Midsomer Murders started off wonderfully with "The Killings at Badger's Drift and "Written in Blood" continues its classic standard. Part of the reason is the perfect John Nettles as Tom Barnaby, a character with both humour and thoughtfulness. Jane Wymark is so good in her role as Joyce Barnaby, the kindest person in Midsomer Murders, and the perfect wife and mother to Tom and Cully.
"Written in Blood" starts in Durrow, Southern Ireland 1955. Liam Henlon, a young boy, is sexually abused by his father, and Liam wants to put an end to all the pain his father has caused him. One night, he finds a shotgun, he goes into his father bedroom, and pulls the trigger. After realising that his father is dead, he runs away from home.
In present day, Gerald Hadleigh, Amy Lyddiard, Honoria Lyddiard, Laura Hutton, Brian Clapper and Sue Clapper, are having their monthly meeting for the Midsomer Worthy Writers Circle. They are having a discussion of which writer they shall invite, and Gerald's proposititions are being rejected. Amy Lyddiard suggests they should invite Max Jennings, the famous writer behind the best selling book, "The Far Away Hills". Gerald Hadleigh is deeply troubled about Amy's suggestion, and says he don't want him to come. Unfortunately for Gerald, the majority vote is yes. Gerald is still deeply troubled knowing Max Jennings will come to his house later in the evening, and asks Amy to make sure that Gerald won't be left alone with Jennings during the evening, something Amy Lyddiard agrees upon.
Amy and Honoria Lyddiard live together at Gresham Hall. Amy was married to Ralph Lyddiard, Honoria's brother. She adores her brother and writes a history of England, seen through the personal chronicles of her family, the Lyddiards. She does anything to find some new information about her brother, and she does so, in Navy news at Laura Hutton's shop. Honoria knocks at Gerald's door some hours before the Midsomer Murders Writers Circle's meeting with Max Jennings, but there is no reply.
During the meeting with Max Jennings, Max asks them if them have any qustions they would like to ask him. Max looks at Gerald and wants him to say something, but Gerald rejects him. Eventuelly Gerald asks Max a question about the truth in fiction, and wonders where Max gets all his ideas. When Max replies that it is mainly from experience, Gerald seems suprised, but finds the answer interesting, and replies that he have nothing he can write about, not now. At the end of the meeting, Amy makes sure that Max leaves alongside her and Honoria, but when Max tells them that he needs to go inside again to collect a pair of gloves, Amy is forced to leave Gerald alone with Max in Gerald's house. A while later, Max leaves Gerald's house and drives away.
The following morning, Gerald Hadleigh is found murdered by his cleaning lady, Mrs Bundy. She is in a terrible state, but is capable enough to inform Barnaby of the meeting that was held the previous evening. Troy says that Mrs Bundy knew the people who attended the writing circle evening, accept the invited writer Max Jennings. Barnaby and Troy talks to Sue Clapper, and get the name they have been looking for, the famous writer, Max Jennings.
After a while, Max Jennings is found murdered in a sea cottage, and the pieces start to be tied up. It transpires that Max had a secret relationship with his secretary, Barbara Neal, and she reveals she found Max dead without noticing Barnaby. They had booked the sea cottage together and the trip to Denmark was just a front, which they told Max's wife, Selina. Even though he is dead, Gerald Hadleigh still owns a flat in London that is overlooking the Albert Hall. When Barnaby and Troy get there, and Barnaby starts to wander around in the flat, he gets the feeling that he knows this place, that he has been here, and after a while, he recalls what Joyce told him in advance, about "The Far Away Hills" and that the young boy, Liam Henlon, which the book is about, bought a flat in London overlooking the Albert Hall. Barnaby remembers that Joyce gave him details about the flat and how it was described in the book, and realises that the young boy, Liam Henlon, which the book is about, is indeed Gerald Hadleigh, and he tells Troy the complete picture. The story is about Liam Henlon, who lives with his father in Durrow, Southern Ireland. Liam is sexually abused by his father and kills him in 1955. He runs away from home and meets an artist in Europe. The artist paints him in historical dress and the paintings are sold for a fortune. He gets rich, buys a flat in London overlooking the Albert Hall, and tells Max Jennings everything. Max Jennings used to work as a psychiatrist before he became a writer and when Gerald told him his innermost secrets, Max took what Hadleigh had told him and put it in a book. It is revealed that Gerald Hadleigh killed Max Jennings and on the way home from London, Barnaby and Troy find out that Honoria Lyddiard killed Gerald Hadleigh, after finding out that the artist Gerald met in Europe, was indeed Ralph Lyddiard, Honoria's brother, and that Ralph and Gerald were lovers, as a result of Gerald being a transvestite.
