Midsomer Murders Series 15: The Dark Rider [DVD]

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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."

Death by Looking Up: Ludo DeQuetteville is lured outside his ancestral home and looks up just in time to see a gargoyle toppling on top of him. At Quitewell Hall, Ludo tells Barnaby that he saw the headless horseman last night. Ludo says, "It's the ghost of Geoffrey. I'm a goner!" Barnaby says, "Sir Ludovic, if his horse was real, there's a good chance the rider was real too." Ludo says, "No, no, it's Geoffrey. And he's coming for me!" Barnaby tells him to stay inside today with the battle on. 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. In the dining room of the hall, Simon is arranging silverware. Betty is setting up chairs. Betty says Simon is obsessive compulsive so setting up the silverware keeps him calm for a while. Barnaby asks about the accident to his mother. Betty says that no one really knows what happened. Simon and Angela went for a ride along Badger's Ridge. A few hours later, Simon returned, leading his mother's horse with her body slung across the saddle, just like a Western. Barnaby says there were no reported ghosts at Quitewell until about six years ago when Betty took over as estate manager. Betty tells him that there were stories about the Dark Rider, as he was known, from the Twenties- housemaid stuff. When Betty found the headless Geoffrey portrait, she revived the story and freshened it up a bit. She supplemented the spook inventory with a lady who walks on the lake at full moon, and the skeleton found in the walls of the cellar. All to make money: Mystery murder weekends. Spooks, ghostly tales, dark spooky things. It's all essential. There hadn't been any sightings of a headless horseman, it's just this daft family jumping on their own bandwagon. She says, Toby is a DeQuetteville- Suggestible. Barnaby asks why did she marry Toby? Betty replies that Toby may not be the sharpest tool in the box, but he loves her. Unconditionally. Like a Labrador. And that is enough for her right now, thank you very much. Simon drops silverware and stares at the landing on the second floor as if he has seen a ghost. Jones and Barnaby discuss the case. Barnaby thinks someone he knew and trusted called Ludo outside. Then rushed up to the roof and dumped the gargoyle on his head. Or, he got his accomplice to do the gargoyle bit.Murder 1: Toby DeQuetteville is taking the dog out for a walk when he sees the a figure on a horse with apparently no head. He runs over to Bentham's body. Bentham says, "Geoff..Geoffrey." and dies. 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. The Dark Rider is the first episode of the fifteenth series of Midsomer Murders and originally aired 1st February 2012. 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.

Diana says to Izzy, "So we've lost Long Meadow as well." Izzy says, "No. Harry just phoned. Says he won't be calling in the debt. Obviously stood up for himself at last. He's a decent man." Diana says, "He's not. Not at all. He's pathetic." Izzy replies, "Diana. Try not to be such a despicable tart. My son was barely cold before you were over the wall like an alley cat on heat. Why do we imagine our domestic staff are all blind and deaf? They aren't. They have big ears. And bigger mouths. It's all over the village." Diana says, "I was trying to save Long Meadow." Izzy says, "You were trying to save yourself from the penury that is about to consume you. And serve you right." Diana leaves and Izzy talks to Ludo's photo. "Don't you worry. We're the king's men. We'll show them." 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. 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. 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. The story itself is fun with a creepy atmosphere, wisely on the most part not taking itself too seriously while rarely descending into over-silliness even with the odd preposterous idea (then again even classic 'Midsomer Murders' had silly parts). It is easy to follow without being simplistic and has enough twists and turns and eccentric characters without being confusing. The script likewise doesn't feel as heavy as the later seasons tended to be.

Murder 3: Ludo hears a rattling at the window. He looks out and sees someone he knows. He says, "Oh, it's you. I'll let you in." He goes outside and a giant gargoyle falls on him. Inside the house, the family sits around the dining room table. Jones tells Barnaby that they have looked at dozens of video phone cameras. They're pointing at the main entrance. The family's nowhere to be seen. Barnaby tells Jones to get the Fleetwoods' statements. He then asks Simon if they can have a chat. At the Barnaby home, Sarah is furious about the re-enactment fiasco. All her staff know what a farce it turned into. Barnaby soothes her. Barnaby is trying to figure a way into Simon's head. He hasn't said a word for five years. His psychiatrists have described his refusal to speak as idiopathic. Which means - They haven't got a clue. The police hustle around the building to where Ludo is lying crushed by the gargoyle. Barnaby is really angry, "You had to watch one elderly man. ( My question is, why wasn't a police officer stationed inside by Ludo's side?). I want full reports by 10AM!" Kate examines the body. She surmises that Ludo "wouldn't have known what had hit him. Actually, he may have done. It hit him full in the face, so presumably, he was looking up at the time." Jones says, "So why didn't he get out of the way?" ( MY QUESTION AS WELL!). Barnaby asks, "What sort of effort would it take to dislodge a gargoyle?" Kate says, "It depends how secure it was in the first place."

