A woman in a Spanish costume is brutally murdered after leaving a kind of Spanish festival. She has a flower stuffed in her mouth. Few have much regret because she was abhorred by many in the town. There are two things at play here. One seems to be the dissension among the ranks of this club. Next to the murdered woman, the head of the group is despised by the other, with good reason. The secondary plot (which is ultimately important) is a tense reunion among Cully Barnaby and three of her old classmates. They seem to have lost that sense of sisterhood. Finally, we are introduced to the new Sergeant. He is one of those people who is angry about the situation in which he finds himself. He is ambitious, looking to use his time with Barnaby to climb the ladder. He is also smart and charming and has the ability to get the resistant to talk.
14 Reviews
Barnaby has a new partner
blanche-222 August 2014
Dan Scott (John Hopkins) comes in to replace Troy as Barnaby's new partner in "Bad Tidings" from season 7. He has no time to become acclimated to his new boss or surroundings, as a murder case beckons.
A woman is found dead from stabbing in Midsomer Mallow. She left the Midsomer Mallow residents' association's Spanish Evening in a huff but never arrives home.
The suspect that comes up immediately is Jacob Stoat, who goes around with a wagon and does odd jobs.
As a subplot, Cully, Barnaby's daughter, is reuniting with some school friends, one of whom is peripherally involved in the case. She was a neighbor of the dead woman. Cully is distressed to see that her friends have changed. She's not as comfortable with them as she once was, not realizing that they have a secret. When a second murder occurs, that secret is revealed.
This is a pretty good Midsomer Murders entry, except that the murderer seems to troll the countryside looking for people to kill, and one of them is not really involved with the killer.
As Sergeant Scott, Dan Hopkins is handsome and the character's polite, charming nature on the surface belies his resentment for being sent down from London and his determination to move up the ranks. I think he gets his wish, as he's not with Barnaby very long.
A woman is found dead from stabbing in Midsomer Mallow. She left the Midsomer Mallow residents' association's Spanish Evening in a huff but never arrives home.
The suspect that comes up immediately is Jacob Stoat, who goes around with a wagon and does odd jobs.
As a subplot, Cully, Barnaby's daughter, is reuniting with some school friends, one of whom is peripherally involved in the case. She was a neighbor of the dead woman. Cully is distressed to see that her friends have changed. She's not as comfortable with them as she once was, not realizing that they have a secret. When a second murder occurs, that secret is revealed.
This is a pretty good Midsomer Murders entry, except that the murderer seems to troll the countryside looking for people to kill, and one of them is not really involved with the killer.
As Sergeant Scott, Dan Hopkins is handsome and the character's polite, charming nature on the surface belies his resentment for being sent down from London and his determination to move up the ranks. I think he gets his wish, as he's not with Barnaby very long.
Good Midsomer Murders mystery.
poolandrews28 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Midsomer Murders: Bad Tidings is set in the Midsomer village of Midsomer Mallow & starts late one night as the local residents committee are holding a themed evening, in this case a Spanish night. Inside the hall & Fiona Thompson (Nina Marc) has an argument with her husband Gary (Michael Simkins) & storms off into the darkness of the night past local resident Donald Tew (John Normington) who hears a funny squeaking noise but can't see what's making it... The next morning & Mary Pearce (Helen Lindsay) finds one of Fiona's high heeled shoes in the grass, it's not long before she find Fiona's dead body having been stabbed to death sometime after she left the Spanish evening the night before. With Troy departed for Middlesborough DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) welcomes his new Sergeant Dan Scott (John Hopkins) to Causton CID, however the formalities will have to wait as Sgt. Scott finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation on his first day...
