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The Best Episodes of Midsomer Murders Season 1

Every episode of Midsomer Murders Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Midsomer Murders Season 1!

The peacefulness of the Midsomer community is shattered by violent crimes, suspects are placed under suspicion, and it is up to a veteran DCI and his young sergeant to calmly and diligently eliminate the innocent and ruthlessly pursue the guilty.

Genres:CrimeDramaMystery
Network:ITV1

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Midsomer Murders" season 1 is "The Killings at Badger's Drift", rated 8.1/10 from 2364 user votes. It was directed by Jeremy Silberston and written by Caroline Graham, Anthony Horowitz. "The Killings at Badger's Drift" aired on 3/23/1997 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Written in Blood".

  • The Killings at Badger's Drift
    8.1/10 2,364 votes

    #1 - The Killings at Badger's Drift

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 3/23/1997

    An elderly woman is found dead in her cottage and DCI Tom Barnaby is convinced the death is not down to natural causes

    Director: Jeremy Silberston

    Writer: Caroline Graham, Anthony Horowitz

  • Written in Blood
    7.8/10 1,706 votes

    #2 - Written in Blood

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 3/22/1998

    Gerald Hadleigh, secretary of a writers' circle, is found battered to death the morning after the group's meeting with best-selling novelist (and former psycho-therapist) Max Jennings. Gerald did not want to invite Max to Midsomer Worthy, and he seemed apprehensive about the visit.Barnaby's investigations show that Gerald was a man of mystery - he had no National Insurance number, no family, and no marriage certficate to go with his wedding photographs. And it seems he had a mysterious woman visitor on the night of his death... then Max Jennings goes missing and is found dead.

    Director: Jeremy Silberston

    Writer: Caroline Graham, Anthony Horowitz

  • Death of a Hollow Man
    7.3/10 1,468 votes

    #3 - Death of a Hollow Man

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 3/29/1998

    The body of Agnes Gray, a woman who loved only animals, is found in the river - but she did not drown. And then her cousin Esslyn Carmichael is tricked into killing himself on stage during an amateur production of the murder mystery Amadeus. Barnaby has to get to grips with clues which include adultery, dramatic ambition, stolen religious art, and large donations to animal charities, before unmasking a killer who proves to be mad.Meanwhile, love begins to blossom between Cully Barnaby and Nico Bentley, one of the cast of Amadeus...

    Director: Jeremy Silberston

    Writer: Caroline Graham

  • Faithful Unto Death
    7.5/10 1,322 votes

    #4 - Faithful Unto Death

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 4/22/1998

    A craft centre in the old mill at Morton Fendle is losing money. Several locals have invested in the business and believe they have been swindled by Alan Hollingsworth, the man behind it. When Hollingsworth's glamorous wife Simone goes missing, Barnaby believes she has been kidnapped and puts Hollingsworth under observation. However, Hollingsworth evades the police, carrying a bundle of cash, and a woman neighbour who follows him to his rendez-vous is killed in a bizarre road accident. Then Hollingsworth is found dead, and Simone turns up alive. Barnaby guesses she and a friend faked the kidnapping, but he can't prove it.

    Director: Baz Taylor

    Writer: Douglas Watkinson, Caroline Graham

  • Death in Disguise
    7.2/10 1,274 votes

    #5 - Death in Disguise

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 5/6/1998

    At a local New Age commune (fancifully called the Lodge of the Golden Windhorse) William Carter is found dead with a broken neck, lying at the bottom of a staircase. Barnaby and Troy have to decide whether the death was an accident or murder.

    Director: Baz Taylor

    Writer: Douglas Watkinson, Caroline Graham