Of the three I have seen, "The Nine Tailors" gets a 10, no doubt about it. I'd have to give "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club" a 9 just because it isn't The Nine Tailors and I don't give 10s willy-nilly. So that leaves an 8 for this episode due to a few minor objections. It's been so long since reading the book that I don't recall whether it is responsible, or the production. But in any case...
In short, "Clouds of Witness" is a bit over-the-top. First, it gives us several quite histrionic scenes among members of Wimsey's family. Second, Wimsey heedlessly gets himself thrice into really life-threatening situations, from which he emerges as improbably as a James Bond or an Indiana Jones. Thirdly, a few critics call Wimsey "obnoxious" or "insufferable." While I don't at all agree in general, thinking he makes an exemplary case for the leisure class and would be a wonderful friend to have, in a few scenes here he deserves that criticism. I didn't admire his jaunty casualness in the House of Lords, after his derring-do has made national headlines, in conspicuous contrast to the solemn punctilium of all his peers. The impression is that he doesn't belong there. Wouldn't a real English gentleman and Lord go along with protocol as far as possible for courtesy's sake, even if he were to have a good laugh about it later?
It's great entertainment and recommended, even if a few false notes leave it slightly below its companions.
In short, "Clouds of Witness" is a bit over-the-top. First, it gives us several quite histrionic scenes among members of Wimsey's family. Second, Wimsey heedlessly gets himself thrice into really life-threatening situations, from which he emerges as improbably as a James Bond or an Indiana Jones. Thirdly, a few critics call Wimsey "obnoxious" or "insufferable." While I don't at all agree in general, thinking he makes an exemplary case for the leisure class and would be a wonderful friend to have, in a few scenes here he deserves that criticism. I didn't admire his jaunty casualness in the House of Lords, after his derring-do has made national headlines, in conspicuous contrast to the solemn punctilium of all his peers. The impression is that he doesn't belong there. Wouldn't a real English gentleman and Lord go along with protocol as far as possible for courtesy's sake, even if he were to have a good laugh about it later?
It's great entertainment and recommended, even if a few false notes leave it slightly below its companions.