User Reviews

Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger's Drift starts as elderly ex school teacher Emily Simpson (Renee Anderson) witnesses something in a local Badger's Drift wood, something which shocks her deeply & something which someone is prepared to murder for. DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) & Sgt. Gavin Troy (Gavin Casey) are called to Beehive Cottage in Badger's Drift where the body of Emily has been discovered, upon interviewing her neighbour Lucy Bellringer (!)(Rosalie Crutchley) Barnaby suspects foul play & when the autopsy report proves she was hit over the head it is proved beyond doubt. As Barnaby continues his investigation's it seems there are sinister goings on in Badger's Drift which he feels somehow all have some connection to Emily's death...

Episode 1 from season 1 & originally broadcast here in the UK during March 1997 this is the story that kicked this generally excellent murder mystery TV series off, directed by Jeremy Silberston this is just a top draw murder mystery with a nice dark edge to it. The script by Anthony Horowitz was based on the novel of the same name by Caroline Graham who herself would go on to write several screenplays for the show & is a gripping mystery that's as good as anything out there in the genre. The story is complex, it has various layers & sinister goings on which all come together excellently at the end which itself is pretty dark & disturbed with suicide, incest, murder, lies & blackmail all coming to the fore. I doubt anyone will guess the killer or killers identity here but the clues are there so I suppose it's possible if you pay attention or on the other hand you could just take a lucky guess. As a murder mystery there isn't much better out there, the story is intriguing, there are several suspects all of whom have strong motives for murder & none of them are implicated too heavily which really does leave it open. The character's are great which is a trend repeated throughout this top series, the dialogue is good as well with some nice humour, the uneasy banter between Troy & the gay undertaker being somewhat amusing in particular. There was one potential plot hole that I spotted though, if Emily was killed because she saw two people having sex in the middle of a public wood why didn't these people just have sex in their bedroom where no one would have seen them? If it was really that important for no one to discover them why have sex in a public place & run the risk of being seen? My only real complaint with this series is the length of the episodes, at just under two hours each (without commercials) it can sometimes be difficult to sit through them with 100% concentration as while they are definitely absorbing they aren't exactly the most action packed show's on TV.

These show's are set in rural England with this one being shot in Buckinghamshire & the countryside makes for a different sort of location. It looks nice enough that's for sure & I'm sure those of you who don't live in this fair land will enjoy the scenery. To be honest I'd imagine they use the same village's & locations throughout the show, I mean one spot of woodland looks pretty much like another, right? There's some mild bad language in this as well as a gory shotgun death. The acting is good & Nettles makes for a good straight talking down to Earth DCI.

The Killings at Badger's Drift is a top murder mystery from a top show, what more can I say? As a self confessed murder mystery show addict this is as good as they come, definitely well worth watching for all those amateur armchair sleuth's out there.

The action in this murder mystery thriller takes place in the fictional English village of Badger's Drift. An elderly spinster (Renee Asherson) goes into the local woods in search of a rare orchid and stumbles upon a couple making love in a clearing. However, her discovery proves fatal because if this love affair ever came out it could result in devastating circumstances. Shocked, she flees back to her cottage but within hours she is found murdered with her neck broken. DCI Barnaby (John Nettles) and Sgt Troy (Daniel Casey) are called in to investigate the crime. However, it proves more difficult than the pair anticipated because everyone they question clearly has something to hide. There's the wealthy landowner and laird of the community (Julian Glover) whose wife died in suspicious circumstances at a pigeon shoot in the woods two years previously. The local GP Dr Lessiter (Bill Wallis) claims that at the time of the killing he was at home watching a cricket test match, but it was canceled due to heavy rainfall. Then there's the nauseating Iris Rainbird (Elizabeth Spriggs) and her camp undertaker son (Richard Cant) who are clearly living a better life than there means would suggest. Before Barnaby can see through the web of deceit,blackmail and illicit love affairs two more brutal murders occur making it even more vital to bring the killer to book.

