Ep 1. One Corpse Too Many

In the first episode of the historical mystery drama series Cadfael, titled "One Corpse Too Many," we meet Brother Cadfael (played by Sir Derek Jacobi), a former soldier turned Benedictine monk living in the twelfth century in Shrewsbury, England. It is the year 1138, and civil war is tearing the country apart, with King Stephen battling against Empress Maud for the English throne.

The episode opens with King Stephen's army conquering Shrewsbury, a strategic town that had been held by Empress Maud's supporters. The town is in chaos, with the castle loyalists locked up in the fortress and the rest of the inhabitants fearing for their safety. Brother Cadfael, who tends the monastery's medicinal garden and is known for his expertise in herbal remedies, goes to the market to see if he can offer any help to the wounded and sick.

As Brother Cadfael walks through the market, he finds a dead body hanging from the gallows. It is the body of an unknown man, hanged by the castle's governor in retaliation for the killing of one of his soldiers. Brother Cadfael recognizes the man as a stranger he had seen in town the previous night, and he suspects that he might have been a spy or an assassin.

The situation in Shrewsbury becomes even more complicated when another body is found in the castle moat. This time it is the body of a castle soldier, killed by an arrow. The governor of the castle, who is a friend of Brother Cadfael's from his soldiering days, calls on him to help solve the murder. At first, Brother Cadfael is hesitant to get involved, preferring to tend to his garden and his fellow monks, but he soon realizes that he is uniquely qualified to help resolve the murder and restore some semblance of order to the town.

As Brother Cadfael investigates the murder, he uncovers a web of secrets and lies involving the governor, his family, and the town's wealthiest citizens, who are all vying for power and influence in a time of political upheaval. Along the way, he meets a cast of memorable characters, including a beautiful and headstrong young woman named Aline, the governor's daughter; a gruff and no-nonsense coroner named Hugh Beringar; and a talented and ambitious bishop named Henry of Blois.

As the investigation unfolds, Brother Cadfael discovers that the murder is connected to a larger conspiracy that threatens the stability and security of the town. He works tirelessly to untangle the threads of the mystery, using his knowledge of herbal remedies, his intuition, and his cleverness to outwit the suspects and uncover the truth.

The first episode of Cadfael provides a compelling introduction to the series, which is based on a popular series of mystery novels by Ellis Peters. Jacobi delivers a nuanced and sympathetic performance as Brother Cadfael, a man who is both a warrior and a healer, a man of the world and a man of God. The setting and atmosphere of twelfth-century England are vividly rendered, immersing the viewer in a world of danger, intrigue, and passion.

Overall, "One Corpse Too Many" is an engrossing and satisfying episode that sets the stage for the rest of the series. Fans of historical dramas, mysteries, and period pieces will find much to enjoy in this fascinating and gripping story.