Sister Boniface Mysteries

We have so many tropes here in this unexpectedly-spirited new arrival on BBC in early 2022.

We have the knowledgeable religious person (a nun who originated in series one of "Father Brown")

We have some kind of reverse Windrush Generation for 1960 - a detective from the West Indies, transferring in to Scotland Yard in London, who arrives on a (nicely-preserved) steam train in the west country village of Lower Slaughter (don't ask!) and settles into the ranks of the local constabulary.

The village detective depends upon the nun (who has a chemistry PhD and worked in Bletchley park during World War 2 (did I mention this is set in 1960?) Giving us some kind of reverse "death in paradise" homage to "In the heat of the night" (which would be filmed five years later...

And yet - it works!. Intellectually un-taxing, this is material and storylines which would probably pop up in the 8PM Sunday "Heartbeat" slot on British TV a decade back.

The early 1960s scene is beautifully crafted and, with a ten-episode first season (and confirmation in Q1-2022 that a series two will be commissioned) I predict that we shall be enjoying this 2020s creation for some time to come.

I wonder who will start the fanfiction storylines?

As we wait for news on a new series of Father Brown, we're given a very unusual spinoff series. Having appeared and impressed in just one episode, the bespectacled, enthusiastic Sister Boniface gets her own series.

It is definitely worth a watch, don't go expecting anything too serious, or heavy, it's arguably lighter than even Father Brown.

It's light, it's funny, it looks beautiful, some wonderful guest actors, and a nice regular cast. I was particularly happy to see Belinda Lang, what a class act she is, the prickly housekeeper is as far from Bill Porter as you can get.

It really does develop as it progresses, I enjoyed the first episode very much, and the last few in particular.

I would have loved it if Mark Williams had appeared in a couple of episodes, that would have been a nice touch. His presence was very much welcome.

Roll on Series 2.

Charming, 8/10.

I was disappointed with the sterile portrayal of Sister Boniface in the first episode. But the character is developing more with each episode. The support characters are wonderfully cliched. Theres a ruggedly boyish detective, a liberated, feminist reporter, a tough, no-nonsense Mother Superior,a super cockney nun and the priggish land lady (can't believe it's Belinda Lang!). Rounding out the cast is a very pleasant Caribbean detective and a lovable junior policewoman. Is it intense highbrow drama? Not by a long shot. It is fun, silly, lighthearted entertainment and I look forward to the next episode!!

Poorly written, poorly acted, and really quite charmless. It's strange that there are credits because I can't believe that anyone would want to put their name to this dreadful, boring tripe.

Despite an overly fast pace to the plot development, these mysteries are tedious. The dialogue is drivel designed merely to race the plot along. It's very cheap to assume that throwing in some nuns (all wearing too much make-up) will make a mystery interesting or enjoyable; it doesn't.

This sham of a TV show has all the charm of diphtheria and I feel that someone should be locked up for this shameful garbage.

I loved this character when she appeared in Father Brown so I was delighted to see this spin-off. It is wonderful light, amusing British TV. Some of the dialogue makes you giggle. Occasionally you laugh out loud: "We took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. They never said anything about sobriety." Looking forward to each week's episode.