Great video, Jane! Hiding the villain in plain sight is one of my favourite plot twists. I actually remember the Murdoch Mysteries (love Crabtree) and Murder She Wrote episodes. Last night, on Father Brown Mysteries, the plot revealed the villain had faked his own death early in the episode so he could isolate his victim who he failed to kill 4 years ago. That tactic works really well! It's like the magician's slight of hand trick. You have to get viewers / readers to look where you want them to look. Meanwhile, lots going on over here. Have a great weekend, Jane :-)
Ever watch a bad mystery? In "The Glass Onion" the murderer is actually the secret twin of someone that was a victim of a murder, and seeking revenge. At no point in the entire show is the audience ever given any clue that this might happen.
As a newbie, I'd sure appreciate some advice on how to foreshadow in these cases, without tipping my hand, please. Do you have any advice? Thanks Jane!
The #1 is also key to the solution of POIROT'S CHRISTMAS. The #2 might be used in AFTER THE FUNERAL. Maybe. The #3 was also used by a classic episode of MCMILLAN & WIFE
i'm bingeing your videos in prep for nanowrimo and i just wanna say i appreciate your expertise and clear explanations so much! and i love how you always use examples. such great quality videos!!!
It would be interesting see a video about what makes a bad mystery. I think that one type of bad mystery would be where the murderer turns out to be someone who never appeared in the book/show anywhere. Another would be where the sleuth finds a clue, and acts on it, but the clue is hidden from the audience. (In Mission Impossible 3, the team pursue an object called "Rabbit's Foot", which is never defined). Yet another bad mystery trope would be where, at the big reveal at the end, the sleuth announces some secret chamber or trap door (or other secret) that the audience never had a chance to discern. Basically, what makes a bad mystery is where the audience is simply not given suspects or clues to even possibly solve the mystery.
These tips are really helping me write the better mystery novel - just like building the better mousetrap. Thank you, Jane. (No. No Agatha Christie pun was intended, although it was a funny pun.)
I remember seeing this episode of Midsomer Murders and it’s a hidden relationship (kinda, hear me out) the wife of a wealthy entrepreneur is found dead and Barnaby is sent to investigate, finding the prime suspect the entrepreneur’s son but his girlfriend gives him an alibi, they turn to the entrepreneur and his maid says that the wife usually goes out for a walk. Later, a man blackmails the killer and during a cricket match, the blackmailer is found dead and the son next to his body, apparently found by the girlfriend, the girlfriend testifies that the son left during the time of the murder and the son is arrested. But Barnaby reveals that the girlfriend and the maid are mother and daughter and the two worked together to drive the entrepreneur to suicide to avenge their loved one, the girlfriend’s father who died in an explosion thanks to the entrepreneur, but luckily Barnaby stops it before the entrepreneur can die
I've read that you need to show the reader all the clues or they will feel cheated because they didn't have a fair chance at guessing who the killer is. But this is okay? In which circumstances is it okay to hide information from them? I've been binge watching your videos, and learning so much! I really appreciate the help!
Great question! I didn’t relate all the clues in the video, but we do feel pretty “clued in” by the end of the episode. Here are some clues we received: (1) the sharpshooters’ version of their encounter with Chester (2) the subsequent revelation that their version of events has been embellished for the show, and may not be exactly true (3) the fact that they supposedly kicked a gun over to Chester to “give him a fair fight (4) the fact that Wilcox was bending down when shot (because he was picking up a gun kicked over to him by his assailant) When we learn that the ending was related to that long ago event, it does feel satisfying and supported by clues. If the writers wanted to clue us in even more, they could have given us a few clues about Teddy-maybe that he’s an orphan, or that he’s from the same region as the sharpshooters. Basically, you’ll always hide SOME info, but you’ll try to provide a clue that can be used to ferret it out. The biggest places you want to look for clues are (1) a clue that ties your Villain to the crime (like the white horse hair in this Murdoch episode) and (2) a clue that explains the motive.
“Suspicion quickly centers on Jessica’s friend”
*after watching all 12 seasons of MSW, that doesn’t sound much of a shocking sentence anymore*
Hahah! Nope, not a bit!
A hidden relationship is always one of my favorite plot twists!
I love it!
quite a number of Jessica Fletcher's friends turned out to be sketchy. I still love and miss her. great video👏👏👏😀
Thanks, Kim!
Great video, Jane! Hiding the villain in plain sight is one of my favourite plot twists. I actually remember the Murdoch Mysteries (love Crabtree) and Murder She Wrote episodes.
