Sister Boniface Mysteries (TV Series) Song for the Dead (2022) User Reviews

Perhaps the weakest episode so far, but not bad.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 28 June 2022]

The lead singer of pop group, The Queenmakers is killed, Sister Boniface is called in to discover how on Earth it was done.

This for me was the weakest episode to date, it wasn't bad, just in comparison to previous episodes, it was flawed.

A few scenes here pushed the limits of believability to new extremes, I know the idea of a crime solving nun is hard to follow, but the liberal attitudes shown by the two big establishments, I must have read the wrong history books.

There was a degree of inevitability here, it was obvious who was going to solve the crime, and why, I'm not too sure Peggy Button was shown in the best light.

Not all bad, terrific visuals, the band looked great, they sounded great. I felt they got the flavour of the era, nicely produced and put together.

Lorna Watson, I didn't like the script, but she delivered on what she was given, perhaps the first time we've seen her display emotion on this scale. I admired it, I couldn't believe the scene.

Overall it was fun, the plot was absurd, and of course the history is questionable, but it was easy going fluff, 6/10.

Peggy saves the day!

[boxyfella · 6/10 · 19 April 2022]

Good to see the return of CC Lowsley and watch him being forced to eat humble pie when Peggy apprehends the culprit at the end.

The identity of the killer was obvious as soon as we knew about the homophobic angle, but up until that point there were plenty of suspects and the writers had built up a nice array of motives.

I do agree with the other reviewers about imposing modern day morality on period pieces. It just doesn't fit.

The love that dare not speak its name

[hindsonevansmike · 6/10 · 16 April 2022]

Again, we have a 1960 viewpoint of the pop-group scene that was more-likely to be 1964. This four-year timeshift is clearly baked-in by now, as we are halfway through the first season.

Suspend disbelief on the pop-group (nicely-set scenes, great costumes etc) and this is an undemanding episode.

THEN - we get to the "revenge-for-what-in-2022-is-called-homophobic-attack" trope - production team trying to crowbar 2020s morality into the 1960s social ethic. Sorry folks, I would seriously doubt that a Roman Catholic nun (even one who came through the war, saw real life and worked i Bletchley Park presumably with the Turing crowd) would be so understanding of homosexuality. Sorry folks, it just doesn't sit comfortably or accurately.

Anyhow, another neatly-wrapped murder investigation, the nun did good work and the reporter still hasn't got it together with the detective.

More please - just stop trying to ram 2020s morality down our throats because it doesn't suit the early 1960s.

Song for the Dead

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 24 May 2022]

Cop shows an detective shows always have an episode of a once famous rock star or pop group being haunted by events of the past.

Sister Boniface being set in the 1960s is no exception. Although the recent past is revisited in this one.

The Queenmakers are a Beatles like pop group with a bright future ahead of them.

When the lead singer is found dead. Sister Boniface finds links with the death of a roadie a few years earlier.

A story with a sting in the tail as it deals forbidden love.

There is a nice recreation of the pop hysteria of the 1960s.

The Queenmakers

[safenoe · 6/10 · 21 November 2023]

The Queenmakers, a fictional rock band kind of modelled on The Beatles perhaps, features in Song for the Dead, the sixth episode of season one. I enjoyed Scoop!, which was the previous episode but Song for the Dead was kind of a let-down but really it could have been a contender to continue the fine run of quality of Sister Boniface.

I'm thinking that maybe Father Brown needs to make a few more cameos to give some heft to the Sister Boniface series, but maybe the writers think they can go out on their own with their storylines and so on to feature Sister Boniface and the Scooby Gang init right.

Not the best plot

[panwilson · 5/10 · 7 January 2023]

Weaker than some but still a good Boniface. Captured the energy of the early 60s Beatles style mania. Rolled out that "Women aren't worthy cliche again.. Also took a good swipe at the corporate controllers that early bands were up against. Here's to grassroots garage bands who put the 1960s. On track for some great music.

The joke was made that Sister Boniface must have had an ancient ancestor in Cadfael.

Good twist in the end.. We are happy to see a light detective show reak away and continue in the spirit of Father Brown Worthy of note was the one armed musician is Max Runham, who has an EP recording out.

A one armed guitarist?

[steve-victory-sv · 4/10 · 14 May 2022]

This episode wasn't as good as the ones before it. None of the same charm or humor, and I spent the first half wondering why they would choose a 1 armed actor to be a guitarist...it just seems like an odd choice.

It had potential

[kristynhall · 3/10 · 11 April 2023]

Pushing 2023 mores on the early 1960s is just tired and silly. It's lazy writing to take a show set in a particular era and make it a commentary on current events. It was more appropriate to the time that there was an issue with female cops, but given Peggy Button's blubbering and inability to remain impartial ("They're lovely!") you almost had to side with the captain. The "Beatlemania" vibe was also appropriate to the era and the costuming was on point. But then a habited nun says "love is love" and the whole effect is spoiled. Someone should remind the writers that there are plenty of crime and mystery shows set in the current day, and that they're writing for nostalgia lovers.

The weakest episode so far

[SunnyDaise · 3/10 · 15 April 2022]

Until now I've absolutely loved this quirky series, however 'Song for the Dead' was unfunny, overly modernized and unrealistic. I really missed the humour, especially after last week's 'Sound of Music' running joke, and, whilst it was good and Biblical to see the Nun not passing judgement, her use of the modern phrase 'love is love' was both not of the show's time nor realistic for a character that is supposed to know the Bible - which clearly states many times that God loves everyone but homosexual relationships are not His will (eg 1 Tim 1 v 10). The writers of Sister Boniface, Father Brown and Grantchester all fall fowl of this slip up - it would be far better for the religious characters to show their usual kindness without passing comment.

Oh Peggy!

[laurenburridge-03718 · 3/10 · 30 May 2023]

Love the series in the absence of watching Father Love the series... hate how they made Peggy a whiney woman copper in this ep! Sigh 😔 Brown... this had the potential to be a really good episode but why oh why did they have to make Peggy the whiny wpc! She deserves better!!!

Love the series in the absence of watching Father Love the series... hate how they made Peggy a whiney woman copper in this ep! Sigh 😔 Brown... this had the potential to be a really good episode but why oh why did they have to make Peggy the whiny wpc! She deserves better!!!

Love the series in the absence of watching Father Love the series... hate how they made Peggy a whiney woman copper in this ep! Sigh 😔 Brown... this had the potential to be a really good episode but why oh why did they have to make Peggy the whiny wpc! She deserves better!!!