The Wonders of Whodunits

Hello,
To the very few that actually read this: I am back. To all those with blogs on this website: Never use Firefox 1.0 when trying to blog. Update to 2.0. It will save you zounds of hassle and frustration.

How many of you have Netflix? If you've never heard of it, it's worth checking out. What is it? It is an online movie rental website. You search their online library of movies- hundreds of thousands- and add the ones you want to watch to your queue. The first movie on your list that is available is sent directly to your house. Keep it at your home for as long as you want, and when you're done, the envelope it was sent in converts to another envelope, in which you send back the DVD. Once it arrives at your local Netflix plant, they send you the next movie on your queue. And on it goes.

Now, what is so amazing about it? The content. Sooooo many more choices of movies that you would never have seen otherwise. You can also browse the listings in you PJ's. What can beat that?

I will tell you of two series that my family and I discovered on Netflix, and then tell you what is so brilliant about them.

The first that my family found was one named Foyle's War. It is made in the current day, but is based in World War Two torn England. The main character is DC Christopher Foyle, played by Michael Kitchen, a detective in the coastal town of Hastings . He would rather be more involved in the war effort, but has been commanded to stay in the town to take care of the small-time war-crimes: theft, sabotage, and of course, murder. A quiet man, Foyle speaks very little (yes, I know, duh) and shows most of his thoughts through his facial expressions, which are quite deceptive and perplexing. His sergeant, Paul Milner, played by Anthony Howell, was stationed in Norway when he was wounded in the leg- which was soon amputated. Now fitted with an aluminum (pronounced on film as 'Al-you-minium' with the 'minium' spoken very fast) leg, he usually investigates a smaller crime that usually connects in some way to the crime that Foyle has been investigating. The third principle character is Foyles driver, Sam Stewart, played by Honeysuckle Weeks. Sam's character is the inquisitive one to whom Foyle must sometimes explain what is happening, so as to help out the audience as well. Usually she is told not to ask questions, or not to speak at all, but in a very friendly manner. The chemistry between these three actors is absolutely amazing as they try to solve the mystery.
The stories within the episodes are absolutely amazing, as they coincide with real historical events that happened at the same time. Plots revolve around things such as the Blitz, the bouncing bomb, and Funk Holes to food privateering and women in the work force. Every detail is meticulously researched so as to create an extremely realistic atmosphere.
Each episode is an hour and forty minutes without commercials, and they are written by Anthony Horowitz. Originally aired on the BBC, they are almost always several years late in arriving in the US. More information can be found at: www.foyleswar.com .


The second series is Midsomer Murders. Set in the fictional English countryside filled county of Midsomer, Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, played by John Nettles, is always investigating somewhere between two to five nasty murders every episode. This is the exact opposite of the American Murder mystery, in which everything is gory and gruesome. While you do see the murder occur (with the murderers face not shown, of course), it usually is not that gruesome. Always by Barnaby's side in the earlier episodes in Sergeant Gavin Troy, played by Daniel Casey (In later episodes, this role is filled by Sergeant Dan Scott- played by John Hopkins, and Sergeant Ben Jones- played by Jason Hughes). Troy and Barnaby make an amazing team, with plenty of little quirks and running jokes to keep the loyal fans laughing until the end. Barnaby's wife, Joyce, is played by Jane Wymark. Always trying out some inventive cooking concoction, of which Tom is never thankful, Joyce is usually involved in a social group somewhere- the ones in which a murder is about to occur. Tom's daughter Cully, played by Laura Howard, is a graduated theatrical actor who never seems to get that many roles, and is either volunteering at the mobile library, or working some odd job.
Each episode is an hour and forty minutes, and is usually broadcasted at odd times on various cable channels. More information can be found at www.midsomermurders.net .

Now- why am I talking about this? Well, both these shows are extremely intellectually taxing. While the characters of modern television shows do have names, the characters are so very unique, recognizable, and diverse that you never mix them up. They are almost never called by their names mid-show either. In both series, especially Midsomer Murders, you are introduced to 5-7 new characters in each individual episode, all of which are extremely unique, have similar names, and who seem as guilty as heck. They are referred to by their full names many times when they are not even on screen, making many viewers say "Who are they talking about again??". So many red herrings are present in each episode so as to present a very confusing but intellectually stimulating atmosphere.
Also terrific about at least Foyle's War is it's cleanness. No swearing, sexual content, or really gruesome guts. Midsomer Murders will sometimes have sexual material in it, so if you are watching with young kids, you might want to have the remote control handy. Some episodes are completely clean, while a few are chock-a-block. It does not compare at all to the content one might find in CSI, in which this material is constantly present.

I recommend both of these series to any intellectual who wants to be baffled and amazed by a terrific mystery.

Thank you,
Foy Lyndström