The Killing's At Badger's Drift (first transmitted in March 1997) was the pilot episode of the subsequent Midsomer Murders series, which has proved phenomenally successful airing in numerous countries. After the outstanding success of this film, the producers Betty Willingale and Brian True May subsequently filmed Caroline Graham's other Inspector Barnaby novels, "Written In Blood", "Death Of A Hollow Man", "Faithful Unto Death" and "Death In Disguise". So far there have been six other successful series and other distinguished TV writers were drafted in to create new stories such as Anthony Horowitz ("Poirot", "Foyle's War") and Douglas Watkinson who has contributed to "Boon", "The Professionals" and "Emmerdale".

The Killing's At Badger's Drift is first class entertainment. It's success can be attributed to the idea of evil-goings on merging out of seemingly tranquil settings such as the English countryside. It presents audiences with such ingredients as afternoon teas, dastardly deeds at the vicarage and dotty eccentrics, such things that they haven't seen since the 1960's in films like the Margaret Rutherford Miss Marple's and they are clearly loving it. The success of this and the subsequent series is also thanks to the skilled actors, writers and technicians who bring Caroline Graham's creation to life. John Nettles portrays Barnaby as a happy family man with a wife and daughter and he is also a thoughtful and methodical man who is dedicated to his work. Daniel Casey offers solid support as his young sergeant who is always quick at jumping to conclusions and is rather intolerant of things that he doesn't understand. The chemistry between the two leads is always a joy to watch as they are clearly close friends but often collide over each others different approach to police work. Both establish their roles for future episodes. Director Jeremy Silberston directs the excellent script by Anthony Horowitz with considerable skill effortlessly conveying the sense of evil in a deceptively harmless and picturesque setting. He also proves adept at blending the more horrific moments with traditional comedy relief such as Barnaby who clearly loves his wife but can't stand her experimental cooking.

In summary, The Killing's At Badger's Drift is a cut above your usual British crime drama as it is extremely rare nowadays to find one such as this that uses every traditional ingredient for mysteries and superbly brings them out in a contemporary setting.

One of the most twisted and sulfurous episodes 'You have to tell the bees when somebody dies; otherwise they just clear off.' This has to be my favorite episode—and the bleakest.

Barnaby's area is like the kitchen or the backyard of Jack the Ripper—a hellish small village. This is like the true face of the English people—presumably …; the stupidity of the premise has been long laughed at.

There's a young painter who looks like a 16th century French playboy; there's the sexy wife of a physician …. And an ultra—weird couple of freaks (a gay undertaker and his mother). Now that's a twisted parade. The idyllic atmosphere of the episode is in stark contrast with the horror of what goes on.

The denouement is ceaselessly given away by an old Elizabethan play, 'Tis pity …'.

What else should be said other than that Emily Mortimer is Miss Lacey, Diana Hardcastle is Mrs. Lessiter.

I started watching this show in Dec 2015 on Netflix. I was hooked. I'm done now with all the eps through Season 17. I'm now going back to re-watch!

The first thing I noticed this time around is how Troy is shown as being a reckless driver, which makes his cameo in the 11th season's "Blood Wedding," all the more charming! This running gag about Troy's bad driving went over my head the first time I watched the series.

This episode was very interesting from finish to start. So many different layers, however ridiculous they may be. I haven't read the original work by Caroline Graham, but I am sure that her original storyline helped add depth to this plot (unlike some of the future episodes we'll be seeing).

It was fun to see Joyce with her ambitious but failed cooking skills (another running gag). And Cully so young, studying Art History at Cambridge before switching her dream to studying drama (another theme in the series).

No loose end in this episode, especially satisfying was the final scene when we finally figure out who is "Annabella" (though I'd thought it was Bella the entire time, what a cute twist at the end, eh?). When re-watching it, the clues to who she is became more obvious. In the scene when Emily Simpson is calling the helpline, a copy of John Ford's "'Tis Pity She's a Whore" is shown on her desk. Then the officiant is holding the book during Tom's trippy clue montage during the Trace wedding. And of course, the plot of Ford's play mirrors this episode's story in a couple of ways.

I took note that Barnaby ends up in Brighton in this his first episode. As we who've seen it already know, that's where his cousin, John, is stationed in Nettle's last season (13).