Episode 2 from season 7 this Midsomer Murders mystery was directed by Peter Smith & is a solid & enjoyable detective drama although once again it doesn't quite capture the magic of the earlier seasons. The script by Peter Hammond is notable because it introduces Barnaby's new Sergeant after Troy left in the previous story The Green Man, I can't say I've taken to him that well as he seems a touch arrogant & just not as likable as the sometimes dim witted Troy & it was no surprise when he only lasted for fourteen episodes & mysteriously left after the character called in sick one day & was never to be heard from again, one suspects all was not well behind the scenes... Anyway back to Bad Tidings & a fair amount of it is preoccupied with the introduction of Scott which it does well enough I suppose, sometimes the actual murder case they are working on seems a secondary consideration but the later stages of the episode redress the balance. The murder plot here is quite good & I doubt you'll ever figure out who did it or why, not even Barnaby does that as the killer is caught in the act rather than found out. There aren't too many suspects in this one & the red herrings are average, I mean that shifty guy with the hand cart who sharpens knifes for a living is the most obvious suspect but you just know it's not him because he's too obvious & Midsomer Murders doesn't do obvious. It all comes together quite well although the motives for murder aren't that great & none of the loose ends are tied up like what happens to the baby & the father now the secret is out in the open. A good story for sure & still very watchable but I wouldn't call it a Midsomer Murders classic.
There's plenty of the English countryside on show as usual, Cuddington in Buckinghamshire was used for several location in Bad Tidings & Warborough in Oxfordshire was used for several other locations. It all looks very nice being shot on film & having very high production values. The acting is strong as usual from a good cast. There are three murders in Bad Tidings & the murders here contain a fair amount of blood, although not seen taking place the crimes scenes & dead bodies are blood stained.
Bad tidings is another good Midsomer murders although I'm missing Troy already, a must for fans & armchair detectives everywhere as it's one of the best murder mystery show's around & even a story like Bad Tidings beats most other crime dramas hands down & it's as simple & straight forward as that, however by Midsomer Murders very own high standards this one perhaps falls slightly short.
Episode 2 from season 7 this Midsomer Murders mystery was directed by Peter Smith & is a solid & enjoyable detective drama although once again it doesn't quite capture the magic of the earlier seasons. The script by Peter Hammond is notable because it introduces Barnaby's new Sergeant after Troy left in the previous story The Green Man, I can't say I've taken to him that well as he seems a touch arrogant & just not as likable as the sometimes dim witted Troy & it was no surprise when he only lasted for fourteen episodes & mysteriously left after the character called in sick one day & was never to be heard from again, one suspects all was not well behind the scenes... Anyway back to Bad Tidings & a fair amount of it is preoccupied with the introduction of Scott which it does well enough I suppose, sometimes the actual murder case they are working on seems a secondary consideration but the later stages of the episode redress the balance. The murder plot here is quite good & I doubt you'll ever figure out who did it or why, not even Barnaby does that as the killer is caught in the act rather than found out. There aren't too many suspects in this one & the red herrings are average, I mean that shifty guy with the hand cart who sharpens knifes for a living is the most obvious suspect but you just know it's not him because he's too obvious & Midsomer Murders doesn't do obvious. It all comes together quite well although the motives for murder aren't that great & none of the loose ends are tied up like what happens to the baby & the father now the secret is out in the open. A good story for sure & still very watchable but I wouldn't call it a Midsomer Murders classic.
There's plenty of the English countryside on show as usual, Cuddington in Buckinghamshire was used for several location in Bad Tidings & Warborough in Oxfordshire was used for several other locations. It all looks very nice being shot on film & having very high production values. The acting is strong as usual from a good cast. There are three murders in Bad Tidings & the murders here contain a fair amount of blood, although not seen taking place the crimes scenes & dead bodies are blood stained.
Bad tidings is another good Midsomer murders although I'm missing Troy already, a must for fans & armchair detectives everywhere as it's one of the best murder mystery show's around & even a story like Bad Tidings beats most other crime dramas hands down & it's as simple & straight forward as that, however by Midsomer Murders very own high standards this one perhaps falls slightly short.
