Goodbye, Inspector Morse. Hello, Lewis.
Rather fittingly, I watched the last episode of Inspector Morse on New Year’s Eve. The first had aired in 1987 and this final one in 2000. I’d worked my way through all thirty-three in four or five months. By the end, the power-dressing of the 1980s was long gone and mobile phones were no longer the size of bricks.
There is a special interest in watching such a long-running series in condensed form. The extent of Morse’s dysfunctional love life is much more apparent than it was the first time round, when I was watching it spread out over such a long period. He is so susceptible, forever falling in love with a woman who turns out to be the murderer or is otherwise compromised. And how discreet it all is. We never follow him into the bedroom – and the series is all the better for that. The last episode ends of course with Morse’s death and it is all the more poignant when viewed with the knowledge that John Thaw was dead himself only two years later.
I did love that series and I think that is why I didn’t get into Lewis when it began in 2006. It seemed all wrong that the series should go on without Morse and John Thaw. But a couple of days ago I watched the pilot episode and was won over. I loved the touches that paid tribute to Morse and John Thaw: the red Jag that Lewis almost steps in front of; the Endeavour music scholarship endowed anonymously; the crossword clue on Morse’s notes relating to an earlier case. It was beautifully done. So: a worthy successor after all. I’ve got the box set and there are thirty-three episodes, so I won’t be running out of comfort viewing any time soon.
12 Comments
Helen Townshend
January 8, 2020I do hope you enjoy Lewis. In the end, I actually preferred it as I got rather tired of the character of Morse; it never seemed to develop much whereas both Lewis and the rather wonderful Hathaway do change and grow as the series progresses. I also enjoyed the character of Jean Innocent and the fact that here was a woman in a superior position who for once was neither neurotic nor a sex object for the detective.
Christine Poulson
January 8, 2020Thank you, Helen. Yes, I was getting impatient with Morse’s hopeless love life. He never seemed to learn. From what you say, I am sure that I shall enjoy Lewis. Looking forward to it!
Margot Kinberg
January 8, 2020For me, Thaw was Morse, Christine, so I can see how you would be reluctant to get into Lewis. But I’m glad you’ve been won over. I think it’s a worthy successor. For me, anyway, it also helps that Kevin Whately took the part of Lewis. That connection just made the show better (well, at least for me).
You make a good point, too, about all the advances over time. You really notice them when you condense the viewing, don’t you?
Christine Poulson
January 8, 2020Lovely to hear from you, Margot. Yes, indeed, Thaw was perfect as Morse. But I can already see that Kevin Whately is coming into his own in this new series and I love the little nods to the previous series.
diana mcdougall
January 8, 2020And Endeavour? Very different pace, and much darker.
Christine Poulson
January 8, 2020Oh yes, I have been watching Endeavour as it was broadcast. So good. Superb acting, in particular from Shaun Evans, Anton Lesser and the wonderful Roger Allam. I love the period detail, too.
Sheila Otter
January 8, 2020Hi, Il loved both series, unfortunately, I can’t re-watch Inspector Morse because they aren’t closed captioned and my hubby is deaf – but we’ve watched a number of Inspector Lewis episodes more than once. My husband likes British TV series because the actors are real people not magazine ‘good looking’ it makes it more real. I hope you enjoy Inspector Lewis, his sidekick seems a slick version of Morse world weary and tired way to young.
Fan from Canada
Christine Poulson
January 8, 2020So pleased to hear from you, Sheila. I’m sorry that Inspector Morse isn’t accessible. I think I am going to enjoy Lewis and I know what you mean about the characters not being too good-looking. In US dramas they are usually all gorgeous and the women look as if they have just come from the hairdresser.
Moira Redmond
January 12, 2020This sounds like great comfort watching – intelligent and fun, but not too frothy. I abandoned Morse many years ago, and have never watched the other two series – but I do love the idea of having good solid series to settle into. Perhaps I should try them again.
Christine Poulson
January 12, 2020Yes, really they are perfect for this and there is something cosy and reassuring about knowing that they are there for these bleak January evenings. I think you would enjoy the clothes in Endeavour – I do – because the episodes work their way through the sixties and are very good on what people were wearing.
Susan D
January 14, 2020Well, Christine, I told you a few months back I’d be watching the Morse series for the first time, just beginning on PBS. I caught all that were on offer (first 2 seasons, up to Last Bus to Woodstock.)
That ‘s all they’ve shown, so far. But I found they are not for me. The stories are intriguing, to a point, though sometimes the body count goes off the scale. But I just couldn’t like Morse. Really. He seemed to be putting romantic moves on every woman who crossed his list of suspects (despite the considerable age difference). Not my kind of guy, really. And most of those women seemed to be portrayed as fairly neurotic.
I guess the bottom line is, he’s not Lewis.
Christine Poulson
January 14, 2020That’s interesting, Susan. And I’m asking myself if I’d feel the same way if I was seeing them for the first time now – and maybe I would, especially as regards the earlier ones. They were made over thirty years ago, and it shows. Later Morse is called out for his attitude towards women. I think he becomes more sympathetic and the women become stronger.
Looking forward to seeing more of Lewis and will report back.