Father Brown

I've been gorging on UK TV (can't believe what I've missed) testing out this mystery series and that and discovered that I LIKE A lot but my preference after watching different styles, is the lighter, quirky, fun series like Father Brown. Lots of charming characters, gorgeous scenery and a lovely village. BBC is the BOMB!

I've tears in my eyes thinking about sitcoms I forced myself to watch believing this is was good as it gets. I'm stunned at the difference in quality television. I don't know what else to say except I have a lot of catching up to do! Father Brown, Cadfael, Death in Paradise, A touch of Frost Midsomer murders. I've been living in a bubble. I just said to my husband, the British camera moves leisurely, soaking up the countryside. Wonderful shots of landscapes and gorgeous plants of all kinds (I love the English admiration and respect for the art of gardening and nature in general). The camera pauses and lets you hear the wind and sounds of nature as the cast goes about their business.It actually adds to the tension so beautifully...a prolonged creaking sound, a shot of leaves blowing on trees. Our eyes are treated to gorgeous old buildings,streets, shops and quirky guest stars with their fabulous character portrayals. We see unusual hobbies, situations, an array of real faces and all ages in all their imperfected glory.Actors aren't chosen for cookie cutter beauty or age but the character that shows on their faces and ability to act. How wonderful to see all ages!!! I find the older the more great fun it is! BBC TV doesn't hide them away! We see distinguished, frumpy, classy, nutty, prissy, scatterbrained, intellectual,funny flirtatious. ...... On American TV there's one actress to portray seniors, Betty White whom is limited to either childlike, cranky or a dirty old lady. The TV mysetry/detective shows I was used to viewing are noisy, cheap and gimmicky. Ugly buildings and constant shots of car doors slamming shut with generic 30 somethings getting in and out passing off their ability to stride self importantly as acting...boring botoxed faces with capped teeth... detectives with no depth or range of emotions,no wit or charm or style as they storm in and out of ugly buildings interrogating guest characters that are all boobs, hair and teeth between 20 and 30. Graphic unnecessary sex scenes for shock...never again. I'm a convert. Father Brown is relaxing, highly enjoyable and plain old FUN!!!

It is wonderful to see Father Brown move into its seventh series, the show is quite wonderful, it's such easy viewing, it's funny, of course it's intriguing, it's just a great family show. Of course I love the heavy and complex mystery dramas on virtually every week, but there are times when you just want to sit back and watch a cosy, safe murder mystery. Forty five minutes of engaging, entertaining mystery, a genre which had seemed almost dead. Mark Williams has managed to inject something into the character of Father Brown, his performances are superb, he's a joy to watch, as are all of the cast. There have been a few duff episodes, but for every bad one there's a quality one, the likes of The Owl of Minerva and The Bride of Christ, they are great viewing. It comes as no surprise to me that the show is a big international success, I love it.

I've come to really enjoy this show. The cast has great chemistry and Father Brown couldn't have been casted better.

I saw Alec Guinness play Father Brown in the film version some years ago and an enjoyable film it was as well. It was a shame he did not make more Father Brown films.

This television adaptation by the BBC, shown in the afternoons might not be for the purists who have read the books and appalled at the changes made.

The TV adaptation because of budgetary reasons require a fixed location (such as the village setting) fixed sets and a small regular cast of characters as the core actors have to be retained for the duration of the shoot.

The period setting has moved forward to the 1950s, a time of post war change and Father Brown might be deemed to be a little too modern with some liberal sensibilities. Then again he is a man who has himself experienced the horrors of war and we believe has travelled widely and open to new experiences even though he is a Catholic priest.

The murder mysteries are enjoyable, easy viewing for the whole family. Some of the stories in the TV series are new and others are based on the books by Chesterton.

In the books, Father Brown might be deemed to a be a peripheral character, somewhat on the edge. In one of the stories I did read and which the series did adapt (The Blue Cross,) it was noticeable how pacey and thrilling the adaptation was in contrast with the book.

... up to to a point and that point is season 9. Season 10 is where it all rapidly goes down hill. Father Brown himself stays the same, along with Goodfellow, but the replacements characters that were needed to fil the gaps left by Sorcha Cusack, Nancy Carroll and Emer Kenny are just dreadful. The only shining moment in this season was John Light as Flambeau, who put in a sterling performance as usual. How he never got his own series I will never know. My honest suggestion is, that if you haven't already watched it, then please do as it's very enjoyable, just stop at the end of season 9, you'll be doing yourself a favour.