Deaths follow the discovery of a valuable musical manuscript sold cheaply at an auction.Deaths follow the discovery of a valuable musical manuscript sold cheaply at an auction.Deaths follow the discovery of a valuable musical manuscript sold cheaply at an auction.
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Did you know
- TriviaThis is the last time that Rover automobiles are featured in the show, after the MG Rover Group failed in April 2005. Up to this point, DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) has driven a Rover, including the iconic Rover 75 from season 3 through season 8. Sergeant Dan Scott (John Hopkins) drove a Rover 45 during the same period. The cars themselves were provided directly by MG Rover for filming of the show.
- GoofsWhen a character is tossed off the bridge, he and his assailant struggle and yell loudly. This happens within yards of a busy pub that has an open front door and people visible in a window that is in the direct line of site of the bridge. And yet nobody comes to the victim's aid, and there's not a single witness to or report of the struggle, neither of which seems possible given the setting.
- Quotes
DCI Tom Barnaby: He was respected and admired, Scott, because he encouraged and inspired so many people, including the great Joan Alder.
Sergeant Dan Scott: Joan Alder? 'Midsomer Rhapsody'?
DCI Tom Barnaby: Yeah.
[surprised]
DCI Tom Barnaby: Do you know that piece?
Sergeant Dan Scott: My mum was a fan. She played it when she wanted us out of the house.
- ConnectionsReferences The Great Escape (1963)
Featured review
Rhapsody on a theme of 'Midsomer Murders'
Despite being nowhere near as good now, 'Midsomer Murders' is still one of my most watched and re-watched shows as a fan of mystery/detective dramas and there are many episodes ranging from good to outstanding.
Season 8 was a very mixed bag of a season. It got off to a bumpy but still pretty good start with "Things that Go Bump in the Night", then followed by the rather forgettable and dull "Dead in the Water" and the very good and better than remembered "Orchis Fatalis". "Bantling Boy" was dark stuff and near-classic in quality, unfortunately followed by one of the show's low-points "Second Sight" before the season redeemed itself with the classic "Hidden Depths" and the very good "Sauce for the Goose".
Rounding off the season, while nowhere near as disgraceful as "Second Sight" (at least it actually feels like 'Midsomer Murders') "Midsomer Rhapsody" for me is the second weakest episode of Season 8. Not an awful episode, but it's not a surprise when it's cited a lot as among fans' least favourite Tom Barnaby-era episodes.
As always the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery (very wintry and nostalgic here), the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre. The music at the end is the most memorable and best thing about the episode, and makes for one of the most achingly beautiful moments musically in 'Midsomer Murders' history.
Nothing to be faulted in the acting either, love John Nettles and John Hopkins together and both are wonderful in their individual performances too. Sadly, this was the last we'd see of Scott and it's a shame he didn't last longer. The supporting acting The murders are quite good, the bridge murder is very atmospheric in mood and production values and (while some may find it unintentionally funny) the third one is one of the most memorable murders in any 'Midsomer Murders' episode.
"Midsomer Rhapsody" does fall far short of being great. It has too much going on and too many characters and tries to do justice to them in a relatively short duration and ends up feeling jumpy structurally, lacking in momentum in some parts and also very convoluted. Due to so many revelations in a short space of time and with too much of it not feeling developed enough the story was very hard to follow, a problem personally had on both viewings of this episode.
Found myself not particularly surprised or caring about the final solution (solved by being reliant on too many coincidences), which also felt rushed and underdeveloped, the motive uninspired and the characters lacking the show's usual colour and eccentricity.
Overall, the end of Season 8 and the farewell episode to Scott (pretty lukewarm actually, whereas when Troy left in "The Green Man" it was very bittersweet, felt little here with Scott) does not go out on a bang as one would expect. 5/10 Bethany Cox
Season 8 was a very mixed bag of a season. It got off to a bumpy but still pretty good start with "Things that Go Bump in the Night", then followed by the rather forgettable and dull "Dead in the Water" and the very good and better than remembered "Orchis Fatalis". "Bantling Boy" was dark stuff and near-classic in quality, unfortunately followed by one of the show's low-points "Second Sight" before the season redeemed itself with the classic "Hidden Depths" and the very good "Sauce for the Goose".
Rounding off the season, while nowhere near as disgraceful as "Second Sight" (at least it actually feels like 'Midsomer Murders') "Midsomer Rhapsody" for me is the second weakest episode of Season 8. Not an awful episode, but it's not a surprise when it's cited a lot as among fans' least favourite Tom Barnaby-era episodes.
As always the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery (very wintry and nostalgic here), the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre. The music at the end is the most memorable and best thing about the episode, and makes for one of the most achingly beautiful moments musically in 'Midsomer Murders' history.
Nothing to be faulted in the acting either, love John Nettles and John Hopkins together and both are wonderful in their individual performances too. Sadly, this was the last we'd see of Scott and it's a shame he didn't last longer. The supporting acting The murders are quite good, the bridge murder is very atmospheric in mood and production values and (while some may find it unintentionally funny) the third one is one of the most memorable murders in any 'Midsomer Murders' episode.
"Midsomer Rhapsody" does fall far short of being great. It has too much going on and too many characters and tries to do justice to them in a relatively short duration and ends up feeling jumpy structurally, lacking in momentum in some parts and also very convoluted. Due to so many revelations in a short space of time and with too much of it not feeling developed enough the story was very hard to follow, a problem personally had on both viewings of this episode.
Found myself not particularly surprised or caring about the final solution (solved by being reliant on too many coincidences), which also felt rushed and underdeveloped, the motive uninspired and the characters lacking the show's usual colour and eccentricity.
Overall, the end of Season 8 and the farewell episode to Scott (pretty lukewarm actually, whereas when Troy left in "The Green Man" it was very bittersweet, felt little here with Scott) does not go out on a bang as one would expect. 5/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•1713
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 3, 2017
Details
- Runtime1 hour 34 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 4:3
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