British Network Television
‘Father Brown’: S01.E01-E10. “Series One”
Do you remember Father Brown: Series One?
Norman, the brother of Anglican vicar Reverend Wilfred Bohun, is killed with a blacksmith’s hammer. Elizabeth Barnes, who believes her husband could be the murderer, confesses to the crime.
Father Brown must find the real killer, one who believes it was God’s work, before an innocent woman is sent to the gallows. The Roman Catholic priest, recognising the victim had many enemies, has his work cut out for him.
The title of this Ian Barber-directed Father Brown episode, written by series co-developer Rachel Flowerday, references a valuable necklace belonging to the theatrical Adams family. When Anne-Marie Adams drowns in a lake, whilst Inspector Valentine initially believes the death a tragic accident, tensions between family members become increasingly apparent.
Father Brown, discovering an Italian coin, soon finds his curiosity piqued. Elsewhere, backstage during the performance of a staged play, Lady Felicia Montague realises James Trewlove’s shoes don’t fit him. Consequently, because her ladyship discovers something strange is afoot, Lady Felicia finds her life in danger.
Former-doctor Leonard Quinton, living an unconventional life with his estranged wife Martha Quinton, his mistress Violet Parnassus, and his Indian manservant Umesh Varma, is foretold of his death. Mr Quinton, understanding his wife’s strictly Catholic background, asks Father Brown to look after Mrs Quinton following his death.
Shortly thereafter, following an odd poetry recital, Mr Quinton is discovered dead. Whilst it initially appears Mr Quinton hung himself, remembering this is a Father Brown episode, the series titular character and Inspector Valentine suspect murder.
The Roman Catholic priest, after discovering a poisoned cat, an unmarked gravestone for a three-month-old baby boy, uncovers a family history Mrs Quinton would rather see left buried. In the end, noting Father Brown’s persistence, a new German drug provides the tragic answer.
Lady Felicia Montague, as she takes a stroll, discovers in a tree near a train viaduct an injured man stripped of clothing. Elsewhere, at Kembleford Train Station, Father Brown and Bridgette McCarthy meets visiting German priest Father Franc.
The priest’s presence arouses hostility amongst Kembleford residents. Even though it had been eight years since the Second World War in Europe ended, noting the attitude of numerous villagers, there is no warm welcome. Mrs McCarthy, with no ambiguity, doesn’t mince her words.
Despite the parish secretary’s tone, the Roman Catholic priest is hospitable. Father Brown, not in a strictly legal fashion, sees justice is done.
The Church of Apollo makes its presence felt in Kembleford. Zuzanna “Susie” Jasinski falls under Kalon’s spell. Jealousy among the organisation’s followers seemingly leads to Dominique Baxter being murdered.
The room apparently being locked from the inside complicates the investigation significantly. Further to solving the murder, Father Brown must find a way to break the hold Kalon has over Susie before she leaves Kembleford with him.
Everything about the Catholic Church, even becoming a nun, is cloaked in ceremony. The Ian Barber-directed Father Brown episode The Bride of Christ, originally televised in the British Isles on Monday, 21 January 2013, opens with the series titular character leading a Ceremony for Veiling and Profession.
A young woman, dressed all in white, suddenly finds herself having difficulty breathing. She soon collapses to the floor in front of Father Brown and several Catholic nuns. Her death comes quickly. The death is soon determined a result of cyanide poisoning.
Not long thereafter, as Inspector Valentine investigates the murder, the recently arrived New Novice Mistress Sister Paul is murdered the same way. The police inspector, after discovering everyone had access to the bottles of cyanide, has no shortage of suspects. Sister Boniface, an Agatha Christie aficionado, lends Father Brown a helping hand.
The Dominic Keavey-directed Father Brown episode The Devil’s Dust, originally televised in the British Isles on Tuesday, 22 January 2013, mainly revolves around missing 14-year-old Ruth Bennett.
Ruth, having been ostracised by many Kembleford residents, has a skin complaint Bridgette McCarthy believes was caused by radiation at her father’s place of work.
When Ruth’s blood-stained pyjamas are discovered, suspects for Inspector Valentine to consider include parents Geoffrey Bennett, Emily Bennett, Douglas Taylor, and Dr Michael Evans.
Ruth, having a huge crush on her doctor, conceals her feelings for the physician in her diary. Mrs Bennett had previously hit her daughter. The plumber, Mr Taylor, has a similar skin complaint to Ruth. Mr Taylor is dying of cancer.
The episode, in scenes featuring Mrs McCarthy, reveals the St Mary’s parish secretary is the least Christian character in the series. It is also the only episode so far, noting Mrs McCarthy’s unchristian attitude, where Father Brown verbally expresses his disappointment.
Later in the episode, after lying to Ruth, Mrs McCarthy literally expects Father Brown to support her comments. Did Mrs McCarthy seriously expect Father Brown to lie? That’s never going to happen!
The Matt Carter-directed Father Brown episode The Face of Death opens with Lady Margaret Galloway running over Mr Walsh in her car. Daniel Walsh, whilst the incident seems accidental, believes Lady Margaret deliberately killed his father.
Captain Clarence Clifton, at a masked charity garden party, is murdered. It is suggested, because both the victim and Professor Patrick Galloway were wearing identical masks, Lady Margaret’s husband could have been the real target.
Inspector Valentine, because of threats made, suspects Daniel of missing his intended target and accidentally murdering the wrong person. Later, when Lady Margaret is murdered, the search for Daniel intensifies. Father Brown isn’t convinced the police inspector is looking in the right direction.
The misogynistically obnoxious Mayor William Knight, at the annual Kembleford Fête, is electrocuted at the microphone when delivering his speech.
Eleanor Knight, even though her husband had no shortage of enemies, is arrested by Inspector Valentine. Father Brown, when hearing confessions at St Mary’s Catholic Church, is provided with a clue to the real murderer’s identity.
Meanwhile, also at the village fête, Bridgette McCarthy crosses paths with ‘long dead’ husband Franc McCarthy. He is working the fête as a magician. Does Mrs McCarthy take her wayward husband back or does she tell him where to stick his magic wand?
Hercule Flambeau, an international religious artefact thief, forewarns Father Brown of his intention to steal The Blue Cross from St Mary’s Catholic Church.
The relic, as a priceless religious artefact, is not one Bishop Talbot trusts Father Brown to keep safe. Father Brown, ignoring both Bishop Talbot and Inspector Valentine, decides to preempt Flambeau by taking The Blue Cross on a train journey away from Kembleford.
The episode reveals a connection between Father Brown and Flambeau. It turns out Father Brown, decades earlier, was a 17-year-old soldier that fought in Flanders during the Great War. This was long before he took Holy orders.
The Ian Barber-directed Father Brown episode The Blue Cross, originally hit television screens in the British Isles on Friday, 25 January 2013. Kasia Koleczek makes her last appearance as Zuzanna “Susie” Jasinski. The actress, since the first series finale hit television screens, has not yet reprised her character in any capacity. John Light makes his first appearance as recurring character Hercule Flambeau.