A brilliant Midsomer episode
Sleepin_Dragon3 February 2016
Troy has gone off to pastures new, Barnaby has a new colleague, the straight laced and cocky Sergeant Scott, a totally different guy to Troy. It's not long before he and Barnaby are on the hunt for a killer, after a Spanish dancing evening, Fiona Thompson is found stabbed to death in Midsomer Mallow Field with a Red Rose in her mouth. Cully is meeting up with a group of friends that she hasn't seen for ages.
This has an absolutely fantastic cast, shame this is the last time we've seen Nina Marc (Fiona) on the TV, lovely and talented actress, John Standing, John Normington, Esther Hall, Ruth Jones, all utterly brilliant, they had a cracking script to work with, the standout performance here though came from Helen Grace, she's a magical actress, shockingly underrated and massively talented.
Series 7 is a very strong season, no wonder they were averaging ten million viewers per episode, this is one of the better ones, something very dark and nasty about this one, it's very very good. 9/10
This has an absolutely fantastic cast, shame this is the last time we've seen Nina Marc (Fiona) on the TV, lovely and talented actress, John Standing, John Normington, Esther Hall, Ruth Jones, all utterly brilliant, they had a cracking script to work with, the standout performance here though came from Helen Grace, she's a magical actress, shockingly underrated and massively talented.
Series 7 is a very strong season, no wonder they were averaging ten million viewers per episode, this is one of the better ones, something very dark and nasty about this one, it's very very good. 9/10
The debut of Sergeant Scott
TheLittleSongbird20 January 2017
Not quite as good as the previous episode "The Green Man", which saw us bidding farewell to Sergeant Troy. "Bad Tidings" sees the debut of Barnaby's new sergeant, Sergeant Scott.
And a good debut it is too. Quite often new characters don't fit instantly and take a while to settle and to warm to, but Scott fits very well at first sight and doesn't make one miss Troy too much at all John Hopkins brings charm and intensity to the part, and works like a glove with John Nettles who is as always a joy as Barnaby. All the cast do great jobs, with Helen Grace a standout.
The production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's occasional 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.
Meanwhile, the script is smart and thought-provoking with some nice quirky humour, a suitable dark grimness and colourful characters. The story is compelling, and never simplistic and never losing any of the maturity of most of the previous episodes. There is a lot going on mostly without being cluttered or rushed (remarkable for an episode that as ever is heavy in exposition), and that nothing is what it seems, or very few people are who they seem adds to the complexity, while there are no out of kilter scenes.
"Bad Tidings" twists, red herrings and turns, in classic 'Midsomer Murders' tradition, keep coming, and while there could have been more suspects and a couple of them are a touch obvious there's hardly a shortage of them. The characters are lively enough.
It is agreed though that the motives are on the dull side, prefer the more twisted ones myself, and there are a few loose ends at the end not tied up particularly well.
Otherwise, a very good episode and debut for Barnaby's new sergeant. 8/10 Bethany Cox
And a good debut it is too. Quite often new characters don't fit instantly and take a while to settle and to warm to, but Scott fits very well at first sight and doesn't make one miss Troy too much at all John Hopkins brings charm and intensity to the part, and works like a glove with John Nettles who is as always a joy as Barnaby. All the cast do great jobs, with Helen Grace a standout.
The production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's occasional 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.
Meanwhile, the script is smart and thought-provoking with some nice quirky humour, a suitable dark grimness and colourful characters. The story is compelling, and never simplistic and never losing any of the maturity of most of the previous episodes. There is a lot going on mostly without being cluttered or rushed (remarkable for an episode that as ever is heavy in exposition), and that nothing is what it seems, or very few people are who they seem adds to the complexity, while there are no out of kilter scenes.
"Bad Tidings" twists, red herrings and turns, in classic 'Midsomer Murders' tradition, keep coming, and while there could have been more suspects and a couple of them are a touch obvious there's hardly a shortage of them. The characters are lively enough.
It is agreed though that the motives are on the dull side, prefer the more twisted ones myself, and there are a few loose ends at the end not tied up particularly well.
Otherwise, a very good episode and debut for Barnaby's new sergeant. 8/10 Bethany Cox
How annoying is Cully...........!
