The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries

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The Mrs Bradley Mysteries is a detective series adapted from a series of novels by Gladys Mitchell. The series stars Diana Rigg as Mrs Adela Bradley, an academic/psychoanalyst who tends to end up in situations where she's required to solve a crime, usually murder. Mrs Bradley is accompanied on her travels by her loyal chauffeur and manservant George Moody (Neil Dudgeon) who acts as The Watson, assisting Mrs Bradley with her cases.

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The series contains examples of:

• Adaptational Attractiveness: Frequently described as 'crocodilian' in the books, Mrs Bradley is played by Diana Rigg in the series.
• Breaking the Fourth Wall: Mrs Bradley usually addresses the camera once or twice an episode, usually to snark or explain the episode's premise.
• The Butler Did It: Or rather, the housekeeper did it, and it was a Mercy Kill, done to the victim to avoid the shame and humiliation that would've arisen when she was arrested for murder.
• Cool Old Lady
• Deadpan Snarker: Mrs Bradley.
  • George does this on occasion too.
• Establishing Character Moment: The series opens with Mrs Bradley arriving late to the funeral of her ex-husband Roland. She's greeted by her son Ferdinand.

Mrs Bradley: Ferdinand, you appear to have something on your lip. It looks like a caterpillar. Hermione (Ferdinand's wife): I think it makes him look distinguished. Mrs Bradley: He is distinguished, that thing makes him look seedy.

• • Then, when The Vicar presiding over the funeral registers surprise at Mrs Bradley for throwing Roland's favourite cigars onto his coffin:

Hermione: My husband's mother marches to the beat of a different drum. Ferdinand: My mother has an entire orchestra of her own!

• Gorgeous Period Dress: Everything Mrs Bradley wears. She also has a beautiful collection of millinery to go with her outfits.
• Inspector Lestrade: Inspector Henry Christmas, but this is subverted when he is revealed to be behind the murders in 'The Worsted Viper'.
• The Jeeves: George is this, in addition to being The Watson.
• Little Old Lady Investigates
• The Roaring Twenties
• Ship Tease: Mrs Bradley and George. Their close working relationship is remarked upon by other characters and an attraction between the two is implied.