Cadfael. Seasons 1-4 (1994-1998)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108717/




A riveting mystery and a fascinating glimpse into a medieval world.



At and around the Shewsberry abbey, Brother Cadfael is a monk with a difference. Given a choice, he would enjoy just being a simple gardener and herbalist for his home. However too often, events force him to use his other talent as a master sleuth in response to mysterious crimes happening in his community. While he investigates these crimes, he often finds himself at odds with the contemporary attitudes of the times with his own ahead of his time beliefs.





Derek Jacobi Brother Cadfael (13 episodes, 1994-1998)

Michael Culver Prior Robert (11 episodes, 1994-1998)

Julian Firth Brother Jerome / (11 episodes, 1994-1998)

Mark Charnock Brother Oswin (8 episodes, 1994-1997)

Albie Woodington Sergeant Will Warden / (7 episodes, 1994-1997)

Terrence Hardiman Abbot Radulfus / (7 episodes, 1994-1998)







Season 1

Season 1, Episode 1: One Corpse Too Many

Original Air Date: 29 May 1994

Brother Cadfael, a Crusader-turned-Benedictine-monk, is among those who tend to the bodies of an executed garrison. But when he finds one more body than should be there, he winds up in a mystery involving an heiress masquerading as a boy and two knights campaigning for the same maiden.



Season 1, Episode 2: The Sanctuary Sparrow

Original Air Date: 5 June 1994

Liliwin is a poor acrobat hired to entertain at an Aurifaber wedding. But when he is dismissed and the master of the house is found unconscious and robbed, Cadfael must find the real thief before the mob takes vengeance.



Season 1, Episode 3: The Leper of St. Giles

Original Air Date: 12 June 1994

Young heiress Iveta de Massard comes to the abbey to marry Baron Huon de Domville, as dictated by her guardian Godfrid Picard. Joscelyn loves her and would protect her with his life, which makes him the prime suspect when de Domville winds up dead. Cadfael must find the real villain from a tangle of hidden motives and a mysterious leper who has arrived at the hospice.



Season 1, Episode 4: Monk's Hood

Original Air Date: 19 June 1994

A man, dissatisfied with his step-sons life choices, decides to leave his manor to Shrewsbury Abbey. When the man ends up poisoned after eating food sent from the abbey, the step-son becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Cadfael doubts the quick assumption, sets out to find the actions and motives behind the crime, and in the process may help to redeem himself for a promise long unfulfilled.



Season 2

Season 2, Episode 1: The Virgin in the Ice

Original Air Date: 26 December 1995

A young nun is found violated and murdered, while the brother and sister she was escorting have disappeared. A mysterious forest ranger dedicates himself to rescuing the children, while Brother Oswin blames himself for Sister Hilaria's death. Cadfael must identify the killer and do what he can to aid in the children's rescue.



Season 2, Episode 2: The Devil's Novice

Original Air Date: 18 August 1996

Cadfael is sure the unlikely novice Meriet is hiding a secret, and when a missing bishop's envoy is found dead, Meriet takes the blame. Cadfael must discover who Meriet is protecting and who is the real murderer. Ellis Peters fans will find the character name changes confusing and not helpful to the story.



Season 2, Episode 3: A Morbid Taste for Bones

Original Air Date: 25 August 1996

Cadfael and a deputation of monks from Shrewsbury are dispatched to Wales to recover the remains of martyred St. Winifred over the objections of the local lord and residents.



Season 3

Season 3, Episode 1: The Rose Rent

Original Air Date: 12 August 1997

A beautiful, wealthy widow turns her back on the world to find solace with the church and gives her house over to the abbey for the rent of a single white rose each year.



Season 3, Episode 2: St Peter's Fair

Original Air Date: 19 August 1997

A dispute between Church and State over Fair fees leads to a brawl and the murder of a prominent visiting merchant, supposedly by a townsman. As more bodies are found, Cadfael starts to think the Church/State difference isn't the cause after all.



Season 3, Episode 3: The Raven in the Foregate

Original Air Date: 26 August 1997

An unpopular Puritanical priest new to Shrewsbury refuses to give a pregnant young girl absolution resulting in her apparent suicide.



Season 4

Season 4, Episode 1: The Holy Thief

Original Air Date: 23 June 1998





Season 4, Episode 2: The Potter's Field

Original Air Date: 23 December 1998

When the Brothers find the body of a dead woman buried in a farmer's field given to them by Lord Blount, the suspicion is that she is Generys, the wife of one time potter Brother Ruald, who had abandoned her a year previously to follow his vocation and joining the monastery. Ruald denies any responsibility for his wife's death and when the identity of the victim is brought into question, Brother Cadfael sets off to determine just who was killed and why. While Cadfael successfully identifies the killer, there is little that can be done to bring the culprit to justice.



Season 4, Episode 3: The Pilgrim of Hate

Original Air Date: 28 December 1998

In this maladaptation, the noble knight and repentant killer have become two brothers, one of whom is blamed for their father's death. Winsome Melangell has become a thief to support her con-artist brother (their aunt doesn't exist). Only Cadfael is still interested in the truth, even if it disarranges the plans of any of these unsympathetic characters.