"Death's Shadow" remains as one of the best Midsomer Murders episodes ever made, and it was just a perfect and wonderful start of the second series. Jeremy Silberston and Anthony Horowitz make a perfect collaboration as the director and writer duo once again, just like they did with "The Killings at Badger's Drift" and "Written in Blood.
"Death's Shadow" starts with a dream 30 years Prior to the story. A school bell is ringing. Five boys slip away through a gate. The boys are shown throwing rocks at the window at the school. One of the boys is blindfolded, and the others yell and tease. The boy calls for Simon, one of the boys who is with him. Adult Simon goes over to the boy and slips a noose around his neck.
Tom and Joyce are having a discussion with Cully what they will do to celebrate their 25th year anniversary. Cully syggest going on the Orient Express to Venice, but Joyce wants to stay nearby. She don't want to go away at all, and tells Tom and Cully that she wants to retake their marriage vows. They drive to St. Michael's Church in Badger's Drift" where the priest, Stephen Wentworth meets them. Stephen asks why they chose to come to Badger's Drift and Barnany replies that he had noticed the church while he was working on a case here two years ago. Stephen recalls what case Barnaby is talking about, and says he knew Dennis Rainbird quite well.
Richard Bayly is not well and receives some bad information at Dr Henson's office. He has a brain tumour, a malignant astrocytoma. When he is on his way home, he bumps into Ian Eastman, and he wants to know what will happen to Tye House, the Manor Henry Trace previously owned before Barnaby and Troy rode along to investigate the murders of Emily Simpson, Iris and Dennis Rainbird and the shooting of Bella Trace, the last time they were in the village. Richard informs he is going with Erickson's in Causton. Ian gets angry and then he drives away.
The grand village fete is about to be held in Badger's Drift and the committe dicusses the preparations at Stephen's home. Richard then reveals that he is not well, and that he may not make the Fete this year, and at the end of the committee meeting, Richard asks if Stephen has some time to talk with him. After he has talked with Richard, Stephen is seen praying at the church, and Dr Henson receives a phone call, and gets worried. During the night, Stephen wakes up and turns on the light. He tells Angela that there might be an intruder in their house, and Stephen goes downstairs to find out what it is. Stephen closes an open window, and when he goes back to bed, something is seen missing from the wall.
Richard Bayly is found murdered the following morning and two further deaths occur. David Whitley, who also appeared in "The Killings at Badger's Drift is burned alive in his caravan and Simon Fletcher is shot with a bow and arrow at the village fete. Stephen Wentworth was in shock when Barnaby first told him about the murder of Richard Bayly, and he certainly gained Barnaby's trust and twined him around his little finger. It all comes down to the dream Simon had in the beginning of the episode, and it transpires that Stephen was the father of Felix Bryce, the boy who was believed to have taken suicide at the time he was in the woods with Simon and his friends. But without knowing that he was talking to the boy's father, Richard told Stephen that David Whitley, Simon Fletcher, Ian Eastman and himself were all responsible for Felix's death. Stephen's motive for the murders was a good old fashioned revenge, because he felt that they had killed his son. At the climax point at the end of the episode, Stephen leaps from the Church's roof, and commits suicide, something he felt he should have done years ago.
"Death's Shadow" remains as one of my favourite Midsomer Murders episodes. The story is one of the show's most complex, darkest, most entertaining and compelling of all times. Even though the murder of Richard Bayly happens after nearly half an hour, it means very little, because the story itself is so wonderfully written. The climax, and Stephen Wentworth turning out to be the murderous priest, is of the most iconic endings in Midsomer Murders entire history. And when it comes to the supporting cast, Richard Briers steals the show, and in my opinion the perfect actor to play Stephen Wenthworth. In addition to him, I really liked Julian Wadham's interpretation of Simon Fletcher, and Dominic Jephcott was likeable as Richard Bayly.
The Lee and the Holy Trinity Church in Bledlow once again stood in as parts of Badger's Drift, and they are my favourite filming locations in this episode.
"Death's Shadow" is one of the best Midsomer Murders episodes ever made. It will always be one of my favourite episodes, and this episode is a wonderful start to the second series. 10/10 Hossy Christie.
2 out of 2 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink