Plot: What’s it about?
The countryside of Midsomer County should be idyllic, a beautiful rural landscape that looks serene and uneventful. But as Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles) could tell you, things might seem peaceful, but darkness lurks even in this kind of scenic locale. The area is home to numerous villages, each with their own quirks and customs and when a crime occurs, Barnaby is dispatched to uncover the truth. Barnaby is a good detective who enjoys his profession, but he also has a good home life, with a loving wife and daughter in his life. When he is called to solve the crimes, he uses standard deductive reasoning and his years of experience to put together the pieces. But even in Midsomer County, the crimes can be complex and have roots that run deep, so even Barnaby has to dig around quite a bit to find answers. Can Barnaby solve another round of Midsomer’s darkest deeds, or will the evil remain hidden behind well kept hedges and gardens?
I might have started late, but I have made up for lost time and now, I have backtracked to the fourth set of Midsomer Murders. In this five disc collection, we have all four episodes from the show’s fifth season, plus the final episode from the fourth. By this point, I know what to expect and as usual, this show doesn’t disappoint. I haven’t found many lackluster episodes in the series, so I wasn’t surprised that these five were all well crafted. Market for Murder is interesting, as a women’s book circle turns murderous and A Worm in the Bud provides a great story with some nice twists. Those two stood out the most out of the five, but I found all five to be solid and none were on the bad side. Each episode provides a new backdrop and a new set of circumstances, with the consistent element as John Nettles as Barnaby. As always, Nettles is at home within the role and carries the series quite well. I enjoyed Midsomer Murders: Set Four and along with the rest of the series, recommend it highly.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The show looks excellent here, the lush visuals shine and I was quite impressed. The scenery looks terrific in this treatment, with rich greens and browns, while all hues look solid. The contrast is sharp, so black levels are accurate and no detail is lost. Speaking of detail, the print looks clean and the image has superb clarity, no real softness in the least. These episodes look fantastic, not much else I could say about the transfers.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is rather basic, but all the needs of the material are covered. This is a dialogue driven show, so there isn’t much need for expansive presence or dynamic range. The elements sound clear and natural, from the music to the sound effects. The main element is dialogue and it sounds flawless, no volume or clarity issues to mention. Not the kind of soundtrack you’ll rave about, but it gets the job done and that is what matters.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes a map of Midsomer, cast biographies, and a profile of Caroline Graham.
