Midsomer Murders, Inspector Morse, Lewis, & Gentley, Sherlock & More

The Wives of Henry the Eighth was my first introduction to Masterpiece. Over the years I have learned to love the classics. But since we have traveled to London three years in a row to visit my husband's old medical school classmate, England has become even more endearing to us. We find the US contemporary crime dramas a bit too gross and realistic. It's too much - and in many instances - worse than every day news. I don't care for graphic violence and misery. So we have become addicted to everything masterpiece mystery and beyond starting with Midsomer Murders. The characters are fun, the music is weird, and it is humorous. We always feel good watching an episode. Half the time we can't understand it, but the countryside scenes are delightful. The only question I had of the lawyer giving tours at Oxford was "where were the locations that Inspector Morse and Lewis were shot." We saw the Sherlock phone booth in downtown London next to the building he "fell off." Now there is Grantchester and Father Browne - oh, and don't forget George Gentley. My husband loves the sidekick who yells at everyone. There is something sweet about all of these programs and it goes to show you there are entertaining stories beyond Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice.  We love them all. It hardly matters where you live or when you watch them, but it still feels the best on Sunday evening. The Masterpiece theme song keeps playing in my head.