Midsomer Murders - My Favourite Episodes - Series Two

 

Spoiler warning – there will be some spoilers here, so read on with caution if you have not seen all the episodes.

It was a difficult choice as this series has two great episodes: "Dead Man's Eleven" and "Death's Shadow". However, I think Death's Shadow has the edge ever so slightly. 

It has the edge, in part, due to the powerhouse performance given by Richard Briers. He provides his benign, downtrodden vicar with some real depth and pathos. By the end of the episode, you fully understand why he resorted to murder. You can also see how all those years of frustration and pain had tipped him over the edge. 

The insight into this is partly brought to us by the magnificent performance of Judy Parfitt as Angela Wentworth, Stephen's shrewish, bitter and spiteful wife. There are a couple of scenes where they show that there was a time when they loved each other, but that is long gone. When he finally tells her how much harm she has done to him, you can see some guilt and regret on her face. 

What is also great about this episode is that every actor is in the right role. You can see that great care has been taken with this. You'd expect this for major characters, but it's the same with minor characters as well, such as Agnes, the sister of Claire Williams. 

Though the plot is thin in places, it doesn't get in the way of the narrative of this story.