'Masterpiece Mystery: Inspector Lewis Series 5'
(Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox, Pamela Nomvete, Christopher Timothy, Daniel Ryan, et al / 2-Disc DVD / NR / 2012 / PBS)
Overview: Four new mysteries which were inspired by the Inspector Morse novels of Colin Dexter. Episodes include - The Soul of Genius; Generation of Vipers; Fearful Symmetry; and The Indelible Stain.
DVD Verdict: In the 'Indelibel Stain,' the fourth of these wonderful 90 minute each mysteries, Sgt. Hathaway quietly states "What's a clue, but a mistake by another name?" And that sums up all mysteries in general, but especially those created in always-sunny Oxford. It seems that those pesky clues add up to be easier than before for the viewer to spot them and make their own ahead-of-the-game deductions. But that could just be because I'm addicted to these UK mysteries and can spot a bad guy (or gal) at 100 paces these days!
In 'Soul of Genius,' three different stories play out in a Crash-style manner, all linked, but how? A dead body is found in the woodsa nd an old Lewis Carroll book of poem's involving the hunting of the Snark comes to light. A puzzle is truly needed to be resolved here and more has to be learnt about the infamous Wednesday Club too! This one comes with a very powerful ending. In 'Generation of Vipers,' Lewis and Hathaway help to bring down (literally) a drugs dealer in a countryside drugs bust gone awry! They get some TV time for it too, but a professor in the middle of it winds up dead shortly after. Clips of her on a dating website seem to lead to why, and all roads lead to a cyber king whose gossip website "stole" the clip and put it viral!
In 'Fearful Symmetry,' a babysitter is found dead, but after photos of her posing naked and for bondage shots are revealed, a fetish angle is opened up. This episode also stars Gary Kemp (pop group Spandau Ballet) as a possible bad guy, with secrets of his own. And talking of guest actors, the final episode 'The Indelible Stain' stars the great US TV legend, David Soul (aka Hutch from Starsky and Hutch)! Almost unrecognisable now, due to his weight, facial hair and lack of up top hair, he does his role of a visiting lecturer perfectly. But even he is not immune to death in Oxford as he is found hung by his own tie soon thereafter! This is a Widescreen Presentation 1.85:1 enhanced for 16x9 TVs.
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