Barnaby is back. Honestly, there is something deeply comforting about the return of Britain’s most dangerous county. Despite the staggering body count that would make any real-world actuary weep, the arrival of Midsomer Murders Season 24 Episode 1, titled "The Devil's Work," feels like putting on a pair of old, reliable slippers. It's cozy. It's dark. It's quintessential ITV.
The series has survived cast changes, tonal shifts, and decades of television evolution. Why? Because it sticks to the formula while occasionally poking fun at it. This season premiere isn't just another body in a barn; it’s a dive into the petty, generational squabbles of the landed gentry. You’ve got the sprawling estate, the bickering heirs, and the inevitable "accidental" death that turns out to be anything but.
It’s been running since 1997. Think about that. Most shows don't make it past three seasons in the current streaming climate, yet Neil Dudgeon’s John Barnaby continues to navigate the labyrinthine social webs of Midsomer with a dry wit that keeps the show from feeling like a museum piece.
What Actually Happens in The Devil's Work?
The plot of Midsomer Murders Season 24 Episode 1 centers on the Elverton-Sloane family. They are exactly what you’d expect: rich, entitled, and crumbling under the weight of their own legacy. When the patriarch of the family dies, the remaining members gather at the ancestral home, Salthouse, to hear the will. It’s a classic setup. If you’ve watched even one episode of this show before, you know the reading of a will is basically a dinner bell for a killer.
Lucian Ashworth is the one who kicks things off. He’s the local historian—every village in Midsomer apparently has one—and he’s obsessed with the history of the estate. When he turns up dead, things get messy fast. Barnaby and Winter (played by Nick Hendrix) have to figure out if this is about the future of the land or some ancient grudge that finally boiled over.
The episode plays heavily on the concept of "The Devil's Work," which refers to a local legend and a specific piece of art. It’s a bit more gothic than some recent seasons. The atmosphere is thick. You can almost smell the damp wood and the expensive gin.
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What’s interesting here is how the show handles the tension between old money and new realities. The estate is failing. The heirs are desperate. Desperation in Midsomer usually leads to creative weaponry. In the past, we've seen people killed with everything from giant wheels of cheese to liquid nicotine. Without spoiling the exact method in this premiere, let's just say the show hasn't lost its touch for the macabre.
Why the Barnaby and Winter Dynamic Still Works
Chemistry is everything. If the leads don't click, the procedural elements fall apart. Neil Dudgeon has been the face of the franchise for over a decade now, and he’s settled into the role of John Barnaby with a relaxed authority. He’s not as crusty as Tom Barnaby was, but he’s just as sharp.
Nick Hendrix as DS Jamie Winter provides the perfect foil. He’s younger, more athletic, and often the one doing the literal legwork while Barnaby ruminates on the psychology of the suspects. Their banter in Midsomer Murders Season 24 Episode 1 feels lived-in. It’s not forced. They genuinely seem like they’ve spent too many hours in a Volvo together.
- John Barnaby: The intellectual anchor. He sees the patterns in human behavior that others miss.
- Jamie Winter: The pragmatic investigator. He handles the forensics and the tech, acting as the bridge to the modern world.
- Sarah Barnaby: Often relegated to the B-plot, but she provides the grounding Barnaby needs to stay sane.
- Fleur Perkins: Annette Badland continues to steal every scene she’s in as the resident pathologist. Her dark humor is arguably the best part of the show these days.
Fleur is particularly great in this episode. She doesn't just deliver medical facts; she delivers judgments. She’s unimpressed by the drama of the Elverton-Sloanes, focusing instead on the cold, hard reality of the cadaver on her table.
The Setting: Salthouse and the Midsomer Aesthetic
The location scouting for this episode was top-tier. Salthouse is a character in itself. It’s one of those English manors that looks beautiful in the sun but terrifying at twilight. The production design emphasizes the decay of the gentry. Frayed carpets, dusty portraits, and rooms that haven't been heated since the Thatcher administration.
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Midsomer has always been about the "Hyper-English" aesthetic. It’s a version of England that doesn't really exist—where everyone lives in a thatched cottage or a castle and no one has a normal office job. "The Devil's Work" leans into this. It uses the greenery of the countryside to contrast with the violence of the crimes.
There’s a specific shot in this episode—a wide angle of the estate at dawn—that captures the whole vibe. It’s peaceful. It’s serene. And there’s a dead body somewhere in the tall grass. That’s the core appeal.
Addressing the "Realism" Complaint
Look, people love to complain that Midsomer Murders isn't realistic. They say the murder rate is too high for a rural county. They say the motives are often ridiculous.
They’re right. And it doesn't matter.
Midsomer Murders Season 24 Episode 1 isn't trying to be The Wire. It’s a modern-day folk tale. It’s Agatha Christie on steroids. The show operates in a heightened reality where people kill over hedge heights and rare orchids. If you’re looking for gritty realism, you’re in the wrong village. The joy comes from the puzzle. It’s a "whodunnit" in the purest sense.
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The writing in "The Devil's Work" is actually quite tight. It gives you all the clues, but it hides them behind the eccentricities of the guest characters. You might think you’ve figured it out twenty minutes in, but there’s usually a secondary motive that flips the script.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you are catching up or jumping in for the first time with this season, there are a few things to keep an eye on. First, pay attention to the background characters. Midsomer loves a red herring, and the "quiet" characters often have the most to hide.
The episode aired first in various international markets before hitting certain streaming platforms in the UK and US. Depending on where you are, you might find it on Acorn TV, BritBox, or ITVX. The release schedule for Midsomer is notoriously fragmented, which only adds to its mystique.
Key Details for Viewers:
- The Title: "The Devil's Work" isn't just a metaphor; look for the literal references in the art within the house.
- The Guest Stars: Keep an eye out for familiar faces from British soaps and stage—Midsomer is famous for its "hey, it's that guy!" casting.
- The Dog: Paddy, the Barnabys' dog, usually has a moment or two of unintentional brilliance that mirrors the main investigation.
Final Insights for the Midsomer Fan
The beauty of Midsomer Murders Season 24 Episode 1 is that it proves the show hasn't run out of steam. Even after hundreds of deaths, the writers find ways to make the motives feel fresh—or at least freshly twisted. "The Devil's Work" is a strong opening for the season because it focuses on what the show does best: the intersection of history, greed, and family secrets.
For those planning a binge-watch, take it slow. Part of the experience is the pacing. These aren't fast-paced thrillers; they are slow-burn mysteries that require you to pay attention to the small talk. The solution to the murder is often buried in a throwaway line about a garden fence or a vintage car.
To get the most out of Season 24, re-watch the final episode of Season 23 to get back into the rhythm of the Barnaby household. Then, dive into the Elverton-Sloane drama. It’s a reminder that no matter how much the world changes, the inhabitants of Midsomer will always find a reason to kill each other over a plot of land.
Keep an eye on the local scheduling for the rest of the season. Given the way ITV handles the broadcasts, the remaining episodes of Season 24 might drop in blocks or be spaced out over several months. It's frustrating, but for a show this iconic, it's usually worth the wait. Check your local listings or streaming dashboard every few weeks so you don't miss the next chapter of mayhem in the countryside.