Father Brown TV Series

[tomarin]

Makes me wonder when Fr.B. gets the time to do his parish work.

Does Chesterton ever make clear in the stories what Father Brown’s status is? That is, he doesn’t seem to be the pastor of a diocese somewhere, rather he just seems to float around and solve crimes where needed. He does (or did) give the sacrament of reconciliation regularly because that’s where he obtained the insight into the human heart which makes him such a fine detective. But other than that, I can’t recall him ever having in the stories any priestly responsibilities to attend to. I always assumed that was happening off stage so to speak.

 

[Della]

Does Chesterton ever make clear in the stories what Father Brown’s status is? That is, he doesn’t seem to be the pastor of a diocese somewhere, rather he just seems to float around and solve crimes where needed. He does (or did) give the sacrament of reconciliation regularly because that’s where he obtained the insight into the human heart which makes him such a fine detective. But other than that, I can’t recall him ever having in the stories any priestly responsibilities to attend to. I always assumed that was happening off stage so to speak.

GKC never does define Brown’s status, as diocesan or a priest in a religious order. The Kenneth More series made him a Jesuit, probably because him being in a religious order would make him more of a “free agent,” than a diocesan priest.

 

[7_Sorrows]

GKC never does define Brown’s status, as diocesan or a priest in a religious order. The Kenneth More series made him a Jesuit, probably because him being in a religious order would make him more of a “free agent,” than a diocesan priest.

He definitely is a free agent! LOL

I am on the circus episode of Season 3. So far no one has been murdered. I am not enjoying this one as much.

I will be sad when I am caught up and have no more to watch!

 

[Della]

He definitely is a free agent! LOL

I am on the circus episode of Season 3. So far no one has been murdered. I am not enjoying this one as much.

I wouldn’t give away the plot for worlds, but hang in there. It gets better as it goes along.

I will be sad when I am caught up and have no more to watch!

Us too! There’s so little on the tube we can watch without wincing that we cherish series like this one all the more. I felt the same way after the ending of Mulberry, which only ran two seasons. If you’ve never seen it, you might like to see it. It’s not openly religious, but it’s definitely uplifting and fun.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I wouldn’t give away the plot for worlds, but hang in there. It gets better as it goes along.

Us too! There’s so little on the tube we can watch without wincing that we cherish series like this one all the more. I felt the same way after the ending of Mulberry, which only ran two seasons. If you’ve never seen it, you might like to see it. It’s not openly religious, but it’s definitely uplifting and fun.

I have never heard of Mulberry. Is it on Netflix?

 

[Della]

I have never heard of Mulberry. Is it on Netflix?

Sadly, no. But here is a youtube link for Mulberry: google.com/search?q=youtube+mulberry+series&gws_rd=ssl#spf=1 You can catch some of the episodes, if not all. I only scanned it, but if they have the whole thing, so much the better.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Sadly, no. But here is a youtube link for Mulberry: google.com/search?q=youtube+mulberry+series&gws_rd=ssl#spf=1 You can catch some of the episodes, if not all. I only scanned it, but if they have the whole thing, so much the better.

Thanks. I will check it out.

 

[exnihilo]

It’s the same for my dh and I, although we are on the last season. You’ve got some good stories yet to watch…

I see your point. It would be annoying to the police to have the same person pop up at nearly every crime scene. Makes me wonder when Fr.B. gets the time to do his parish work. Still, as you cited, it’s a series in which the main character solves crimes, not reality. Watching the stories one after another does give a very different perspective from seeing them once a week. :yup:

I’m glad to know there are still some good stories yet to come. It is hard to maintain quality and originality over time. And very often as series go on the characters become caricatures of themselves.

It does make you wonder how Fr. Brown gets his parish work done. But it is very realistic, sadly, in how many folks he meets who are lapsed. But again, considering reality, would there be that many Catholics in a rural part of England?

There’s so little on the tube we can watch without wincing that we cherish series like this one all the more. I felt the same way after the ending of Mulberry, which only ran two seasons. If you’ve never seen it, you might like to see it. It’s not openly religious, but it’s definitely uplifting and fun.

Thanks for the recommendation. We need more uplifting media even if not openly religious.

 

[tafan]

Does Chesterton ever make clear in the stories what Father Brown’s status is? That is, he doesn’t seem to be the pastor of a diocese somewhere, rather he just seems to float around and solve crimes where needed. He does (or did) give the sacrament of reconciliation regularly because that’s where he obtained the insight into the human heart which makes him such a fine detective. But other than that, I can’t recall him ever having in the stories any priestly responsibilities to attend to. I always assumed that was happening off stage so to speak.

That is mostly correct. I do think a parish is mentioned in one or two of the stories, and it seems like one of the stories starts out with him being called out as a priest to a hotel. But in general, Chesterton does not say.