After this summary of the main points of this story, I feel that this story about Gerald Hadleigh being Liam Henlon, and that his life was put into the book, "The Far Away Hills" is indeed a wonderful episode. I really like the setting about a writers circle, and that Gerald indeed was at center stage. As said, it is a wonderful episode, but the only thing that still troubles me about this episode, is the subplot about the drama class that Brian Clapper teaches. First of all, it did never bring anything interesting to the story, and I still wonder, why would a 15 year old girl be interested in an old man like Brian Clapper? I know it is a part of a play, but at the end of the day, that story just feels weird in my opinion. If they had told him in advance that Brian and Edie would make love, and that is just was a part of the play, the story's coup de théâtre, this part of the story would have been a lot more credible. Instead they just make fun of him, and I then begin to wonder if this actually was meant to be a part of the play, or if their intention was to freeze him out of his own play.
Anna Massey, Joanna David and Robert Swann are the fare strongest of the supporting cast. Even though Honoria kills Gerald Hadleigh in anger, Honoria still cares about Ralph, even though he is dead, and during a conversation with Amy at the end of the episode, when she is confessing to the murder of Gerald Hadleigh, we can see that she nearly starts to cry when she talks about Ralph. That is touching, considering that Honoria feels like a bland character. Amy is a joy to watch and Joanna David plays her wonderfully well. Amy is getting used to being protected by Honoria. Honoria talks in a patronising way to Amy, but still, Amy manages to cheer up. That shows willpower and a wonderful actress behind the character. Robert Swann is a joy to watch in this episode as well, even though his character Gerald Hadleigh is killed off early on. Gerald may look like a bland person at first glance, but I believe that he has so much trauma in him from his childhood, not to mention the betrayal he feels after being let down by Max Jennings, when he wrote the book about Gerald Hadleigh's life in "The Far away Hills".
"Written in Blood" is an incredibly well-made episode, beautifully photographed with a gorgeously idyllic scenery. The story is a bit darker than "The Killings at "Badger's Drift", and this story is compelling as well. The director and writer collaboration between Jeremy Silberston and Anthony Horowitz is a wonderful joy to witness. Bosham, Sussex stands out as the most wonderful filming location in this episode alongside Aldbury in Hertfordshire.
In conclusion, Midsomer Murders continues its classic standard with "Written in Blood". 10/10 Hossy Christie.
"Written in Blood" starts in Durrow, Southern Ireland 1955. Liam Henlon, a young boy, is sexually abused by his father, and Liam wants to put an end to all the pain his father has caused him. One night, he finds a shotgun, he goes into his father bedroom, and pulls the trigger. After realising that his father is dead, he runs away from home.
In present day, Gerald Hadleigh, Amy Lyddiard, Honoria Lyddiard, Laura Hutton, Brian Clapper and Sue Clapper, are having their monthly meeting for the Midsomer Worthy Writers Circle. They are having a discussion of which writer they shall invite, and Gerald's proposititions are being rejected. Amy Lyddiard suggests they should invite Max Jennings, the famous writer behind the best selling book, "The Far Away Hills". Gerald Hadleigh is deeply troubled about Amy's suggestion, and says he don't want him to come. Unfortunately for Gerald, the majority vote is yes. Gerald is still deeply troubled knowing Max Jennings will come to his house later in the evening, and asks Amy to make sure that Gerald won't be left alone with Jennings during the evening, something Amy Lyddiard agrees upon.
Amy and Honoria Lyddiard live together at Gresham Hall. Amy was married to Ralph Lyddiard, Honoria's brother. She adores her brother and writes a history of England, seen through the personal chronicles of her family, the Lyddiards. She does anything to find some new information about her brother, and she does so, in Navy news at Laura Hutton's shop. Honoria knocks at Gerald's door some hours before the Midsomer Murders Writers Circle's meeting with Max Jennings, but there is no reply.
During the meeting with Max Jennings, Max asks them if them have any qustions they would like to ask him. Max looks at Gerald and wants him to say something, but Gerald rejects him. Eventuelly Gerald asks Max a question about the truth in fiction, and wonders where Max gets all his ideas. When Max replies that it is mainly from experience, Gerald seems suprised, but finds the answer interesting, and replies that he have nothing he can write about, not now. At the end of the meeting, Amy makes sure that Max leaves alongside her and Honoria, but when Max tells them that he needs to go inside again to collect a pair of gloves, Amy is forced to leave Gerald alone with Max in Gerald's house. A while later, Max leaves Gerald's house and drives away.
