Dr Russell's gone - no word of explanation. The Infernal Serpent, an original by Alma Cullen, is one of the best. Great to see Geoffrey Palmer as sinister - only wish we'd seen the look on his smug face when his head was bashed in. He's the head of a (very) messed up (extended) family comprising Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Cheryl Campbell, Irene Richard and George Costigan. With Tom Wilkinson, Pearce Quigley (Cutting It, Grow Your Own). Whilst Morse gets to the bottom of the family secrets, he doesn't manage to resolve the University being mixed up with a chemicals company, resulting in the death of a much-respected Professor (David Neal). John Madden directed - not his first at all. That would be a TV play. The Pigman's Protege in 1982, then Poppyland in 1985. Frederic Raphael's 5 episode After the War came in 1989.
The Sins of the Father, another original by Jeremy Burnham, is about a long-established brewery and the murders that (keep) occurring thence. And it's a sneaky tale with old historical roots that I think would have pleased Dexter. The Sins of the Son would be a more accurate title. Features another of those hideous posh families headed by Isabel Dean (a TV stalwart from 1948) and Lionel Jefferies, Paul Shelley, Kim Thomson (another big-haired Morse woman) and Lisa Harrow. Plus young Alex Jennings and his mother, Betty Marsden (another TV stalwart).
Victor / Jennings (to Morse): "When I come out, I'll get you too."
Lewis: "I shouldn't worry about it, sir. By the time he comes out you'll be long gone."
Morse: "You're wasted as a copper, Lewis. You should have joined the diplomatic service."
Lewis is (inadvertently) 'a genius' again, and solves the final riddle.
Driven to Distraction, by Anthony Minghella, is great fun, as Morse persecutes the wrong guy, Patrick Malahide. Mary Jo Randle has joined the team, temporarily. Lewis puts his foot down and will not search premises illegally without a warrant - good for him. And in a fabulous season finale, Masonic Mysteries by Julian Mitchell, Morse is tormented by a 'dead' evil genius, Ian McDiarmid. Never mind about the danger to life - he loses his precious record collection that was twenty years in the making!
The Cole Porter songs are as usual Barrington's artful recreations.
Danny Boyle directed.
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