Midsomer Murders - Television Series

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catholic03

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Pax Christi:

I am, and always have been, a fan of the English television programme “Midsomer Murders”. It idealises the traditional view of English country life. I have the entire DVD set, and it is broadcast regularly where I live (New Zealand). I believe it is broadcast on certain American pay television channels.

It has been running since 1997, and follows the adventures of Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, a policeman detective. It involves varying numbers of people being murdered each episode. It also includes intimate scenes, some of which can be very inappropriate. Some of the storylines and scenes can be very inappropriate and for some, perfect occasions to give into sin.

The programme is generally not focussed on storylines of the sexual nature. It is focused on murders taking place in ways that are meant to be “humorous”, but also very bloody (such as being hit to death with a block of blue cheese). Most of the characters are stereotypes of English aristocrats, who have members of the middle-class envying them. It is set in the modern time.

I personally believe that it is perfectly acceptable to watch, so long as inappropriate parts are fast-forwarded. Does anybody have any other ideas about whether or not it is acceptable under Church teaching to watch such a programme?

Sincerely Yours in Christ and in His Blessed Mother
 
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I usually enjoy that kind of show. I’ve watched Father Brown, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Sherlock, and Broadchurch. I haven’t watched Midsomer Murders because the few episodes I watched seemed cold hearted, like murder was a joke. The parts I enjoy about such shows is not the violent deaths, but the portrayal of rural (often British or Scandinavian) life, and the interaction between the characters. They have to have a plot, so you get murders, but I’d be just as happy if they were investigating theft or other crimes.

I think it’s all right to watch for entertainment, as long as we don’t focus on the inappropriate parts. I tend to get burnt out if I don’t get some kind of break from daily activities of housework, kid sitting, etc.
 
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catholic03 said:
It involves varying numbers of people being murdered each episode. It also includes intimate scenes, some of which can be very inappropriate
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You give the impression that you find the intimacy inappropriate but not the murder.
 
I do apologise, PickyPicky. I do of course find the murders inappropriate, which is precisely why I am concerned. I primarily watch the programme because I like the beautiful scenery, eccentric characters and the extraordinary manner in which the murders are solved.

The programme does make fun of murders, as evidenced by the fact that people are murdered in ways that are meant to be humorous. The question is, should we take this as “light hearted”, or should we take it as an offence against God and the doctrines of his Holy Church.
 
catholic03 said:
The question is, should we take this as “light hearted”, or should we take it as an offence against God and the doctrines of his Holy Church
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I don’t think gallows humor is against any Church teaching.
If the show were promoting or glorifying bizarre murders, that would be problematic.
There used to be a show called Pushing Daisies, where they solved murders, and the methods of murder became increasingly silly and over-the-top during the course of the show. But there was no sense that the producers were enticing the public with imitatable ideas…
 
catholic03 said:
I do apologise, PickyPicky. I do of course find the murders inappropriate
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No need at all.

As to whether murders are a suitable subject for entertainment, Lord Peter Wimsey fictionally pointed out that his wife’s detective stories were moral fables in which the evil never triumphed.
 
catholic03 said:
Does anybody have any other ideas about whether or not it is acceptable under Church teaching to watch such a programme?
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The church does not censor media anymore. Such matters (whether acceptable to watch and how to handle inappropriate portions) are left to the discretion of the faithful.
 
Unless you are very young or highly impressionable, you don’t need to stress this hard about a tv show.
 
catholic03 said:
Maybe not, and of course we cannot let the infiltration of moral evils stop us watching our favourite programmes.
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Depends on how evil we’re talking. If we’re talking about porn or extremely gruesome violence, that’s different than some off color humor or tongue in cheek violence.
 
I prefer characters such as Rita Tanner, Norris Cole and Ken Barlow who have a decent moral code.

Just think about it. That is a large proportion of the characters
 
If it bothers you this much, don’t watch.

It wouldn’t keep me up at night, but you do you.
 
It does not prevent me from watching it, and I could never imagine doing so. Coronation Street is so important to me. It just makes me sad to see this agenda taking over what we hold dear to us.
 
Y’all ever heard of Arizona Iced Tea? The guy at the gas station says it’s basically the same as real English tea, except it’s got lemonade in it, which ups the fanciness factor I think.
 
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