Inspector Morse (TV Series) The Dead of Jericho (1987) User Reviews

A great start to an iconic series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 2 February 2016]

The first episode of the iconic Inspector Morse series, sees the enigmatic Detective investigate the death of a woman he was attracted to.

A fantastic start to the series, no wonder the entire nation fell in love with Morse and the show, John Thaw became Colin Dexter's character, watching it now it's hard to believe it was the first episode, John Thaw and Kevin Whately were both effortlessly brilliant in their respective roles, the relationship between the characters began in such a different way.

They made a fantastic job of casting in this opening episode, Gemma Jones was excellent as Anne. Troughton was a superb addition, great to see him play such a different role, he was really creepy in this. James Laurenson too, just great.

Cracking opener, 8/10

A bit confusing.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 2 February 2011]

It's a nice leisurely murder mystery. The plot meanders around so much and there are enough red herrings that I had a hard time following it. It's not Agatha Christie, with everything and everyone laid out for examination in some linear fashion. Morse wanders around a good deal, always looking slightly pained. The editing introduces us to people we've never seen before, often rushing around and doing something that is important to them, though we don't know why.

I'll give an example of what I mean. A young man, a student, is seen briefly, acting suspicious, and Morse is interested in him. The boy bonks Morse on the head and dashes away. Then we see him hurrying into an apartment building with a circular staircase. The hallway has a slogan spritzed on it: "Gay Lib". And there is a red icon painted next to it indicating maleness or Mars. The boy stops at the bottom of the staircase. Another young man, whom we've never seen before and will never see again, appears two or three flights upward. There is a sharp exchange between the two. The student wants something unspecified from the other. The other man is irritated because it's late but he finally gives in to the student's importuning. End of scene. What the hell is going on? We discover that the student is gay and is also a junkie, but we discover it later -- too much later.

False leads abound -- or are they in fact false? I thought Morse has it figured out when he identified Oedipus as the murderer but that turns out to be balderdash. I think. Suddenly, at the very end, Morse gets down to business and an offhand remark by Lewis identifies the real murderer but it all happens so quickly I was left dazed. Maybe I'd had one glass of wine too many or age is turning my brain to tofu, but I really needed one of those summaries that Hercule Poirot always comes up with, the kind that neatly unravels the mystery, discards the red herrings, and explains how and why the crime, she was committed.

This was the first time I'd seen an episode since the series ran on TV almost twenty years ago and I've always enjoyed them but don't remember ever being quite so baffled. Morse's character is likable, what with his beer, his nifty Jaguar, his dreaminess, and his occasional irritability. In this episode, towards the end, he seats himself at the piano of one of the victims and plunks out the so-called Tristan chord from Wagner. The score under the end credits is cute. The strings spell out the protagonist's name in Morse code in 3/4 time. "Morse code," "Inspector Morse" -- get it? Here it is: M =dah dah, O = dah dah dah, R = dit dah dit, S = dit dit dit, E = dit. M-O-R-S-E. You may have to listen to the high-pitched violins carefully but it's there. The gag is seamlessly integrated into the more dramatic theme too.

The Dead of Jericho

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 1 May 2018]

This is the series which led to the 2 hour detective format for ITV, not something that has always been successful, as I think their other cop shows have been padded somewhat.

John Thaw went from The Sweeney where he played the two fisted Jack Regan catching villains trying to get away with a sawn off shotgun in a Jaguar; to a genteel, real ale drinking, classical music loving detective driving a vintage Jaguar.

I never watched the early episodes when it aired on ITV only catching the repeats on Channel 4. It was then I became a fan of the series.

Anthony Minghella who would later win an Oscar for The English Patient adapted this story. Inspector Morse is late for choir practice as his Jag was involved in a prang as he tried to disrupt a dodgy garage.

Morse is attracted to Anne Staveley, who is a member of the choir, he even walks her home. She teaches piano, she has a student living with her who is a bit weird. He composes music but is a law student who scrounges money from her. The neighbour opposite is a peeping Tom who spies on her.

However there is tragedy for Morse as Anne is found hanging, it looks like suicide but Morse thinks there is more to it and even has a Oedipus Rex theory.

This is the story where Morse is partnered with Sgt Lewis who until now was under the command of another Inspector who has since been promoted. We learn that Morse went for the same promotion but he rubs some of his superiors up the wrong way or does not quiet say the right things to get ahead.

Luckily the younger Lewis gets on well with the older Morse despite not into drinking ale in pubs or classical literature or music. Lewis also provides some humour which helps.

The story is well paced, there are plenty of red herrings, blind alleys and the two hours fly by. Colin Dexter who wrote the original books also compiled crosswords and he treated his mysteries the same way. You have to look for little clues and some of them would be visual.

A few things we learn from the opening episode that continues throughout the rest of the run. Morse is always unlucky in love, in fact he should had just become a monk. Any lady he has an interest in either ends up dead or is a wrong un. Early on in this episode Morse is asked for his first name which he declines to reveal. This will continue until much later on in the series.

Morse seems to bring his own car to work, why he chooses to do this I have no idea, as it gets banged into twice in this episode.

I watched this episode again three decades after its first broadcast and it still stands up well. It is disconcerting to note that I am now several years older than John Thaw was when he first played Morse, he was 44 years old when the first series was made but he really looks much older.

Brilliant start to a wonderful series!

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 1 July 2009]

Inspector Morse is just amazing, with complex characters, well outlined stories, and well-crafted scripts. The first episode The Dead of Jericho is just brilliant, you can't help cheering, when Morse arrives on screen in the Jaguar to Vivaldi's Gloria. I don't think Dead Of Jericho is the best Morse episode, but it definitely worth a watch, and I couldn't fault it really. I loved the soundtrack; when Morse is listening to Porgi Amor from Marriage of Figaro with a sad expression on his face, I just wanted to reach into the television and hug him. John Thaw is magnificent in the title role, maintaining that standard all the way through the series' run. Thaw adopted a more likable and sensitive character than his novelistic counterpart, and it is this portrayal that I do prefer. Kevin Whately also shines as Lewis, a young and quite charming character, who when compared to Morse couldn't be more different, and it is the characters' relationships toward each other that make the series so compelling. Also worth noting are contributions from the late Patrick Troughton as the blackmailing neighbour,Gemma Jones as the unfortunate Anne, James Laurenson as the "prime suspect" and the lovely Annie Lambert as his fiery wife. The script is well crafted, and there is an intriguing unpredictable storyline, and while it isn't faithful to the book, it is still an excellent episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox.

Brilliant start to a brilliant series

[jamiecostelo58 · 9/10 · 30 November 2006]

The first ever episode of the now classic TV drama Inspector Morse sees John Thaw's character falling for the beautiful Anne Staveley (Gemma Jones), who attends the same church choir as him. However, it's a love destined not to be....

You don't see much of Morse's classic Jaguar car in this episode, but as I have lived in Oxford my whole life, it's wonderful to see many beautiful images of the historic city in the show. The city's murder rate was certainly on the up (fictionally anyway)!

A strong twist toward the end makes the story even more interesting and should surprise everyone.

The Dead of Jericho was a huge gamble when first broadcast in January 1987, but the sheer strength of the production team, writer Colin Dexter, and, of course, John Thaw himself, secured Inspector Morse as a firm favourite amongst British viewers. And we do get to hear the wonderful, classic music to the show in the closing credits as well.

John Thaw was one of Britain's most well loved and respected actors, and his performance throughout the Morse series showcased his talents. A shame he is no longer with us, but Morse will certainly keep him in our thoughts.

Morse's Code

[Lejink · 6/10 · 19 October 2018]

For nostalgia, I decided to look out the very first Morse mystery to be filmed and televised. I remember being drawn into the series when living in a flat on my own in Edinburgh, when the unusual for its time two hour format allowed for greater plot and character development than preceding detective - oriented series.

This starter episode introduced the viewer to staples for the show, the Oxford settings, Morse's cussedness and tastes for drink, classical music and red Jaguar cars, an eye for the mature lady, a trickle-down relationship with his dogged, home-loving, long-suffering Sgt Lewis sidekick and most of all an individual and intuitive method to crime-solving which frequently put him at odds with his superiors.

This episode concerning the suicide of a piano teacher Morse has just met at choir practice leads to another murder and overtones of voyeurism, blackmail, adultery and even incest before Morse has his customary Eureka moment and solves the crime just in time. The plot was suitably serpentine in construction although the apparent Sophoclean-attributed conclusion was possibly mistakenly dispensed with for a good old-fashioned case of mistaken identity to eventually catch the killer.

Sure both the direction and police procedures portrayed are dated (Morse barging in on the original death site, searching a suspect's premises without a warrant, roughing up a suspect like he was in the Sweeney, drinking on duty) but Thaw and Whately already demonstrate their chemistry in this introductory episode. The series in time became a TV national treasure, setting the standard for other shows which followed in its wake. Better episodes were to follow but a strong marker in terms of production standards, narrative quality and acting levels was definitely put down here for further investigation.

Excellent

[gnyaneshg · 9/10 · 2 October 2022]

John Thaw and Kevin Whatley have amazing chemistry and that is the hallmark of the whole series. The story in the episode itself has changed considerably from the book, current and previous profession of Ann Scott, meeting with Morse, business of Richards etc. But none of it matters, the direction, acting and the pace of the episode keeps you hooked. Excellent start of an excellent series. I have watched Morse series 3 or 4 times and every time the episodes have been equally entertaining and every repetition it felt like comfort food. Perhaps reason John Thaw looks old even though he was mid 40s, perhaps due to his alcoholism and smoking. Shame.

Inspector Morse Begin's

[gpeevers · 7/10 · 27 April 2009]

This is the first installment in the long running British detective series "Inspector Morse" which was based on the novels of Colin Dexter, and would run 33 episodes over 14 years.

Morse is middle aged, cynical and intellectual; he makes little if any effort to get along with people (even his superiors) but also displays a romantic streak despite an apparent lack of success in such relationships.

The story here is that of the apparent suicide of Anne Stavely (an acquaintance of Morse's that he was hoping for a more meaningful relationship with), raises questions in his mind that are not readily apparent to the investigating officer.

This episode would be scripted by Anthony Minghella who would return to script two other episodes but is now better known for his films which include The English Patient and The Talented Mr. Ripley. This episodes director Alastair Reed would direct one other episode, but would be even more successful with two mini-series "Traffik" and "Tales of the City".

It should also be noted that this was one of episodes based directly upon one of Colin Dexter's novels, not all of the episodes would be based upon the novels.

The series star John Thaw (Chief Inspector Morse) had a prolific career which also included "The Sweeney" and "Kavanagh QC", Kevin Whately (Sergeant Lewis) would both assist Morse and act as a foil for his wit. Subsequent to the passing of John Thaw, a new series "Inspector Lewis" was launched with Whately's character now promoted.

The series is set for the most part in and around the City of Oxford and there are connections in a number of the episodes to the City's world renowned University.

A few points to make

[Sulla-2 · 9/10 · 6 February 2022]

This was the first book to be filmed but the 5th book to be written. I can't understand why there is a mystery about Morse's first name as it would have to be included in every witness statement he made and spoken every time he gave evidence.

For most of the episode he doesn't appear to have anything to do and he just wanders about interfering with someone else's case. Chief Superintendent Grout explains that he did not get promoted because of his attitude. If this was true he would never have made it to CHief Inspector.

Having got that off my chest, I have to say that I really love John Thaw and the Inspector Morse series.

Others have described the episode quite well.

Good start to the series

[Prichards12345 · 7/10 · 9 February 2020]

Oxford Policeman Inspector Morse finds himself growing attached to a woman from his choir, and, when she apparently commits suicide, uncovers a complex mystery surrounding her.

