TV.com

Midsomer Murders Season 7 Episode 7

Ghosts of Christmas Past

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 0

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

9.1

User Rating

35 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

Netflix

Subscription

AIRED: 12/25/04

Barnaby looks forward, with reservations, to entertaining his in-laws for Christmas. Meanwhile, exactly 9 years after the suicide of Ferdy Villiers his family and their guests arrive at the somewhat dilapidated Villiers home to celebrate the festive season.

However, not everyone present is imbued with the Xmas spirit and the already rather tense atmosphere begins to disintegrate even further when it becomes apparent that someone in the household is all too aware that certain family members have dark secrets to hide.

When what initially appears to have been an accident is revealed to be murder Barnaby and Scott discover that they must first unravel what really happened in the past in order to resolve the present.moreless

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

This is an episode which has a very strong script and therefore, the actors deliver fine performances when we look at Christmas from the point of view of the Villiers family - and Tom Barnaby!moreless

8.5

By Lady_Lancaster, Jun 09, 2010

Freddie Villiers committed suicide nine years ago and the once-elegant family home has fallen into general disrepair. The approaching Christmas period signals the beginning of the first family gathering since Freddie's death and it is immediately apparent that there is a great deal of tension and not a lot of Christmas spirit as the family begin to gather and warily assess one another. Tom is hoping that the worst thing he will have to deal with at Christmas is entertaining Joyce's parents, a task he is definitely NOT looking forward to. However, his relative peace is soon shattered when there is a death at the Villiers home which while at first appearing to be an accident turns out to be murder. Put it this way, when you watch this one, you will see that Tom and Dan are not destined to have a peaceful Christmas and you will undoubtedly notice that someone in the Villiers family is a murderer! Very entertaining and a couple of excellent plot twists.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
2 0

Flag
Share Hide
Another episode with great acting and an interesting story.

9.1

By relaineau, Oct 17, 2007

This episode has an interesting storyline about family histories and some of the myths around Christmas. Haydn Gwynne provides a solid performance as Jennifer, a family member who still lives in the old home, and who tries to bring the family closer together again. Margery Mason is very adept at playing the elderly Aunt Lydia who seems to be losing her marbles but who is actually quite lucid. Rory Copus almost steals the show as the character of the young boy(Howard) who has inherited a great interest in magic tricks from his late Uncle Ferdy. He shows his skills in responding to the police during an interview, and provides a sense of humour throughout. Bruce Alexander is very smooth as Dominic, Lydia's bridge partner who is invited to share in the holiday festivities. Barnaby's father-in-law Douglas provides a good source of humour when he arrives for Christmas with a Monopoly set and a metal detector.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
2 0

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

John Nettles	DCI Tom Barnaby
John Hopkins (V)	Sergeant Dan Scott

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Haydn Gwynne	Jennifer Carter	Guest Star
Margery Mason	Lydia Villiers	Guest Star
Bruce Alexander	Dominic Jones	Guest Star
Jane Wymark	Joyce Barnaby	Recurring Role
Laura Howard	Cully Barnaby	Recurring Role
Barry Jackson	Dr Bullard	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Netflix

Subscription

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (1)
ADD TRIVIA
- The 2 deaths in this episode bring the total in the series to date to 120. This is also the total up to the end of Season 7.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (0)
ADD QUOTES
- ADD QUOTES from this episode.
NOTES (3)
ADD NOTES
- The Murders:
  1. Lydia Villiers: Pushed down the stairs
  2. Jennifer Carter: Shotgun breach explosion (sabotage)
  EDIT SHARE
- The Ghost of Christmas Past was shot on location at Harpsden Court, near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, which dates from the twelfth century and is said to be haunted.
  EDIT SHARE
- John Nettles has commented on this episode: "It's a big country house murder with lots of family returning home from abroad, lots of blood and lots of grudges. Think of Gosford Park and you'll get the idea".
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.