The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries
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.
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.
- 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.
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Mrs Bradley: Ferdinand, you appear to have something on your lip. It looks like a caterpillar. |
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- Then, when The Vicar presiding over the funeral registers surprise at Mrs Bradley for throwing Roland's favourite cigars onto his coffin:
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Hermione: My husband's mother marches to the beat of a different drum. |
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- 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.