Midsomer Murders - Destroying Angel [1997] [DVD]

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Kenneth Gooders - Crushed by a large drink cabinet while taking a drink after the screws that were pinning it to the wall were loosened. This was carried out by a builder at Evelyn's instruction.

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 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. She called a builder to cut the wire holding up the drink cabinet of Kenneth Gooders, the husband of fellow conspirator Julia Gooders, which crashed down on him to cause his death once the cabinet was opened. Evelyn knew Julia was the weak link to provide a confession, so she herself arranged an obscene phone call campaign against her and Suzanna to turn them on each other. Suzanna heard Evelyn as Julia pretending to be "in a panic" over being found out, and Julia heard Mr. Punch threatening her life over the phone. As Suzanna crept into the house to stab Julia, Julia fired a shotgun and killed Suzanna on reflex. The plan went perfectly, as Julia surrendered and gave a full confession, releasing Annie. Detective Sergeant Charlie Nelson ( Gwilym Lee) (series 16–18)—When Jones was promoted, he was replaced by DS Charlie Nelson. Nelson was the first Sergeant to not serve alongside Tom Barnaby. He was a lodger at Kate's house. Nelson left the series after season 18. Doctor Fleur Perkins ( Annette Badland) (series 20–present)—Dr. Kam Karimore's replacement as resident pathologist. The story of "Destroying Angel" is one of "Midsomer Murders" most compelling. Clever twists and turns keep coming and coming, the characters are well-written. I agree: David Hoskins's research and effort leaps from the script. The body count is also very high here and the murders are committed in brutal manners. The puppet show aspect of "Destroying Angel" is fun, but suitable chilling at times.DCI Barnaby (played by John Nettles) finds himself investigating another murder when a local Punch and Judy man called Gregory Chambers (played by Philip Bowen) goes missing whilst collecting wild mushrooms in the woods near Midsomer Magna. This coincides with the death of a hotel owner called Karl Wainwright who has left the bulk of his estate, including the Easterly Grange hotel, to Chambers, his wife Suzanna (played by Samantha Bond), the chef Tristan Goodfellow (played by Tom Ward) and two other members of his most trusted staff. When a disembodied hand is found in the woods, it is confirmed that Chambers is dead meaning that his share of Wainwright's estate will now pass to his wife. Suzanna has been having an affair with Tristan and it seems Gregory had also been having one of his own with the daughter of the local gamekeeper Ann Tyson who is pregnant. When the beneficiaries of Wainwright's estate start dying in gruesome ways, including poisoning by a deadly wild mushroom known as 'Destroying Angel', Barnaby and Sgt Troy (played by Daniel Casey) must find a common motive for the murders. Could Clarice Opperman (played by Madeleine Worrall), the new Punch and Judy artist, provide a lead and does her aunt, Evelyn Pope (played by Rosemary Leech) know more than she is letting on? At the Barnaby's Tom and Joyce are playing croquet. Joyce makes comments to throw Tom off his game repeatedly. Tom admits he did genuinely care for Evelyn even with her mass murders in consideration.

Meanwhile, at Evelyn Pope's house, Woody is playing croquet with Joyce. Clarice Opperman, Evelyn's niece, watches from a window. Maggie Steed played Rosemary Furman in "Judgement Day" (2000), Lynne Fox in "Left for Dead" (2008), and Sylvia Mountford in "Schooled in Murder" (2013). Guilt-Ridden Accomplice: Julia Gooders, who confesses to everything after all the other conspirators are dead. Evelyn Pope is a character appearing in the episode Destroying Angel of the ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders.Neil Dudgeon, Chief Inspector John Barnaby, appeared for the first time as Daniel Bolt [7] a character in the episode "Garden of Death" (2000). If you know me, you know that I’m a huge Midsomer Murders fan. Since 2015, I’ve been blogging every new episode in the show for this very paper, and I’m always keen to sing its praise. I do admit, however, that the show’s quality is incredibly variable, and that each episode of Midsomer may be a dud just as easily as a classic. This was less so in the series’ classic days, with many favourite episodes coming from the earlier series. And that’s where you’ll find an instalment that, to my mind, is the pinnacle of the show – series four’s ‘Destroying Angel’. The case turns out to be fairly complicated because Chambers is part of a real hotbed of intrigue. He and three other people have just inherited a portion of a hotel upon his employer's death. His wife now gets his quarter. Estate agent Olive Beauvoisin (Eileen Davies) appeared in "Death's Shadow", "Dead Man’s Eleven", and "Hidden Depths" (but was credited in that particular episode only as "Estate Agent"). This episode was good until the end. One murderer is a married female who takes pills to kill herself. She is responsible for the death of many. They play sad music and people are crying. Her husband says "she could be pretty tough at times but underneath she is the gentlest person you could ever meet." Yeah right!