Still lots of fun to watch, and re-watch. Check out my Midsomer blog in which I highlight the beautiful exterior and interiors of the show: http://midsomermurders1997.blogspot.com/

This mystery was a delight. WAS IT LONG? Not at all: because it grabbed you, brought you in, and kept you enthralled. WAS IT DISGUSTING? No! WAS IT OBNOXIOUS? No! It was a wonderful portrait of real life -- albeit with twists and turns that could perhaps offend those with a conservative religious beliefs who maybe should not be watching television mysteries at all! Forget social prejudices: absorb the story line, relate to the wonderful consummate acting and the absorbing eye-catching settings.

The acting itself was an absolute joy to watch. Major and minor parts both were handled with great panache -- as only British actors seem to do. Each scene is meticulously developed bringing all into an eccentric reality. This series is a magnificent example of British television at its artistic best!

I just watched the first episode of Killings at Badger's Drift again Season one Episode one. One line popped out. At the very end when all the murders had been solved and the suicide pact had taken place, Troy says "Who was she" and Barnaby says " We'll never know." Are they saying Katherine Lacey was not Michael Lacey's sister? If not, then there was no incest. But at the very end, Mr. and Mrs. Barnaby go see Cully's play and Joyce mentions incest. I watched all episodes and now am going back to the beginning and that line did not get any notice the first time. Please give me your opinions on what this line might have meant.

Midsomer Murders has been an absolute favourite of mine for so many years. New episodes are never missed, and I have watched every single episode several times. I believe Midsomer Murders is that kind of crime drama that you never get tired of watching. Some episodes are clearly better than others, and the series was at its best during the John Nettles era. The series has clearly been altered after Neil Dudgeon replaced John Nettles in the lead role, but the Neil Dudgeon era has had its good seasons and episodes as well.

"The Killings at Badger's Drift" was the very first episode of Midsomer Murders shown back in 1997. John Nettles is the perfect Tom Barnaby, a character with both humour and thoughtfulness. Jane Waymark plays a character with a heart of gold, a personality that shows both sympathy and thoughtfulness.

A late afternoon in the most beautiful of English villages, a wooden post announcing "Badger's Drift - Midsomer's best kept village", elderly Emily Simpson cycles through the village. She greets various villagers as she passes them. She meets her friend and neighbour, Lucy Bellringer, and talk about their competition concerning a very rare orchid, "spurred coral root". Lucy Bellringer found it seven years ago and Emily Simpson had to buy Lucy Bellringer tea at the Regency Hotel. Now, Emily Simpson wants to even the score, and jokes about Lucy buying her tea this year. She is on her way into the woods to find the spurred coral root and she does so. She finds her camera and photographs it before she marks it with a wooden stake with a red ribbon. Shortly after, she hears a sound in the nearby area, and she realises that someone is having their way right in front of her. She is frightened and runs away, and it seems that she knows the persons concerned. As she comes home, she is calling the helpline and asks for a number in Brighton, but before she can reply which number she wants, it knocks on her door.

"The Killings at Badger's Drift" starts with the brutal murder of Emily Simpson. DCI Tom Barnaby and DS Gavin Troy are called to Beehive Cottage in Badger's Drift where she lived. When her body is discovered, it looks like her death might be an accident, but upon interviewing Lucy Bellringer, Barnaby starts to believe that Emily Simpson was indeed murdered. Lucy informs Barnaby and Troy about her and Emily's competition concerning the spurred coral root. Curiously, Barnaby asks if Miss Simpson would have picked the orchid, but Lucy says the rules were simple. They both had their own camera and wooden stakes, just with different colours on the ribbons, red ribbons for Emily and yellow ribbons for Lucy. Lucy Bellringer is confident in her case that her best friend was murdered, something she tells Barnaby during the interview. She is proved right when the autopsy report proves she was hit over the head.

In "The Killings at Badger's Drift" we meet the mother and son couple Iris and Dennis Rainbird who spy on their fellow residents in Badger's Drift, blackmailing them for different reasons. Henry Trace is about to marry Katherine Lacey, a woman he has cared under his wings alongside her brother Michael, ever since Michael and Katherine's parents died in a car accident when they were children. Trevor and Barbara Lessiter are unfaithful with each other, and Barnaby is told that Henry Trace lost his wife during a shooting accident 26 June 1995. A little while after Emily Simpson's funeral, both Iris and Dennis Rainbird are stabbed to death, and Barnaby starts to wonder if the murder of Emily Simpson, the death of Bella Trace, and the brutal murders of the Rainbirds, are all connected.