Toby and Betty take a stroll outside. Toby worries that Betty will leave him. They hug and over her shoulder Toby sees the headless horseman. DCI John Barnaby and DS Ben Jones go to the morgue. Pathologist, Dr. Kate Wilding says "He died around midnight. Cause of death.." Jones inserts, "Long fall, landing on head." Kate says, "How very scientific." Jones says, "It's self-evident. He tells Barnaby that the man fell from the roof of Quitewell Hall. The only witness, Toby DeQuetteville, said he saw a grey horse riding away just after the old man fell. Barnaby says, "And who was out riding in the middle of the night? In a very aggressive electrical storm." Jones says, "Don't know, sir. But apparently, he had no head." (Kate bangs metal tray ) Barnaby says, "I beg your pardon?" Jones says, "Witness said the horserider had no head." Barnaby, "Drunk or stoned?" Jones, "I was on duty, sir." He is Bentham DeQuetteville, brother of Sir Ludovic DeQuetteville of Quitewell Hall. Season 15 Episode 1 of Midsomer Murders resulted in a 0.00 rating in the 18-49 demographic. Midsomer Murders Season 15 Episodes... 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.'In the library, Barnaby asks how everyone is doing. Izzy says, "Everyone's fine. Just get on with it." Barnaby says, "Lady Isabel, would you mind sitting down and shutting up just for once?" Barnaby asks, "So you're still feeling a bit upset, are you, Betty?" Betty says, "Obviously. Who wouldn't be?" Barnaby says, "Just as well you have Toby. And Toby, you have Betty. At last, someone who would accept you for what you were." Toby says, "She... She never said I was silly or anything." Diana tries to leave, but Barnaby tells her to stay. At night, Simon comes running up and pets a horse. The sound of a horse galloping in the distance can be heard. Cue eerie music....

Series fifteen truly did open up in style, the usual idyllic locations, a story which couldn't be more imaginative and Middle England if it tried, The Houses used are incredible, the battle scenes and costumes look fantastic, and the killings are wonderfully Gothic and macabre. As Barnaby leaves, Jones says, "There's a report just came in. Three people claimed they saw the headless horseman in the last half hour. What's that about?" Barnaby says, "That is a sense of community, Jones. One goes mad, they all go mad. It's a wonderful little world out here." In the library of the mansion, the family are seated together- Izzy next to Ludo; Julian with an arm around Diana. Toby walks in and joins Betty. Izzy is saying to the police, "I'm sorry if we sound callous, but we didn't like Bentham." Ludo joins in, "Total misery." Izzy says, "Spat at the visitors. Smelled of boiled cabbage. And his death hasn't really increased his charm at all." Jones asks Toby what happened last night. Toby says, "I was taking the dog out for a walk. Slash. And... I heard these cries. I came running round the corner. And there was poor Uncle Ben. You know, awful." Jones says, "You saw a grey horse riding away." Toby says, "I did, yeah." Barnaby says, "And you say the rider had no head." Other family members smirk, murmur. Toby says, "Er... Well, yeah. He was a bit... headless." Jones says, "And as your uncle died, he said the name Geoffrey." Julian looks at Toby and warningly says, "Toby!" Toby says, "I might have misheard that. He was on the ground. You know... I don't know really." Barnaby continues, "And Geoffrey... Is there a Geoffrey in the family?" Ludo lies and says, "I can't think of a Geoffrey. Can you, Izzy? No. There's a Rupert in Norfolk. Mind you, he's pretty dead as well. Isn't he, Betty?"In the lab, Kate says, "Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. See, he was born with an extra connection in the heart that allows the electrical signals to bypass the atria-ventricular node and move from the atria to the ventricles faster than usual. It eventually disrupts the co-ordinating movement of the electrical signals through the heart, leading to cardiac arrest." Jones says, "So it was an accident, then." Barnaby says, "Jones, a headless horseman was also present. Probably frightened him off the roof. Accident? I don't think so." Jones tells Kate, "He hates accidents. Makes him feel superfluous." When in its prime (a vast majority of Seasons 1-9), 'Midsomer Murders' was a great show and one that is watched and re-watched frequently. Seasons 10-13 became more uneven, with three of the show's worst episodes coming from Seasons 11 and 13, but there were a few solid episodes and "Blood Wedding" and especially "Master Class" were gems. Written by one of MM's better scriptwriters, Michael Aitkins, "The Dark Rider," the opening of the 15th season, concerns a yearly re- enactment battle. The next morning, Diana arrives at the Fleetwood house. She flirts with Harry. Diana says that the re-enactment is going ahead. She tells Harry she could bring him a lot more than Long Meadow. She says, "What if you owned both estates?" Harry says, "And how would I achieve that?" Diana says, "The usual way. Marriage. To the right... person."