This is the second Cadfael episode shown on "Mystery" here in the United States. As usual, the show has a lovely medieval look--everything is brown and dingy--just as it should be. And, the show also has a very nice location shoot look with lots of exterior scenes--not just those shot on a sound stage. And, it sure didn't hurt that once again Derek Jacobi plays the title character. However, I did feel that in spite of all this quality, this was only a relatively fair episode.
The show begins at a wedding celebration. The minstrel is being treated abominably by the hosts--and since they have money and he's just a poor wandering musician, when he protests their abuse, they toss him out--unpaid and mad. Soon after this, some unseen person bashes the man of the house over the noggin and steals their silver. Folks at the wedding used Middle Ages logic (sort of like from the witch scene from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"), they decide that it MUST be the disgruntled musician and they chase him through town--vowing to kill him. Smartly, he heads into the church where the brothers grant him sanctuary. Now it's up to Mr. Know-it-all, Cadfael, to solve the robbery. However, before he can do this, one of the villagers assumes room temperature. Will there be others? And, of course, who did it?
My only problem with this episode is that a couple times it seemed like Cadfael was making lucky guesses and came up with solutions amazingly quickly--like he had peeked at the script! Still, engaging and interesting.