The following morning, Gerald Hadleigh is found murdered by his cleaning lady, Mrs Bundy. She is in a terrible state, but is capable enough to inform Barnaby of the meeting that was held the previous evening. Troy says that Mrs Bundy knew the people who attended the writing circle evening, accept the invited writer Max Jennings. Barnaby and Troy talks to Sue Clapper, and get the name they have been looking for, the famous writer, Max Jennings.
After a while, Max Jennings is found murdered in a sea cottage, and the pieces start to be tied up. It transpires that Max had a secret relationship with his secretary, Barbara Neal, and she reveals she found Max dead without noticing Barnaby. They had booked the sea cottage together and the trip to Denmark was just a front, which they told Max's wife, Selina. Even though he is dead, Gerald Hadleigh still owns a flat in London that is overlooking the Albert Hall. When Barnaby and Troy get there, and Barnaby starts to wander around in the flat, he gets the feeling that he knows this place, that he has been here, and after a while, he recalls what Joyce told him in advance, about "The Far Away Hills" and that the young boy, Liam Henlon, which the book is about, bought a flat in London overlooking the Albert Hall. Barnaby remembers that Joyce gave him details about the flat and how it was described in the book, and realises that the young boy, Liam Henlon, which the book is about, is indeed Gerald Hadleigh, and he tells Troy the complete picture. The story is about Liam Henlon, who lives with his father in Durrow, Southern Ireland. Liam is sexually abused by his father and kills him in 1955. He runs away from home and meets an artist in Europe. The artist paints him in historical dress and the paintings are sold for a fortune. He gets rich, buys a flat in London overlooking the Albert Hall, and tells Max Jennings everything. Max Jennings used to work as a psychiatrist before he became a writer and when Gerald told him his innermost secrets, Max took what Hadleigh had told him and put it in a book. It is revealed that Gerald Hadleigh killed Max Jennings and on the way home from London, Barnaby and Troy find out that Honoria Lyddiard killed Gerald Hadleigh, after finding out that the artist Gerald met in Europe, was indeed Ralph Lyddiard, Honoria's brother, and that Ralph and Gerald were lovers, as a result of Gerald being a transvestite.
After this summary of the main points of this story, I feel that this story about Gerald Hadleigh being Liam Henlon, and that his life was put into the book, "The Far Away Hills" is indeed a wonderful episode. I really like the setting about a writers circle, and that Gerald indeed was at center stage. As said, it is a wonderful episode, but the only thing that still troubles me about this episode, is the subplot about the drama class that Brian Clapper teaches. First of all, it did never bring anything interesting to the story, and I still wonder, why would a 15 year old girl be interested in an old man like Brian Clapper? I know it is a part of a play, but at the end of the day, that story just feels weird in my opinion. If they had told him in advance that Brian and Edie would make love, and that is just was a part of the play, the story's coup de théâtre, this part of the story would have been a lot more credible. Instead they just make fun of him, and I then begin to wonder if this actually was meant to be a part of the play, or if their intention was to freeze him out of his own play.
Anna Massey, Joanna David and Robert Swann are the fare strongest of the supporting cast. Even though Honoria kills Gerald Hadleigh in anger, Honoria still cares about Ralph, even though he is dead, and during a conversation with Amy at the end of the episode, when she is confessing to the murder of Gerald Hadleigh, we can see that she nearly starts to cry when she talks about Ralph. That is touching, considering that Honoria feels like a bland character. Amy is a joy to watch and Joanna David plays her wonderfully well. Amy is getting used to being protected by Honoria. Honoria talks in a patronising way to Amy, but still, Amy manages to cheer up. That shows willpower and a wonderful actress behind the character. Robert Swann is a joy to watch in this episode as well, even though his character Gerald Hadleigh is killed off early on. Gerald may look like a bland person at first glance, but I believe that he has so much trauma in him from his childhood, not to mention the betrayal he feels after being let down by Max Jennings, when he wrote the book about Gerald Hadleigh's life in "The Far away Hills".
"Written in Blood" is an incredibly well-made episode, beautifully photographed with a gorgeously idyllic scenery. The story is a bit darker than "The Killings at "Badger's Drift", and this story is compelling as well. The director and writer collaboration between Jeremy Silberston and Anthony Horowitz is a wonderful joy to witness. Bosham, Sussex stands out as the most wonderful filming location in this episode alongside Aldbury in Hertfordshire.
In conclusion, Midsomer Murders continues its classic standard with "Written in Blood". 10/10 Hossy Christie.