Midsomer Murders Series 15: The Dark Rider [DVD]

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Otherwise, for a John Barnaby-era episode "The Dark Rider" was very satisfying. As always, the production values cannot be faulted as usual, it's beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the haunting theme tune is one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre. It's a dark and stormy night at Quitewell Hall, which is the size of a castle. Bentham DeQuetteville hears a noise and goes on the roof. The flag has come down and he tries to get it loose from the stone it's wrapped around. Then he sees the headless horseman pointing at him. He cries out and falls to the ground clutching the flag.

Jones goes to talk to Diana who is getting equipment out for the re-enactment. She tells him that whatever happens in the family, they plough on. If she paused for a moment of grief or reflection, Betty, will send her to the salt mines. Diana says, "Julian was a slսt. I'm sorry, but in this family, we don't beat about the bush. Half the village children look remarkably like my late husband." Julian and Diana didn't have any children of her own. "When Ludo dies, it will be Sir Toby and Lady Betty lording it about all over the place. She'll really have crawled her way out of the colonies then. ( Betty is from New Zealand) I don't suppose there will be much room for widow Diana round the inglenook." On the balcony outside Quitewell Hall, Sarah tests the microphone which squeals. Barnaby goes to talk to her. He doesn't want her to be there at all, but Sarah won't have it! She asks him what does he expect her to do? Get on the mike and say, "Sorry, there's a baddie about so I'm off home." Still not crazy about the characters of Sarah and Kate. Sarah has very little charm and warmth and her chemistry with John is not really one of two people in love let alone husband and wife. Kate is just bland with little personality.

Toby tells Barnaby and Jones that his relationship with Julian was all good. He would be the next in line to inherit. Toby admits that he is uncomfortable with being called a sir and running the place. He is a bit... socially... clumsy. Toby mentions that The Fleetwoods have been in a family feud with the DeQuettevilles for "yonks"- a long time. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Cavaliers and the Roundheads: The English Civil War lasted from 1642 to 1649. The followers of King Charles I were known as Cavaliers, meaning gallant gentlemen. His opponents were known as Roundheads. The name came from the men’s habit of cropping their hair close to their heads, rather than wearing their hair in the long, flowing style of the aristocrats who supported the king. For the first two years of the war, the king and his forces were successful. However, in 1645, the Roundheads defeated the Cavaliers at the Battle of Naseby. By 1646, Charles had surrendered, Cromwell’s supporters seized control of Parliament, installed 100 members who agreed with his idea of eliminating the monarchy in favor of a republic. Another round of fighting broke out. Though Cromwell’s supporters were in the minority, they controlled the army and within a few months had defeated the supporters of the king.

Elsewhere on the estate, Toby is working to straighten out the tire on the wagon. Julian stomps up and tells Toby that the police are there and want to talk to everyone. He tells Toby to "Keep your trap shut about the family business, all right?" Toby says, "What family business?" Julian leans over and pats Toby on the cheek and says, "Exactly. And leave the idiot here," referring to Simon. As the DeQuetteville family readies itself for the Civil war battle, Bentham De Qutteville falls from a roof after he spots a headless horseman. This follows the family legend that states this will happen during a Civil War reenactment. The headless horseman is the ghost of Sir Geoffrey De Quetteville, and his appearance means death to anyone who see him. Then Toby De Q's twin brother dies after seeing the horseman. It boasts a fantastic cast, William Gaunt, Eleanor Bron, Raquel Cassidy, Paul Ritter, they really did pull out all the stops to assemble such a gathering. They all combine to make some fantastic characters, especially the pairing of Izzy and Ludo (Bron and Gaunt,) they are wonderfully eccentric.At Midsomer Constabulary, Jones reports that there's no grey horse in the DeQuetteville stable. And no-one really stands to benefit from Bentham's death. He was the younger brother so he didn't have much of his own. A high-level source, Jones' gran, says the whole family are total nut-jobs owing to hundreds of years of inbreeding with their cousins. Betty is the first time they married out of their class for ages. Also, the DeQ's have been having an ongoing row with their neighbours, the Fleetwoods, who they fought in a battle during the Civil War 1642-1651. The Fleetwoods say their lives are being ruined by the noise from Quitewell. The DeQ's say 'Tough.' The Fleetwoods say 'We'll sue.' The Dark Rider is the first episode of the fifteenth series of Midsomer Murders and originally aired 1st February 2012.