Lewis - Season 3 (2009)

Allegory of Love. Story: David Pirie; screenplay Steven Churchett.

A woman is murdered with an ornate Islamic mirror and then other literary-referenced killings occur. Art Malik and James Fox are in it. A disturbed young man who is too into his sword and sorcery games is involved.

The Quality of Mercy. Students enacting The Merchant of Venice when one is killed. Daisy Lewis is the strong willed director, Bryan Dick the drop-out. Written with the familiar pawky qualities of Alan Plater, e.g. "Tell us about Edinburgh." "It's a city in Scotland." or "I must get back to Venice." "Have a lovely time."

The killer of Lewis's wife is revealed, causing friction between our dynamic duo - both thinks the other is reserved and hidden.    

The Point of Vanishing isn't just about the 'vanishing point' depicted in Paolo Uccelli's 'The Hunt in the Forest', also surely a good example of widescreen painting:

The film opens and pretty much closes on disabled Ophelia Lovibond swimming and features a string performance from Jenny Seagrove as a very controlling mother. It's a good, complex screenplay by Paul Rutman.

The season ends on a fairly barmy story involving a group of aged rock musicians who frankly aren't particularly convincing: they are David Hayman, Anthony Higgins, Trevor Byfield, Hilton McRae and Joanna Lumley, who is back from the dead. Simon Callow is perhaps a shade too camp as the band's producer but Isobel Middleton is good as a music scholar. With Perdita Weeks and Daniel Kaluuya.

Lewis - Season 4 (2010)

The Dead of Winter is an interesting episode which Russell Lewis evoked in his later Endeavour film Prey, as we learn that Hathaway's father was the estate manager of a huge property and Hathaway Junior grew up with the children of those distinguished and not. The property is Rousham House and Gardens in Oxfordshire, used in both.

Camilla Arwedson, Pip Carter (the super-efficient butler), Richard Johnson, Nathaniel Parker, Georgia Groome.

One of Russell Lewi's great strengths is to make his stories personal; thus here Hathaway shares tryst with former girlfriend and Lewis has to force him off the case... but the ending - put your heroes in danger. It's one of the best.

Breaking and Entering (2006 Anthony Minghella & scr)

Minghella the writer provides enjoyable and original material - thus the prostitute (Vera Farmiga) who ends up sat in the car as partners Jude Law and Martin Freeman are staking out their office; and when the culprit breaks in abut Law and Farmiga are to bust talking to notice; or Law following the boy and then employing his mother Juliette Binoche to repair clothes. Whilst this is going on, Law's marriage to Robin Wright Penn is getting severely disruptive by her autistic daughter Poppy Rogers. Rafi Gavron is the young man and Ray Winstone is just right as an understanding copper who in the end knows exactly what deception is going on.

It's beautifully cut by Lisa Gunning, the music by Gabriel Yared and Underworld adds something, Benoit Delhomme shot it. Assistant editor Katie Weiland went on to cut Minghella's No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency as well as episodes of big series like Taboo and Slow Horses.

Alexandra Palace

Lewis - Season 2 (2008)

And the Moonbeams Kiss the Sea (Shelley) by Alan Plater, featuring a crocodile in the River Cherwell! We both would have signed up for Emily Beecham's fictional tour of Oxford immediately!

Also Shelley (The Question):

I DREAM'D that, as I wander'd by the way,
    Bare Winter suddenly was changed to Spring;
And gentle odours led my steps astray,
    Mix'd with a sound of waters murmuring

It's a fantastic film, with a wonderful performance from Tom Riley as the autistic painter.

I think it was Amy McKay who was responsible for all the beautiful artwork.

I must say that the intricacies of Music to Die For by Dusty Hughes, involving the East German Stasi, somewhat eluded me. There's also a romantic triangle involving boxing, South African club owners and Wagner. And Morse resurfaces from beyond the grave. South African (and German) accents largely unconvincing.

Tom Goodman-Hill, Ben Batt, Bradley James, Joanna Christie, Cheryl Campbell again.

Life Born of Fire. Tom MacRae.

Is Hathaway gay? Something has happened in the past that he's not letting on. In fact he withholds such important information from Lewis that his boss is really cross. Still saves the young man's life in flaming ending (fire much involved in story).

Liked the way this began with a restaurant, then a close shot of Lewis, that one of Dr. Hobson so at first you think they're out on a date.. then the rest of the detective tea, are revealed.

The Great and the Good by Paul Rutman. A schoolgirl has been drugged and raped but can't remember who did it. Nor can I. With Jason Watkins, Daniele Nardini, Sean McGinley, Beth Goddard.