Schweizer8530 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Whilst I love the production values in this one and think it's a great start for Scott, certain things nag me every time I see it.
Firstly, I find it hard to believe that any of Cully's friends left school only ten years ago, those parts are not cast very well, they would be 28 but all look considerably older. Secondly, I find Cully very irritating in this episode, it's almost like she just doesn't get the hint when she keeps suggesting going out for a meal and thirdly, I don't find the storyline of the child looking nothing like her mother anywhere near credible, surely Barnaby's first thought would be that she may look more like her Dad by her hair colour
I like very much the performances of the older cast - John Standing in particular as Charles Rust. If you're a fan of Midsomer Murders you'll like this one but be warned, Cully is highly irritating !
Firstly, I find it hard to believe that any of Cully's friends left school only ten years ago, those parts are not cast very well, they would be 28 but all look considerably older. Secondly, I find Cully very irritating in this episode, it's almost like she just doesn't get the hint when she keeps suggesting going out for a meal and thirdly, I don't find the storyline of the child looking nothing like her mother anywhere near credible, surely Barnaby's first thought would be that she may look more like her Dad by her hair colour
I like very much the performances of the older cast - John Standing in particular as Charles Rust. If you're a fan of Midsomer Murders you'll like this one but be warned, Cully is highly irritating !
Top tier MM
coltras3520 August 2022
A local woman is found murdered following a row with her husband at a residents' association Spanish-themed evening. The finger of suspicion soon points to an odd-job man with a violent history, and the chairman of the association reveals he heard a squeaking noise after the victim left - but the witness promptly winds up dead himself
This is a solid episode where Barnaby gets a new partner, or should I say lackey, and he seems to hit it off with Scully Barnaby, who has a side story when reunites with some friends. She realises, though, that they are not the same friend she knows. Of course, this sub-plot is linked with the main plot which is the usual detecting. Helen Grace as Lynn - one of Cully's school friends - acts real well as a Golddigger and her husband is one miserable sod.
This is a solid episode where Barnaby gets a new partner, or should I say lackey, and he seems to hit it off with Scully Barnaby, who has a side story when reunites with some friends. She realises, though, that they are not the same friend she knows. Of course, this sub-plot is linked with the main plot which is the usual detecting. Helen Grace as Lynn - one of Cully's school friends - acts real well as a Golddigger and her husband is one miserable sod.
A pleasant debut for DS Scott.
harrykivi23 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
After "The Green man" being solid, though not great for me, I wanted Dan Scott's debut to be nice. For me, "Bad Tidings" continues the good, but not great "Midsomer murders" line.
Let's start with positives.
. The production values are usually wonderful. The episode looks nice and music's great. The acting is also pretty good. John Standing and especially Helen Grace being standouts.
. The murder mystery is solid here with witty humor and brutal murders.
. Dan Scott gets a lovely welcome too. His character feels interesting and active straight away.
But...
. The motives for the murders feel bit dull considering the rest of this episode faring more interesting. Yet another blackmail story, hurray!
. The subplot about Cully's school reunion sadly does take too much of the story and because of that, the murder mystery feels less focused- more in the background.
. Also, adding couple of more neat twists would have worked for "Bad Tidings" behalf.
Overall: good, not great "Midsomer Murders".
7/10 HK
Let's start with positives.
. The production values are usually wonderful. The episode looks nice and music's great. The acting is also pretty good. John Standing and especially Helen Grace being standouts.
. The murder mystery is solid here with witty humor and brutal murders.
. Dan Scott gets a lovely welcome too. His character feels interesting and active straight away.
But...
. The motives for the murders feel bit dull considering the rest of this episode faring more interesting. Yet another blackmail story, hurray!
. The subplot about Cully's school reunion sadly does take too much of the story and because of that, the murder mystery feels less focused- more in the background.
. Also, adding couple of more neat twists would have worked for "Bad Tidings" behalf.
Overall: good, not great "Midsomer Murders".