As the investigation progresses, the pieces start to fall into place. It is revealed that Katherine Lacey and her brother are having a relationship, something that has been going on for years. The truth is soon brought to light and it turns out that Katherine is the murderer. She killed Bella Trace to marry Henry Trace for the money, murdered Emily Simpson for discovering her and Michael having sex in the woods, and murdered Iris and Dennis Rainbird for blackmailing her and Michael about their relationship, including the rug they used to have sex in the woods, which Dennis found in the quarry.

Elizabeth Spriggs and Richard Cant are both terrific in their roles as the horrible mother and son couple Iris and Dennis Rainbird. Emily Mortimer is amazing, and she leaves a solid and a wonderful interpretation of Katherine Lacey. Jonathan Firth leaves a very good impression as Michael Lacey, even though his character was a way too bland for my taste, and not as open-minded and interesting as his sister Katherine. Rosalie Crutchley plays Lucy Bellringer so wonderfully well and her part is without doubt one of the most colourful and interesting characters. Sadly she passed away in july 1997, four months after "The Killings at Badger's Drift" was shown for the first time in the UK, but I am glad that she managed to take a part of Midsomer Murders when this pilot episode, "The Killings at Badger's Drift was filmed during the months of September-October 1996.

"The Killings at Badger's Drift" is an incredibly well-made episode, and is beautifully photographed with a gorgeously idyllic scenery. The Lee, Little Missenden, and the Holy Trinity Church in Bledlow stand out as my favourite filming locations of this episode as parts of the village of Badger's Drift, but I do have to say that the Black Park Cottage which features as Holly Cottage, and Watlington Park which features as Tye House, are stunning filming locations in this episode as well.

"The Killings at Badger's Drift" is such a wonderful story, with twist and turns and the red herrings are present as well. "The Killings at Badger's Drift" is one of the darkest, complex and compelling stories of all Midsomer Murders episodes, and the murders of the Rainbirds will always be remembered as fare brutal, while the ending and final solution will be remembered as one of the show's most shocking.

"The Killing at Badger's Drift" is a wonderful start to a much-loved series. 10/10 Hossy Christie.

Midsomer is the best show in the history of television. This episode is a great introduction to the main characters, whose relationships are developed well over the first several episodes. Pay special attention to Joyce and Cully.

"Midsomer Murders" has been one of my favorite shows for years. My love for the show started on a cold Sunday, when there was nothing to watch on TV except "Midsomer". After watching an episode, I absolutely fell in love with the characters. The episode I watched was indeed "The Killings at Badger's Drift", which is still to this day one of the better entries of the series.

Let's start with the good aspects of this episode.

. The production values are brilliant. The episode looks fantastic and the main theme of the series is chilling and sets the mood for the show perfectly.

. The acting's strong too. John Nettles and Daniel Casey work wonders together. Jane Wymark, Laura Howard are likable too. Out of the great guest stars Richard Cant, Elizabeth Spriggs, Jonathan Firth, Emily Mortimer, Julian Glover and Selina Cadell all give very good performances.

. The story is one of the darkest of the show with twists, turns, red herrings, brutal murders (the slaughter of the Rainbirds is still to this day very effective) and with a shocking ending (brother and sister have a sexual relationship).

But...

. There are parts of the mystery, which maybe needed a bit more closure. The motive for the murder of the Rainbirds being one in fact.

Overall, "The Killings at Badger's Drift" is a great entry.

9/10 HK

At the end the painting is revealed. For some reason I couldn't see it as Emily Mortimer but another actress stuck in my mind.

It took a while but I thought 'Bond girl' and Eastern European. The problem is she didn't really come to fame until 11 years later when she starred in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace. It bears an uncanny likeness of Olga Kurylenko (well in my mind anyway) As for a first episode it got me hooked and I am still watching 26 years on from this one. My only other viewing experience of John Nettles is Bergerac but personally I feel he suits this role much better. I also love the rural setting as it takes me back to my early childhood (less the murders of course).

There was an Australian movie from the mid 1970's, a film called "Summerfield", that used almost all the same storyline, the last third of the show was almost an exact copy. Same clues and same ending. I liked the acting and the presentation but saldy must mark the show down for the above reason.