I've just discovered Agatha Raisin, and am enjoying it in these pandemic times. Here Agatha, midway through season 1, seeks out the killer of a hunky vet in a very picturesque village. The murder rate is as high as that in Midsomer Murders, and definitely way higher than the gritty streets of London for sure. Still, good to see Agatha sorting things out and being everyone's favorite neighborhood watchperson.
4 Reviews
Are partners even friends?
pensman31 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Aggie may eschew exercise but she does enjoy men and sex is after all a way to perk up the metabolism. So when a handsome vet arrives in Carsley, Agatha has her eye on the possibility of some nighttime activity; but it seems every lady in the village has the same idea, even if they're married. But Hodge gets Aggie moved to the head of the class. But she also has a "date" with Jack the Lad Pomfret from her London days. But when Paul is late at the pub, Aggie wonders has she been stood up. Or worse for when she calls Paul, his wife answers. He claims it's just his sister but it's all moot because someone kills the new vet before he even has a chance at this Carsley woman.
But when Bill Wong shows up he tells Aggie that not only is Paul dead but he had no sister. So James goads Aggie into looking into the murder. So off to see the scene of the crime: the stables of Lord Pendlebury. And for James a chance to see an old "friend," Cecilla, Lord Pendlebury's daughter. Mrs. Josephs claims she has all the low down on Paul "Bloody" Bladen; but before she has a chance to confide in Aggie, someone does the old lady in. Now Agatha has to sort through a field of suspects. And while walking through a literal field, Aggie finds an empty bottle of epinephrine, a drug that can if injected can cause a heart attack. So was it Harriet Parr the village nurse or maybe her husband. It couldn't be Cecilia, could it? And James has been talking to everyone about the epinephrine instead of guarding the evidence, which has disappeared. Is Aggie now in danger thanks to James?
Someone has kidnapped Aggie's cat, Hodge to stop the investigation. Might it be Josephine Webster; or Peter Rice, Paul Bladen's partner? Isn't that Hodge in his surgery? This time it's Gemma to the rescue; but James for the clinch.
But when Bill Wong shows up he tells Aggie that not only is Paul dead but he had no sister. So James goads Aggie into looking into the murder. So off to see the scene of the crime: the stables of Lord Pendlebury. And for James a chance to see an old "friend," Cecilla, Lord Pendlebury's daughter. Mrs. Josephs claims she has all the low down on Paul "Bloody" Bladen; but before she has a chance to confide in Aggie, someone does the old lady in. Now Agatha has to sort through a field of suspects. And while walking through a literal field, Aggie finds an empty bottle of epinephrine, a drug that can if injected can cause a heart attack. So was it Harriet Parr the village nurse or maybe her husband. It couldn't be Cecilia, could it? And James has been talking to everyone about the epinephrine instead of guarding the evidence, which has disappeared. Is Aggie now in danger thanks to James?
Someone has kidnapped Aggie's cat, Hodge to stop the investigation. Might it be Josephine Webster; or Peter Rice, Paul Bladen's partner? Isn't that Hodge in his surgery? This time it's Gemma to the rescue; but James for the clinch.
Horsing about
Prismark1022 July 2016
All the villagers are going to see the local vet whether their pet is ill or not. The reason the man is a bit of a stud according to the ladies and the vet's partner in the practice knows it, after he is jut plain looking.
Soon though handsome vet Paul Bladen is found dead and would you believe it Agatha was dating him. It looks like he was injected with an overdose of horse tranquilliser at Lord Pembury's stable.
There are a variety of suspects but anyone who has been following the series so far would probably have a good idea who the likely person is going to be.
Given the low expectations I have of the series, this was not bad. I think Ashley Jensen has found her stride as Agatha. It is just a shame the material is a let down.
Soon though handsome vet Paul Bladen is found dead and would you believe it Agatha was dating him. It looks like he was injected with an overdose of horse tranquilliser at Lord Pembury's stable.
There are a variety of suspects but anyone who has been following the series so far would probably have a good idea who the likely person is going to be.
Given the low expectations I have of the series, this was not bad. I think Ashley Jensen has found her stride as Agatha. It is just a shame the material is a let down.
Uneven, with both strong and weak moments
skinnybert16 April 2024
On the one hand, a good example why the one-hour format was just a bit too constricting for this series: 45 minutes of story, then a quick wrap-up confession. On the other other, we get some memorable moments -- like Jason Barnett in the house, giving DCI Wilkes some unexpected moves. This is actually the first episode to hint how entertaining Barnett would be in later episodes - always a highlight. And Asshley Jensen herself gets a little more to do than usual, when she looks at photos of Mrs Josephs.
But that doesn't change the general weaknesses in the writing or filming, which are generic to the genre: the out-of-frame hit, the assistant who gets distracted and allows someone to get away, etc etc. Perhaps these were in the source novel but that's no excuse. Glossy photography and strong acting (especially by Ms Jensen in the last scene) still can't make up for convenient scripting. Normally this doesn't matter in a mystery series, where coincidence and convenience are simply par - but the fact is that this episode does try for better: both Matthew Horne and Ashley's characters get scenes with some real depth ... and IMO both achieve it, largely thanks to the actors themselves. Next to that, conveniently blunt plot events look pale. This was not a mistake we would see again, so it's nice to have it here, however briefly.
But that doesn't change the general weaknesses in the writing or filming, which are generic to the genre: the out-of-frame hit, the assistant who gets distracted and allows someone to get away, etc etc. Perhaps these were in the source novel but that's no excuse. Glossy photography and strong acting (especially by Ms Jensen in the last scene) still can't make up for convenient scripting. Normally this doesn't matter in a mystery series, where coincidence and convenience are simply par - but the fact is that this episode does try for better: both Matthew Horne and Ashley's characters get scenes with some real depth ... and IMO both achieve it, largely thanks to the actors themselves. Next to that, conveniently blunt plot events look pale. This was not a mistake we would see again, so it's nice to have it here, however briefly.
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