DVDs in Review
Midsomers Murders Series One and Two

Title: Midsomer Murders Series One and Two
Release date: April 6 2009
Certificate: 15
Format: DVD
DVD RRP: 59.99
Rating: 4/5
The detective drama lies at the heart of American and British television - it seems impossible for us to resist a quirky investigator, his ever-suffering partner and some criminal masterminds to thwart over the course of an afternoon.
Despite taking the time to track down leads, unravel puzzling clues and emulate some crackling dialogue and locales, they somehow manage to get away with some major gaffes and suspensions of disbelief.
The fact that the fictional English county of Midsomer is an achingly small place that serves only as a haven for murderers and their victims is one prime example, but as 'Midsomer Murders' is so addictively well made, the audience tends to let this slide.

Indeed, the show has many famous followers who have been drawn in by its unique approach to realism. Johnny Depp famously quipped: "It's a great show. But who'd live in that place? You just get killed."
ITV's hit show sees Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles of 'Bergerac' fame) peer his head over the well-trimmed hedges of the upper classes to investigate the wrongdoings that mar the idyllic area.
Barnaby is mythological and patient when it comes to solving crimes while his partner Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey) has a somewhat blasé attitude to the most serious of offences. Naturally they make a formidable pair.

While not completely lacking in chemistry, they're no match for Morse and Lewis. Nevertheless, the show's two front men handle themselves well and give a human access point that allows the audience to skim over the increasingly preposterous crimes and frenzied characters on display.
Anyone looking for a glossy yet thoughtful way to spend their evenings should definitely check out Acorn's six-disc DVD set that houses the first two seasons (starting in 1997) and includes the feature-length pilot. The disc also contains production notes.
Search the web
Entertainment News
- Whitney dies aged 48
- Star exits Dancing on Ice
- Adele sweeps Grammys
- Cheryl 'sues Now magazine'
- Watts to play Diana
- Cowell's looking good
- House 'to end this year'
- Corrie: Spoiler Alert!
- Jubilee concert latest
- Denise confirms split
- 'She's a little too fat'
- Star to join BGT
- Latest star leaves DOI
- Tulisa signs book deal
- Katie's 'nightmare life'?
- Evans' ratings triumph
- Star's return to 'Enders
- Adele's live comeback
- 'It's all in your head'
- X Factor's shake-up
- Downton's new face
- Star exits Dancing on Ice
- SAG awards 2012
- Python stars to reunite
- Arlene's Strictly return?
- Styles confirms split
- Amanda's baby joy
- Two housemates evicted
- 'The rumours are false'
- Demi Moore hospitalised
- DOI twist revealed
- Chaos in Big Brother house
- Latest star leaves DOI
- Heidi Klum and Seal split
- Halle's stalker jailed
- Wahlberg apologises
- 'I had to cover my eyes'
- Star leaves CBB house
- Beyoncé interview 'fake'
- Corrie 'slap' complaints
- Cheryl and Ashley: round two
- Radcliffe defends Del Rey
- Musical bosses sue director
- BAFTA nominations out
- Weller's baby joy
- Adele's new man
- Brits triumph at Globes
- Russell lands in L.A.
- Celebrity Big Brother latest
- People's Choice Awards 2012
- TV pair's escort past
- CBB: First star evicted
- Jay-Z's tribute to Blue
- Cher Lloyd 'engaged'
- New faces join TOWIE
- J-Olly unlucky in love
- Christine is 'bland and rigid'
- TOWIE stars quit
- Sugababe reunion denied
- First star leaves DOI
- Big Brother latest
- Beyoncé's baby joy
- TV chef arrested
- Gaga album news
- CBB stars enter the house
- Chesney out, Chico in
- Rihanna back with Brown?
- Downton 'most watched'
- More celebrity splits
- Sinead's 16-day marriage
- Dancing on Ice latest
- Alesha quits Strictly
- Holly gets engaged
- Star bags recording contract
- Editor resigns over slur
- Jordan and Peter reunion?
- Stars quit E4 show
- Jon Bon Jovi 'not dead'
- Strictly winner revealed
- Cher Lloyd's new deal
- Doctor Who stars to leave
- Savile leaves £5m in will
- Selena Gomez 'in danger'
- 'The masks were stupid'
- New Foo Fighters material
- Peaches' extreme diet
- Director defends Clarkson
- TV star arrested
- Cheryl's new man?
- Sarah speaks out
- Star 'working in hair salon'
- British Comedy Awards
- Young Apprentice final
- Blur to get BRIT honour
- Amy tops chart
- X Factor winners
- Peaches' secret engagement
- Strictly latest
- The Voice latest
- O'Grady quits show



Friends with Benefits
The Devil's Double
Colombiana
Bridesmaids
Water for Elephants
The Veteran
Black Swan
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
I Spit On Your Grave (aka Day of the Woman)
The Ghost (Blu-ray)