7/10 HK
it is amazing that nobody kills
mgl-9203724 April 2022
Welcome to Midsomer, DS Daniel Scott
hossychristie23 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Bad Tidings starts as Fiona Thompson is found dead in Chenies Field after attending a spanish evening where she has an argument with her husband about money. As Troy has departed to start his new job as Detective Inspector in Middlesbrough, Barnaby welcomes new DS Daniel Scott as Troy's replacement, and Scott is not that impressed about his new job in Midsomer. During the annual Garden day, Charles Rust gets murdered as well, and it seems that the murderer wants to conceal a secret.
Bad Tidings is a good, intriguing and an enjoyable episode, and in my opinion, a step up in quality, because this story is more compelling. It was nice to see Cully reunited with her School friends, but the meeting does not turn out as she wanted it to be, something I feel sad for. The story itself is very good, and I did like the setting about the spanish evening, Cully's reunion with old friends, and the garden day.
Overall, a good second episode of series seven. It does take a little while to get to know Scott, after Troy's departure, but Scott will leave a better impression later on. 8/10 Hossy Christie.
Bad Tidings is a good, intriguing and an enjoyable episode, and in my opinion, a step up in quality, because this story is more compelling. It was nice to see Cully reunited with her School friends, but the meeting does not turn out as she wanted it to be, something I feel sad for. The story itself is very good, and I did like the setting about the spanish evening, Cully's reunion with old friends, and the garden day.
Overall, a good second episode of series seven. It does take a little while to get to know Scott, after Troy's departure, but Scott will leave a better impression later on. 8/10 Hossy Christie.
Dan Scott can't hold a candle to Sgt. Troy.
NYCinema13 April 2021
I'm sorry, but I am so disappointed in the new Detective Sgt. I am really mourning the loss of Sgt. Troy. His replacement is so inferior in every way.
Other than that, a decent episode, but things just aren't the same without Sgt. Troy. That's all I have to say.
Other than that, a decent episode, but things just aren't the same without Sgt. Troy. That's all I have to say.
Solid, entertaining if unremarkable entry into the series.
jamesraeburn20038 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
DCI Barnaby (played by John Nettles) and his new sergeant, Dan Scott (played by John Hopkins), are sent to Midsomer Mallow to investigate the brutal murder of Fiona Thompson (played by Nina Marc). It transpires that she was an unpopular person, including among her fellow members of the local residents' association. They include the secretary, Shirley Bennett (played by Christine Moore) and ex-teacher Donald Tew (played by John Normington) who regret that they wished her dead. Tew informs the detectives that their chairman, Charles Rust (played by John Standing), had threatened her and that on the night of the murder he had heard a squeaking noise outside of the village hall. They discover that a sinister odd job man called Jacob Stoke pushes an old handcart around the village, which could account for the strange noise and that he had threatened and verbally abused Fiona after she refused him work when he called at her home. Meanwhile, Barnaby's daughter, Cully (played by Laura Howard), has arranged a reunion with her old school friends: Cassie Woods and her brother Noel (played by Esther Hall and Daniel Crowder), who run a farm, Lynn Spearman (played by Helen Grace), who married into money with London-based businessman Matthew (played by Hilton McCrae) and Rachael Rose (played by Ruth Jones), a secretive lady who brings up her baby girl alone and is very reluctant to let Cully meet her. However, Cully finds that they have all changed and no longer have much in common. Two more murders follow and Barnaby and Scott must decide if the killer is among the residents' association or perhaps Cully's old school friends are implicated somehow...