Last night, on Father Brown Mysteries, the plot revealed the villain had faked his own death early in the episode so he could isolate his victim who he failed to kill 4 years ago.
That tactic works really well! It's like the magician's slight of hand trick. You have to get viewers / readers to look where you want them to look. Meanwhile, lots going on over here.
Have a great weekend, Jane :-)
Ooh, that’s a great one! Do you happen to remember the episode name?
@@janekalmes "The Enigma of Antigonish".
4:50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie did a great job of hiding the villain in plain site.
I love the idea about a killer making him/herself a supposed victim. Great video as always, Jane!
Thanks!
Ever watch a bad mystery? In "The Glass Onion" the murderer is actually the secret twin of someone that was a victim of a murder, and seeking revenge. At no point in the entire show is the audience ever given any clue that this might happen.
It sounds like you might enjoy my video on why Knives Out works and Glass Onion doesn’t!
ua-cam.com/video/NSE-e7Xu5jA/v-deo.html
As a newbie, I'd sure appreciate some advice on how to foreshadow in these cases, without tipping my hand, please. Do you have any advice? Thanks Jane!
The #1 is also key to the solution of POIROT'S CHRISTMAS.
The #2 might be used in AFTER THE FUNERAL. Maybe.
The #3 was also used by a classic episode of MCMILLAN & WIFE
Terrific! Thanks Jane!
i'm bingeing your videos in prep for nanowrimo and i just wanna say i appreciate your expertise and clear explanations so much! and i love how you always use examples. such great quality videos!!!
Awesome! Thank you!
It's helpful to me how you explain the plot and hidden clues from movies. Thanks for another encouraging video!
Glad it was helpful!
Yet another delicious video. Thank you Jane!
Thanks, Jill!
It would be interesting see a video about what makes a bad mystery. I think that one type of bad mystery would be where the murderer turns out to be someone who never appeared in the book/show anywhere. Another would be where the sleuth finds a clue, and acts on it, but the clue is hidden from the audience. (In Mission Impossible 3, the team pursue an object called "Rabbit's Foot", which is never defined). Yet another bad mystery trope would be where, at the big reveal at the end, the sleuth announces some secret chamber or trap door (or other secret) that the audience never had a chance to discern.
Basically, what makes a bad mystery is where the audience is simply not given suspects or clues to even possibly solve the mystery.
These tips are really helping me write the better mystery novel - just like building the better mousetrap. Thank you, Jane. (No. No Agatha Christie pun was intended, although it was a funny pun.)
Awesome, Matt!
Another great video. Thanks
You’re welcome!
I love these!
Thank you!
I remember seeing this episode of Midsomer Murders and it’s a hidden relationship (kinda, hear me out) the wife of a wealthy entrepreneur is found dead and Barnaby is sent to investigate, finding the prime suspect the entrepreneur’s son but his girlfriend gives him an alibi, they turn to the entrepreneur and his maid says that the wife usually goes out for a walk. Later, a man blackmails the killer and during a cricket match, the blackmailer is found dead and the son next to his body, apparently found by the girlfriend, the girlfriend testifies that the son left during the time of the murder and the son is arrested. But Barnaby reveals that the girlfriend and the maid are mother and daughter and the two worked together to drive the entrepreneur to suicide to avenge their loved one, the girlfriend’s father who died in an explosion thanks to the entrepreneur, but luckily Barnaby stops it before the entrepreneur can die
I've read that you need to show the reader all the clues or they will feel cheated because they didn't have a fair chance at guessing who the killer is. But this is okay? In which circumstances is it okay to hide information from them? I've been binge watching your videos, and learning so much! I really appreciate the help!
Great question! I didn’t relate all the clues in the video, but we do feel pretty “clued in” by the end of the episode. Here are some clues we received:
(1) the sharpshooters’ version of their encounter with Chester
(2) the subsequent revelation that their version of events has been embellished for the show, and may not be exactly true
(3) the fact that they supposedly kicked a gun over to Chester to “give him a fair fight
(4) the fact that Wilcox was bending down when shot (because he was picking up a gun kicked over to him by his assailant)
When we learn that the ending was related to that long ago event, it does feel satisfying and supported by clues. If the writers wanted to clue us in even more, they could have given us a few clues about Teddy-maybe that he’s an orphan, or that he’s from the same region as the sharpshooters.
Basically, you’ll always hide SOME info, but you’ll try to provide a clue that can be used to ferret it out. The biggest places you want to look for clues are (1) a clue that ties your Villain to the crime (like the white horse hair in this Murdoch episode) and (2) a clue that explains the motive.
@@janekalmes Thank you for the clarification! I love your videos!