Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Directors: Bill Anderson, Marc Jobst, Sarah Harding, Dan Reed, Richard Spence, Stuart Orme, Billie Eltringham, Maurice Phillips, Nicholas Renton, Hetti Macdonald, Charles Palmer, Matin Hüseyin, Via Vision Entertainment.
It’s two decades since Sergeant Lewis first appeared with Inspector Morse in the British detective drama television series titled Inspector Morse. This classic 1980s police drama, based on novels by Colin Dexter, was a worthy launching pad for Kevin Whately in the spin-off titled Lewis.
Knowledgeable Inspector Robbie Lewis (Whately, The English Patient), now a widower, living alone in Oxford after a period abroad, he is anxious to prove himself as he investigates mysteries against the historic and splendid backdrop of Oxford.
He teams with with cool, intellectual partner Detective Sergeant Hathaway (Laurence Fox, Gosford Park), to tackle murder and mayhem in the seemingly perfect academic haven.
In Episode 1 titled ‘Reputation’, Lewis returns to Oxford after two years’ absence and is reluctantly assigned by his new boss to the murder of a mathematics student who is shot while participating in a sleep study. In ‘Old School Ties’, Lewis is less than pleased when he and Hathaway are assigned to protect Nicky Turnbull, a former criminal turned successful author. First episode of Series 2 contains two murders that appear to be unrelated.
In ‘Dark Matter’ from Series 4, Lewis and Hathaway investigate the killing in suspicious circumstances of Professor Andrew Crompton, amateur astronomer and Master of Gresham College. The last episode of Series 5 titled ‘The Gift of Promise’ has Lewis and Hathaway investigating the murder of a businesswoman who had apparently been blackmailing the father of her protégé.
This 11-disc collection includes every feature-length episode from the first five series, including the pilot and a bonus behind-the-scenes documentary.
The two main characters in Lewis struggle with procedural dilemmas and existential questions about their futures – both on the force and in their personal lives. In a partnership forged through loyalty and mutual – though often grudging – respect, Lewis untangles dishonest and gloomy motives with his combination of instinct and experience. Hathaway’s wit is as sharp as his reason as he handles suspects and classical allusions with agile intellect.
A thoughtfully written television series, the characters with their flaws and mistakes are credible and endearing. Interaction and affinity between Lewis and Hathaway is plausible.
