Lewis

It’s taken a long time for Kevin Whately to take centre stage in a detective drama, but Lewis proves it’s been time well spent. Lewis, of course, was previously the sidekick to Inspector Morse, and that raised fair suspicions that this spin-off drama was a fairly unnecessary cash-in of sorts. But those suspicions have proven unfounded, and Lewis has emerged as one of the best new programmes to hit ITV in recent years.
The format’s not moved on a great deal since the heights of Inspector Morse, but in this case, that’s no bad thing. The episodes in this set on the whole build slowly, and build up intelligently and with diligence. Occasionally there are moments where the pace slips a little too much, but that’s more than overcome by the fact that the drama on offer here is so absorbing.

It’s all anchored, of course, by Whately’s excellent portrayal of the lead character. Eminently watchable, and clearly wearing the clothes of a character that he knows completely, it’s a smashing performance, and with the aid of an excellent supporting cast, Lewis develops into a real treat. Is it better than Morse? Well, that’s far too early too call. But on this basis of this debut, Lewis certainly has the potential for as enduring a legacy.

After the successful first standalone outing for the character, Kevin Whately returns to the title role of Lewis again, for a second full season of investigations. And things seem, to the benefit of the viewer, just as dangerous as they always were. This series of Lewis is set five years after the death of Inspector Morse (to whom Lewis was, of course, the sidekick), and while the gap left behind by the late, great John Thaw is occasionally felt, this is still very much quality drama in its own right.
Thus, this DVD set brings together all four feature-length episodes from the second series of Lewis, and finds the detective in his familiar Oxford stomping ground. Accompanied by Laurence Fox’s DS Hathaway, a collection of well-written, compelling mysteries are waiting to be solved.
The series’ investigations cover the discovery of a body in a library through to the world of underground boxing and a rape case that brings out the worst in the Oxford establishment. And there aren’t any weak links here: each episode is involving, intelligent and a gripping watch. Even at its worst, Lewis is very good television drama.
What’s more, Whately is terrific in the increasingly complex central role, and the scripts continue to allow him to flesh out the character. Lewis is, in many ways, a flawed man, and as he works his way through the layered and involving cases, this becomes ever-more obvious. And the programme is all the better for it. For in spite of some cynicism when it first announced that a standalone Lewis programme was being produced, there’s ample here to silence the most sceptical of naysayers. For Lewis is, simply, very strong television.

What could have been an ill-advised spin-off continues to excel as Lewis arrives at its third series. Firmly stepping out of the shadows of Inspector Morse, Kevin Whately as Inspector Lewis once more is solving murders and mysteries in Oxford. And again, he’s joined by Laurence Fox as DS Hathway, his partner in crime-solving.
And Lewis gives the pair some interesting scenarios to get their teeth into. There are four feature-length stories in total, and things get started when a Czech barmaid is discovered, having being slashed to death. There’s, as you’d expect, more to the crime than immediately meets the eye, and that convention continues in the following episode, where a student Shakespearian production abruptly ends after one of the cast is stabbed with a prop knife. We also get to meet, before the series ends, a rock star towards the end of his career, in what proves to be a terrific episode to close the series.
To reveal any more significant plot points of Lewis would be to spoil half the fun. What this third series retains though is the kind of diligent, well-produced drama that its predecessor was. And in Whately, it has a lead actor who studiously inhabits his role, and ensures that the name of Inspector Lewis is another to add to the British detective hall of fame. Very strong drama, and it’s just getting better.

The fourth series of hit drama Lewis sees Inspector Robbie Lewis and his partner DS Hathaway investigating more murder mysteries against the glorious backdrop of Oxford. Joining Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox is a star studded cast including series regulars Clare Holman and Rebecca Front and guest stars Sophie Ward, Alan Davies, Rupert Graves, Nathaniel Parker, Diana Quick, Robert Hardy, Timothy West, John Sessions, Niamh Cusack, Nicholas Farrell, Juliet Aubrey and Stella Gonet.
The series comprises four new films: Dark Matter (written by Stephen Churchett), Your Sudden Death Question (written by Alan Plater), Falling Darkness and The Dead of Winter (both written by Russell Lewis).