Author Information
Midsomer
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ITV's 'Picture of Innocence' episode of the 13 season Midsomer Murders was particularly offensive, with a vegetarian portrayed as a crazy photographer who took a picture of the same veggieburger meal every day for 10 years. He was cast as a serial killer, and the word 'vegetarian' linked to each murder. Episode director:
Richard Holthouse and writer Andrew Payne were involved. Caroline Graham was the author upon whose characters the series was based.
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Was ITV involved in the ridicule of vegetarians. (No vegans were involved). Does ITV profit from meat ads?
It seemed as if animals were actually killed in the many episodes in which skinned rabbits, clawed sheep, birds shot, fishes suffocated, fields driven over, gunned down rats, falcon prey's neck broken, trip wiring of a horse, ostrich flesh consumption occur. None of the gratuitous animal murder was necessary to the plot.
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There was one exception to the pattern of violence to voiceless animals, featuring foxhunters with their savage demonic rituals of sacrifice and unfounded belief in their social superiority.
In the final episode, chief detective Barnaby is told to avoid meat, after many episodes featuring feasting on flesh.
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"In March 2011, the series' producer, Brian True-May, was suspended by All3Media after telling the TV listings magazine Radio Times that the programme did not have any non-white characters (no blacks, Indians, Arabs, or other nonwhite Commonwealth members) because the series was a "bastion of Englishness." He was reinstated after his apology.
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Other than the racism, the unnecessary portrayal of violence and fear (Agatha Christie managed to be the world's best selling mystery writer without immersion in gore) and the gratuitous mass slaughter of animals, (were they killed for the series) Midsomer Murders is beautifully filmed, showing some of the most beautiful vinecovered stone cottages of England, and has great plots. John Nettles and others in the cast are wonderful actors.
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* Wikipedia.org