I enjoyed this first episode of the series, and John Thaw and Kevin Whateley make a great team with real chemistry. The story is interesting and watchable, and although the solution to the mystery is slightly confusing (see the fishing rods moment) the whole thing hangs together extremely well. Patrick Troughton guest stars as a peeping tom neighbour, and the mistaken identity at the heart of things works well. Morse still holds up after 30+ years and although there are better episodes, all in all this is a very good start.

Great mystery. Makes you want to sit and watch episode after episode.

[mkilliby · 9/10 · 26 August 2021]

I love watching 1980s-1990s British mysteries and Inspector Morse definitely doesn't disappoint. Nostalgic cosy feeling while watching these great mysteries.

Low-key start to the series

[grantss · 6/10 · 24 August 2022]

Not exactly the auspicious start I was expecting. The episode starts quite slowly, Morse isn't even the investigator on the case, initially, and is actually a suspect more than anything else. Once Morse is on the case, the pace does increase but there's still a clumsiness to proceedings.

The revelation of the guilty party is so low-key that you don't realise that it is a revelatiion until after the episode has concluded. On that note, when the episode ended I thought it must be a 2-parter as surely this wouldn't end with so much still up in the air!

On the plus side it is reasonably intriguing and the interplay between Morse and Lewis is great. We get to see how they meet and how they end up working with each other plus get to know their characters. So while the plot is a bit haphazard at least the episode creates a background for the remainder of the series.

A Truly Well Developed Character

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 13 February 2018]

Having watched all the episodes of "Endeavour," the prequel, and making my way through "Inspector Louise," I felt it time to see what started the whole thing. This episode, like many firsts, is a bit ragged. Louis is one of those cops who knows he could never do anything else. He has an artistic temperament and a sensitivity that really rings true. He sings in a choir and takes a fancy to a middle aged woman. They become friends, but she holds immense secrets. One day she fails to show up for practice and Morse goes to her house, only to find the police there. Apparently, she has hanged herself. This leads to an investigation that shows us that things are never as simple as they seem. Morse works for a boss who is by the book and, hence, pretty ineffective. We are introduced, in this episode, to Inspector Lewis who will become Morse's partner and sidekick. We are treated to a tightly plotted piece of work that endears us.

A very immersive experience

[mahadania · 18 January 2024]

I just finished watching, The Dead of Jericho, Inspector Morse's first detective case in the series, and mine too. Nothing short of immersive, in-depth, nuanced, with tons of plot twists.

The link between Sophocles and vintage Literature is in consonance with the series old world Oxford setting. These are in turn juxtaposed with Inspector Morse's unorthodox ways of carrying out his work, an experience that closely resembles life.

There is so much to study and enjoy in this detective series, mainly because I am a whodunnit fan. Ive been a follower of the crime and mystery genre as a reader and book reviewer for a long time. Inspector Morse is a class by himself. His solitary persona, impeccable intelligence, need to problem solve while enjoying opera, and being ahead of the curve, is some of the reasons one feels Morse is a 'real' person. And he is. Morse embodies our cavalier side, our inner belief in ourselves; and yet he also shows his vulnerability by seeking company to toss around his thoughts and theories with a subordinate who should know better than to make excuses to go home to his family. A typical side-kick who doesn't realise the gem that is Morse, because his blinkers are on. Hopefully, Morse's dynamic way of thinking will rub on Louis in time.

Let me just say, each minute is worth watching and yet there is no wastage of time in an episode that goes further than 1.5 hours.

After binging on Midsomer Murders, this is a different ball game. An upgrade from Economy Plus (mind you, I love Midsomer Murders) to First Class. On any airlines.

Detective stories are my guilty pleasure. Yet, this is more than a detective story. It is a story about a detective, who is nuanced, weak, flawed, brilliant and taking on too much. Yes, he has his drink to drown his sorrows and disappointments, but it is as if the eternal companion eludes him. If only he had a cat, or a dog to come home to.

Looking forward to the second episode in the first series. Morse, by the way, is my father's favourite detective series. I had to find out why.