Midsomer Murders" has had its fair share of bad episodes. "Echoes of the Dead" is definitely one of the lesser quality episodes of the 14th season and one of the worst entries to this wonderful series. Of the performances/characters, the scene stealer is Sykes, one of the cutest dogs on television and so endearing and funny. Ron Cook and Sarah Smart give the best performances of the human cast, and there is a very eerie moment in the build-up to the climax with the murderer whistling 'Lohengrin's "Bridal Chorus", that tune that has never been more chillingly ironic, unfortunately that is the one atmospheric moment in the whole episode there is. However, Neil Dudgeon is at his least comfortable and most smug so far, again playing the role too heavily and humourlessly, while Fiona Dolman is pretty charmless and poor Jason Hughes really struggles trying to do something with a dumbed-down-beyond-belief and badly demeaned Jones. There is very little chemistry here, Barnaby and Jones' is far too mean-spirited (Barnaby's demeaning treatment easily counts as bullying, just for the record Tom didn't always treat his sergeants well but never to this extent, this is taking the biscuit) rather than the gentle and playful one that was such a huge part of the show's charm in the Tom Barnaby-era. Neither is there much chemistry here between John and Sarah, one never gets the sense that they are in love, let alone husband and wife.

David confessed in his studies while teaching history and the French language, he adored the sensation of the early 19th century murders he first emulated, hoping to create his own painted pictures. John Barnaby, who was always furious from the extreme violence of the murders, merely hissed at David for feeling like he wanted to play God over innocent people by "punishing" them as he saw fit. David said nothing as he was taken away. There is a full moon over Little Worthy at Halloween and the people in the area are thrilled when local photographer Steve Skelton wins a competition in the village with his own creation of the Wolf Hunter. Unexpectedly, the Wolf Hunter is becoming a viral meme, with people coming from miles around to explore the woods of Little Worthy in the hope of catching a glimpse of the beast. The excitement turns into fear when Jez Gladberry is found murdered in the woods, killed in the unique way of the Wolf Hunter.

Guest Stars

Instead I'm going to concentrate on how this series has been depleted by the loss of John Nettles and the Barnaby family.

This has to be in the bottom five Brian True-May era episodes. Even though there have been many duffers since he departed it could still be one of the worst ever.When Bernard King, the owner of Finchmere airfield, is dropped to his death from a plane, Barnaby and Nelson enter a world of stunt pilots and military heroes. Upon investigating, they discover many hidden secrets. Possible suspects include anti-aircraft campaigners and employees who might lose their jobs after an imminent restructuring of the flying club. A tragic mission in World War II seems to hold a clue. Note: To mark the 20th anniversary series, 20 ' Easter eggs' references were included in this episode. Others have mentioned the killer's ridiculous motivation. Suffice it to say it is one of the worst ever. But it's not something that could have been guessed at. The explanations given for the choice of the second and third/fourth victims weren't even hinted at and only come out in the interview with the apprehended culprit. Shortly after a young woman takes a walk into woodland dressed in period attire from a Jane Austen event in the village, her body is found stabbed with a quill. It is discovered that she was a journalist curious about the village's new trial healthcare drone delivery programme. Barnaby and Winter find themselves with many suspects and motives and work out that the answer lies in the past.