Evelyn talks to Barnaby and Troy about the poisonings. Barnaby asks why Tyson would call Suzanna a double crossing swine. Woody says it's to do with the hotel. The new owners have big plans to modernize the hotel and sell off the rest of the estate to finance it which means Annie and Tyson will lose their home and jobs. Both of which old man Wainwright promised them for life. It was in a contract or piece of paper. Gregory mentions a piece of paper in the script for the Punch and Judy show. Troy's relationship with Barnaby is warm, and the two make a formidable pair. Troy was promoted to Inspector and transferred to Northumbria in the first episode of the seventh series, called "The Green Man". [1] Troy makes one re-appearance in the first episode of Series 11, "Blood Wedding", to attend the wedding of Tom's daughter, Cully Barnaby (whom he once secretly kissed in the episode "Death And Dreams", which temporarily strained his relationship with Barnaby), where he met his second successor, Sgt Jones. [2] DS Dan Scott [ edit ] This is one of the best episodes I've seen so far. Who the killer is, what their motives are and how they carry out the murders is quite clever and unusual. My only complaint is that damn Punch & Judy. I'll never understand why the tradition of this creepy and horribly violent doll is still kept alive but it did suit the story. I was quite amused when Troy finds Clarice attractive until she brings out that creepy Punch doll and then he's completely put off.Tristan Goodfellow - Consumed a poisonous type of mushrooms, Destroying Angel, which were placed for him to cook instead of regular mushrooms. This was carried out by Ben the gardener at Evelyn's instruction.

After the brilliant first episode of the fourth season, "the Garden of death", despite all its advantages, there was disappointment that the funny chemistry between Barnaby and Troy was gone. However, I understand that this was required by the plot and the development of the character of Troy. But I digress. Destroying Angel" is not quite one of the very finest 'Midsomer Murders' episodes, but very frequently it comes very close to being. It is one of Season 4's best episodes easily, and much better than "Garden of Death" and especially one of the show's strangest episodes "The Electric Vendetta". Clare Holman played Sue Tutt in "Ring Out Your Dead" (2002), Rose Southerly in "Country Matters" (2006) and Fiona Beauvoisin in "The Miniature Murders" (2019). Kenneth shows Barnaby and Troy a room at the hotel to work in. Kenneth tells Barnaby the results of the will. "Mr. Wainwright was childless and wanted to pass the hotel onto the people who made it a success." Suzanna is the manager, Julia does the books, Tristan is the chef and Gregory helped out generally. Suzanna will inherit Gregory's share of the estate.Destroying Angel is the second episode of the fourth series of Midsomer Murders and first aired 26th August 2001. I’ve left a lot out of the description here – the plot is really layered, and I don’t want to give too much away. ‘Destroying Angel’ is a really busy Midsomer – it’s got one of the series’ highest death tolls, as well as a number of attempted murders, and none of them feel shoehorned in. They aren’t the most elaborate deaths (although the one involving the titular Destroying Angel mushroom is not particularly pleasant), but I like that – this is a grounded episode that still features a level of dark humour. This is, after all, the episode in which one of the character happily proclaims that no-one is trying to murder them, before immediately being murdered.