Midsomer Murders - Talent For Life [DVD]

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There are some clever ideas spread out in the story. Especially liked the thought of Gavin Troy almost solving the case.

The biggest problem however is the pacing. I am not one of these people who do not appreciate character building, but in this case the story does take too much time to settle down and get compelling. Mainly because of unfocused storytelling. Leo says, "I'm so sorry." Ruth says, "I don't feel anything. I made the wrong choice, marrying Keith. Why did we break up? It's all a mess now." Leo says, "If I can do anything." Ruth says, "I'm glad you're here, Leo. (He kisses her hands) Just give me some time. Please?" Joyce looks through a photo album and says the children looked lovely in their huge bonnets. Cully tells Joyce the photos are of children in the workhouse. Many of them never reached adulthood. Another photo shows people celebrating the end of the First World War. Malham Bridge lost 15 men, Three from one family alone. Joyce tells Cully not to let the stories get to her. Quentin walks over to Isobel's and they drive off riding in her red Jaguar. The race past the mobile library, which Cully Barnaby is tending. Isobel enjoys racing around an old airfield ( cue old 50's Big Band music). Barnaby hears the car racing from a distance and identifies it as Isobel's Jaguar- straight 6, twin cam. Troy says, "Come on, sir. You can't tell that from here."Troy makes an insightful comment, "It's the bereaved partners that really get to you. There's something about elderly people being bereaved when they've been in love for a lifetime. Suddenly all alone." Then Cully tells him that the deceased was a serial philanderer. Although Troy is still prone to utter the occasional insensitive comment, in this episode Tom seemingly shows real appreciation for Troy's contributions to the investigations. The closing scene shows the two walking off with Tom's arm around his young sergeant. At his home, Duncan Goff tells his wife, Dixie Goff, that he has to go see a few patients. He tells her not to wait up. She is working on sculptures in her studio. Barnaby and Troy stop by to speak to Cully. She is working on the photography exhibit. Cully tells them she heard something else about Doctor Goff. Keith Scholey's mother died of cancer last year. Apparently Keith blamed him, said his mother would've survived if he'd diagnosed it sooner. He made official complaints and they came to nothing. Keith said it was a cover up. The next morning, Andrew Turner is casting his line into the river when it gets caught in a tree. He tries to get it down and trips over the bodies of Isobel Hewitt and Duncan Goff. They had been bashed in the head ... Key creepy music.

Meanwhile, the script is smart and thought-provoking with some nice humour and colourful characters. Nothing felt inconsequential, everything had a point, everything intrigued and any loose ends were tied together nicely. Rebecca rants, "Isobel had no comprehension of economy. As you can see we don't exactly live like lords. It severely stretched us, letting her live in that house, and we've had to scrimp to get by. Isobel, of course, continued to live the high life. I know she's family and you have to be loyal but the truth is, Isobel was a very manipulative woman. Men ran around after her and she did nothing in return." Troy asks, "Which men ran around after her?" Rebecca says, "My husband for one. And Quentin Roka for another. Her antique dealer playmate. God knows what was going on there." Melrose says, "Quentin runs the antique shop near Isobel's. He often helps her out..." Rebecca interrupts, "Wheedling his way into her confidence. With the finances." Melrose says, "Quentin paid the odd bill for her at the Post Office. I am the person who will benefit financially from Isobel's death in that I now have possession of my assets."However, as always, the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's occasional grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre. Out on a country road, Joyce Barnaby drives up to where Cully is stranded, her car broken down. Cully transfers photo albums to Joyce's car. Cully says, "Thanks, Mum. I really do appreciate this. You're a lifesaver. The man from the garage said he'd be at least two hours and I've got to get these up." Joyce asks, "Have you got enough for a good show, do you think?" Cully says, "I hope so. Still got a few more promised. People have been coming for the gossip as much as anything." Joyce asks, "About the murders?" Cully says, "Loads of theories, most of them ridiculous." At the photography exhibition, Cully and Joyce look at the photos. Barnaby drives up with Quentin in the car. Troy asks, "What's happening, sir?" Barnaby says, "There's been a development. Quentin Roka was our man after all. He's just confessed to the murders. All three. It seems your first hunch was the right one. You see, it suddenly occurred to me that if Gwen Dobson, the local gossip, didn't know about Melrose owning Isobel's house, then it was possible no one else did either. Maybe not even Quentin. It's a long story. Of course, I couldn't have got there without Troy working out the business with the fridge. Good work. You thought it was Quentin from the word go. See the lesson in all this? Always follow your first instincts." Troy says, "I'll get the car, shall I?" Barnaby tells Cully he'll see the exhibition some other time. Barnaby calls, "Hang on, Troy. I'm coming with you." and puts his arm around Troy's shoulders.

Quentin sees Gwen walking by and asks if she remembers seeing him at the village shop the day of the murders. She says yes, she did.

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The detectives leave the Plunketts. Troy says, "The Plunketts have the strongest motive. The house, the land, it's going to be worth a million or two. In the hands of a builder..." Barnaby says, "But if they'd planned it, they'd have known they'd be top of the list. I'm more interested in the windfall. The 20,000 coming just the day before the murder seems a bit more than a coincidence, doesn't it?"