"). Libby runs up after Ken. Grace says, "They're only pretending! Your Ken will be all right." Libby says, "It's not Ken that I'm worried about. It's John." Grace says, "My John is champion of the world, love. I think he knows how to take care of himself." Libby says, "You don't know what Ken's capable of. He's got the strength of a bull when he's angry. And he's way beyond angry." Grace looks at Libby and says, "Do you mean you and my John have been....." Libby nods... "and right now, all he wants to do is rip John's head off his shoulders." ( Cheering ) Kevin Doyle appeared as Ferdy Villiers in "Ghosts of Christmas Past" (2004), and again as Paddy Powell in "The Oblong Murders" (2011).Joyce tells Barnaby that she suspects Camilla may be pregnant. The smell of coffee makes her feel nauseous. Joyce adds that she'll make a lovely mum. Joyce isn't so sure about Sebastian as a father though. He is such a joyless individual. Barnaby says, "He certainly hasn't got his father's good nature, that is true." Iris says, "Oh, do you know his father?" Barnaby says, "Yes. Gerald? Of course." Iris says, "Then you have the advantage over Sebastian. He has no idea who his biological father is. It certainly isn't Gerald Farquaharson."

Grace goes to the Boxing practice center. Ken Touhy is there to practice. Camilla and Gerald are at Giles' office, but he's not in. Iris asks if she can help. Camilla and Gerald leave. Grace meets with Giles at her house.At home, Barnaby says to Joyce. "I am not a man to have his head easily turned, am I? Do you think I am open to flattery? I'm not talking about man-woman stuff. It's when that sort of thing... clouds your professional judgement. There is one person in this investigation I have consistently overlooked as a suspect. Willfully overlooked." Doctor Fleur Perkins ( Annette Badland) (series 20–present)—Dr. Kam Karimore's replacement as resident pathologist. Samantha Bond starred in three episodes: first in "Destroying Angel" (2001) and "Shot at Dawn" (2008), and again in Neil Dudgeon's 2011 debut as lead character, the episode "Death in the Slow Lane". TV: He's going to win the title! The referee's stopping it! John Kinsella, from Midsomer Morchard! ( Cheering ) TV: And the celebrations begin! What a performance, John Kinsella! Taken in as a young boy, as an orphan, by Frank Bishop. He's there in the ring with him now, sharing the moment of glory. He's now champion of the world.