All in all, Bad Tidings is a solid entry into the series that introduces Barnaby's new sergeant, Dan Scott, who transfers into his rural police division from the Met, and comes across as surly and arrogant thinking that his new job is not good enough for him. The pair manage to work together after a fashion, but by the end of this case it still isn't clear if the two men will get along or not. This episode also gives Laura Howard's character, Barnaby's daughter, Cully, more to do than usual. She is integral to the story as her well meaning aim of reuniting with her former school friends turns out to become strongly connected to her father's murder inquiry. Cully is somewhat naive and does not appreciate that after so many years her friends would have changed and might no longer have anything in common with her. Later, she only narrowly avoids becoming a victim of the murderer herself. This subplot is effective and adds something to what is really a standard whodunit plot. The script is well-structured and builds to a satisfactory (if unremarkable) denouement. As always the acting is top notch and standout among a good cast are Helen Grace, John Standing, Esther Hall, Daniel Crowder and Ruth Jones. The production values are as good as we have come to expect from this series and the splendid rural locations are maximised for their atmospheric effect. The assured direction is again by series regular Peter Smith.
All in all, Bad Tidings is a solid entry into the series that introduces Barnaby's new sergeant, Dan Scott, who transfers into his rural police division from the Met, and comes across as surly and arrogant thinking that his new job is not good enough for him. The pair manage to work together after a fashion, but by the end of this case it still isn't clear if the two men will get along or not. This episode also gives Laura Howard's character, Barnaby's daughter, Cully, more to do than usual. She is integral to the story as her well meaning aim of reuniting with her former school friends turns out to become strongly connected to her father's murder inquiry. Cully is somewhat naive and does not appreciate that after so many years her friends would have changed and might no longer have anything in common with her. Later, she only narrowly avoids becoming a victim of the murderer herself. This subplot is effective and adds something to what is really a standard whodunit plot. The script is well-structured and builds to a satisfactory (if unremarkable) denouement. As always the acting is top notch and standout among a good cast are Helen Grace, John Standing, Esther Hall, Daniel Crowder and Ruth Jones. The production values are as good as we have come to expect from this series and the splendid rural locations are maximised for their atmospheric effect. The assured direction is again by series regular Peter Smith.
Not well written- plot device fails
eric-183322 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I usually like Midsomer Murders, but this pisode had a serious problem with it's plot. The whole episode depends on the way the child looks. Seeing the blonde hair, Barnaby and Cully both realize the child cannot be Racaels's daughter because they do not resemble each other. The father is unknown. Children often look like one or the other parent. Rachael could easily have said she looks like the father, whom she does not want to mention, and not have to do all the rigamarole of only having the child out after dark, avoiding anyone from seeing the child, &c. I was surprised they dumbed down Barnaby like that, a character who is amazingly discerning.
Also, the massively pound baby stroller, which could be heard from a bit of a distance, and through walls, quite loudly, was straight out of a B-grade horror film, especially with the dread filled expressions on the faces of those who hear it.
Also, the massively pound baby stroller, which could be heard from a bit of a distance, and through walls, quite loudly, was straight out of a B-grade horror film, especially with the dread filled expressions on the faces of those who hear it.
Exit Troy, Enter Scott
annie-29314 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Red herrings galore in this episode, and we are left with little satisfactory explanation for the rampant killings. A bit of blackmail seems to set the killer off, but there's no real satisfactory reason as to why the villain keeps on killing (and skulking about looking for more people to kill). As another reviewer noted, the obvious suspect has to be ruled out by any regular watcher of the show, on the grounds that he's so obvious, he can't be guilty.
The show marks the debut of Detective Sergeant Scott. Count me as one glad to see the last of Sergeant Troy, with the running gag of his cloth-headedness and poor driving skills. The new Sergeant, even with the undercurrent of resentment at being banished to the hinterlands from London, takes hold immediately. He's a lot easier to watch as well. Time will tell if he grows into a good working relationship with DCI Barnaby, although with the magic of IMDb to tell us that he lasted for only a few episodes, the answer is probably - no.
The show marks the debut of Detective Sergeant Scott. Count me as one glad to see the last of Sergeant Troy, with the running gag of his cloth-headedness and poor driving skills. The new Sergeant, even with the undercurrent of resentment at being banished to the hinterlands from London, takes hold immediately. He's a lot easier to watch as well. Time will tell if he grows into a good working relationship with DCI Barnaby, although with the magic of IMDb to tell us that he lasted for only a few episodes, the answer is probably - no.
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