Of course, he does convert Flambeau from a life of crime, that certainly falls into his priestly duties.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I just saw an episode and Mrs. McCarthy was smoking! That was scandalous! LOL

The episode with them playing cricket is my least favorite so far.

 

[Della]

That is mostly correct. I do think a parish is mentioned in one or two of the stories, and it seems like one of the stories starts out with him being called out as a priest to a hotel. But in general, Chesterton does not say.

I got the impression that Fr.B was generally employed as a “temp” in various situations, so that he sometimes had the care of a parish and sometimes filled in for missionaries. Sort of like Fr. O’Malley in both Going My Way and The Bells of St. Mary. In any case, it’d make Fr.B a very busy man indeed.

Of course, he does convert Flambeau from a life of crime, that certainly falls into his priestly duties.

That’s a spoiler… But that’s okay. Not everyone is going to read the entire Fr.B. canon and will be happy to know that Flambeau finally came home to the fold. Indeed, the Kenneth More series features a reformed, if not fully converted Flambeau.

 

[tafan]

I got the impression that Fr.B was generally employed as a “temp” in various situations, so that he sometimes had the care of a parish and sometimes filled in for missionaries. Sort of like Fr. O’Malley in both Going My Way and The Bells of St. Mary. In any case, it’d make Fr.B a very busy man indeed.

That’s a spoiler… But that’s okay. Not everyone is going to read the entire Fr.B. canon and will be happy to know that Flambeau finally came home to the fold. Indeed, the Kenneth More series features a reformed, if not fully converted Flambeau.

Not implying he converted to Catholicism, just no later Niger a thief

 

[Della]

Not implying he converted to Catholicism, just no later Niger a thief

Well, he’d have been a revert because he was a Catholic by baptism. And he did return to full communion with the Church. It’s in one of the later stories.

In the latest BBC series, Flambeau is portrayed as much more ruthless than GKC’s character. they made him more cynical and willing to use torture to get what he wants. I suppose they thought the two characters needed to be more opposites than in the original stories.

 

[ThisOne]

Season 5 is on PBS now, and Nancy Carroll, who played Lady Felicia, and the fellow who played Sid are both gone. I’m not happy.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Season 5 is on PBS now, and Nancy Carroll, who played Lady Felicia, and the fellow who played Sid are both gone. I’m not happy.

Oh no! I really like Sid! Lady Felicia is growing on me. I didn’t care for her at first.
I am on Season 3 on Netflix and the 3rd inspector.

Did season 5 just begin?

 

[ThisOne]

Oh no! I really like Sid! Lady Felicia is growing on me. I didn’t care for her at first.
I am on Season 3 on Netflix and the 3rd inspector.

Did season 5 just begin?

About three weeks ago. The supposed “niece” of Lady Felicia is insipid and not endearing in the slightest. I’m heartbroken. I tweeted to Nancy Carroll but didn’t get a response. I begged her to come back.

 

[Della]

About three weeks ago. The supposed “niece” of Lady Felicia is insipid and not endearing in the slightest. I’m heartbroken. I tweeted to Nancy Carroll but didn’t get a response. I begged her to come back.

As with any TV series we can get very attached to certain characters, I know. I too liked Lady Felicia, and I think her niece, Bunty/Penelope, will grow on you. She’s not as selfish as she first appears.

Actors often leave a series simply because they have another film obligation to meet. That could mean a step up in her career, not a step down. So, I wouldn’t be too distressed for Nancy Carroll because of her exist from the show. :console:

 

[exnihilo]

Oh no! I really like Sid! Lady Felicia is growing on me. I didn’t care for her at first.
I am on Season 3 on Netflix and the 3rd inspector.

I liked them both. My wife really likes Sid. She’ll be sad.

As with any TV series we can get very attached to certain characters, I know. I too liked Lady Felicia, and I think her niece, Bunty/Penelope, will grow on you. She’s not as selfish as she first appears.

I had grown to really like the interaction of Ms. McCarthy and Lady Felicia.

I’m on season four. Spoiler alert! Does the detective from season four grow on you? We had grown to like the detective from season two and three. The new guy is a little gruff and not as fun.

 

[ThisOne]

Oh, and the detective from season 5. He’s overplaying the part. Regarding Nancy Carroll, yes, I know they move on to greener pastures. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.

 

[Della]

I liked them both. My wife really likes Sid. She’ll be sad.

Me too. Sid was the perfect “partner in crime” for Fr.B. A sort of minor Flambeau–a “son” for Fr.B. to mold into a better person.

I had grown to really like the interaction of Ms. McCarthy and Lady Felicia.

Again, me too. They were like fencing partners, always looking to make a hit, but actually liking/loving each other very much because they were opposites.

I’m on season four. Spoiler alert! Does the detective from season four grow on you? We had grown to like the detective from season two and three. The new guy is a little gruff and not as fun.

He’s less sophisticated than Valentine or Sullivan–actually more believable as a village police inspector, I think. He too grows on us, as we get to know him better.