Midsomer Murders - Last Year's Model [DVD]

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On a business trip to China, Alan King suddenly dies. The family firm, King's Crystal, is in financial uncertainty, with plans to close its factory in Midsomer Magna. Six months later Alan's widow Hilary and his brother Charles are married, much to the chagrin of Alan's son Ian. With family feuds and factory workers angered by the loss of their jobs, motives abound when Peter Baxter, the firm's accountant, is found dead, stabbed with a Masonic poniard, and Ian is fatally poisoned. Barnaby and Jones suspect a disgruntled employee is guilty. With so many things to investigate, they will need to explore both the Freemasons and the family, and find that the play of Hamlet may hold the key to the case. In February 2009 it was announced that Nettles had decided to leave Midsomer Murders after the conclusion of series 13 in July 2010. When his last episode "Fit for Murder" aired on 2 February 2011, Nettles had appeared in 81 episodes. [2] [3]

When Bernard King, the owner of Finchmere airfield, is dropped to his death from a plane, Barnaby and Nelson enter a world of stunt pilots and military heroes. Upon investigating, they discover many hidden secrets. Possible suspects include anti-aircraft campaigners and employees who might lose their jobs after an imminent restructuring of the flying club. A tragic mission in World War II seems to hold a clue.Episode 8 from season 9 this Midsomer Murders mystery was directed by Richard Holthouse & to my recollection is a unique episode structured like none other in the show's eleven season run to date, while it's quite nice to see the regular format changed a little bit & the makers try something different the overall feeling I was left with after watching Last Year's Model was 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. Unlike just about any other Midsomer Murders episode the plot for Last Year's Model revolves around a murder trial, a trial that Barnaby has his doubts about as it progresses & as the leading investigator he sets out to discover the truth, unmask a killer & free an innocent person. This is alright but there are a few plot points that just didn't work for me, for instance the reasons given as to why Annie kept changing her story & constantly lied didn't convince me, I mean if you are accused of murder & looking at spending the rest of your life in prison wouldn't you just tell the truth? The whole idea that Annie lied because she was embarrassed is rather feeble, I'd sooner be embarrassed for a short period of time rather than spend the rest of my life in prison. I'm sorry but I also think that's how any other person would feel. Then they give the true killer's identity away far too early, in fact it's about forty odd minutes before the end & then it's a straight case of Barnaby finding the evidence to prove it. In another Midsomer Murders first there isn't a murder in the actual time-line of the episode since when it starts the central murder has already been committed. If you are interested in series continuity this is the episode in which Ben Jones gets a promotion from Constable to Sergeant.

When the body of Charlie Finleyson is found in woodland in Midsomer Sonning, Barnaby and Jones begin to scrutinize the employees at the offices of Midsomer Life magazine. It is discovered that Mr. Finleyson was married to Christine Sandys, ex-wife of Guy Sandys, the wealthy owner of the magazine. The detectives also become aware of a dispute between Guy and the owner of the Morecroft Hotel, where Christine's brother works, with tensions starting to rise between the locals and visitors from London. Shortly after being questioned, Guy is murdered in his office. Barnaby and Jones find out what led to the murder when Morecroft's alcoholic receptionist is killed in the laundry room and uncover the village's secrets from the past to catch the killer. In the village of Monks Barton, two couples seemingly disappear from their cottages. When Barnaby and Jones arrive, they learn about the legendary and mysterious haunted woods. Shortly afterwards, a body is found in a shallow grave, giving Barnaby and Jones an accurate description of one of the "missing" persons. The detectives have to delve much deeper into the woods and beyond, to find the answer. After gathering on Moonstone Ridge to observe a total eclipse of the sun, members of the amateur Midsomer Stanton Astronomical Society start to meet their deaths in bizarre ways. Three amateur astronomers are killed - the first, by a blow to the head with a meteorite, the second with a spear, and the third nearly decapitated using a bronze disc with astronomical markings. The astrological sign Scorpio seems to be a common theme of the killings, but Barnaby begins to doubt whether the case is so straightforward. John Nettles and Jason Hughes are both superb, individually and together, and the supporting cast are without complaint. John Ransom gets thrown out of the village pub in Midsomer Mere for fighting with his brother-in-law, and a short while later he is found dead on the green. It is discovered that John had been used as a guinea pig for scientific experiments by his brother Max, who suspected he had the ability of 'Second Sight'. Barnaby and Scott soon discover that another family possesses the same talent. They have to delve deeper to unravel many secrets in the village to find the truth.

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Any good defense lawyer would destroy her in a courtroom. Except the one in this episode remains quiet the whole time, even refusing to cross examine one of the most important witnesses in the trial.