The Axeman Cometh is the fourth episode of the tenth series of Midsomer Murders and was originally aired on 2nd February 2007.
DCI Barnaby revels in the atmosphere of a major rock concert being held in Badger's Drift that features Hired Gun, an influential rock group from his youth and his personal favorite. Barnaby is soon on the job when the group's lead singer, Mimi Clifton, is electrocuted on stage during their opening number. It is quickly apparent that the equipment was tampered with and they are dealing with a case of murder. Gary Cooper, the group's nominal leader, believes the attempt was directed at him as he has been harassed and threatened for some time. He thinks his nemesis is former band member Ginger Foxton who disappeared 30 years ago, a case the then-Det. Sgt. Barnaby and his DI, Owen Jenkins, had worked on. When an attempt is made on a second member of the group and then a third, successfully this time, Barnaby thinks Cooper might be right. Revenge is at the center of it all, but not for the reasons that seem apparent...
Tropes:
- Actor Allusion: Michael Angelis plays the drummer in blues rock band Hired Gun. In one scene, the band's singer (Suzi Quatro) scathingly calls him Ringo. Angelis took over as the narrator of Thomas & Friends from Ringo Starr, as they have very similar voices. Also, Angelis' brother Paul provided the voice for Ringo in Yellow Submarine.
- Dead Animal Warning: A campaign of harassment against Gary Cooper sees a dead sheep dumped on his tennis court, a gutted pig placed in his trout stream, and a skinned rabbit strung up in his garage.
- Discreet Drink Disposal: Jack 'Axeman' McKinley, who is The Alcoholic, avoids falling Off the Wagon when pressed into sharing a bottle of vodka to commemorate a fallen band mate by secretly pouring each glass into the plant beside him.
- High-Voltage Death: Hired Gun's lead singer, Mimi Clifton, is electrocuted on stage during their opening number.
- Spoiler Title
- Vorpal Pillow: Nicky Harding, Hired Gun's drummer and the second Victim of the Week, is smothered with a pillow as he lies drunk in the back of his Cadillac. The killer then shoves the car into the swimming pool.
