Once more, I have to check my files to see if I graduated from college. This episode of Morse, like so many others, convinces me that I lack the intelligence to follow a plot that millions of other people seem to follow with ease. From the start, the story is murkier than the canal where the headless body is found. The body launches an investigation that meanders from Oxford to London to someplace near South Bend, Indiana (I think). Evil professors, haughty civil servants, and rugged policemen fill the story with memorable characters but little logic to tie them together. At the end, someone in a hospital bed spills the beans to Morse in a scene that should be dubbed into Croatian to make it all clearer. On the positive side, it's a treat to watch the fabulous Barry Foster and the rest of the impressive supporting cast as well as the totally reliable main leads. The Oxford scenery doesn't hurt either. All in all, a worthwhile if exasperating show, especially for Americans who are sick unto death of the simplistic and violent trash on American TV.
9 Reviews
A very good episode.
Sleepin_Dragon12 April 2020
A decapitated body is found floating in a canal, someone has gone to great lengths to disguise the identity of the body.
It's a solid episode, it's a a clever mystery, it has some wonderful characters, if also benefits from a truly wonderful performance from John Thaw, he really is at his absolute best here, some great interplay between him and Lewis, he's quite amusing here too. Terrific production values as you'd expect, not just the idyllic countryside, that goes without saying, but the shots of both the High Street and busy train Station, they look impressive, and natural.
Two things spoil this episode for me, first, the performance of Michael Aldridge, I get that his character is supposed to be larger than life, but I would say he's overacting, it's too much. Secondly, without giving away any clues as to the identity of the murderer, I would say I struggled to believe in the killer's identity to physically carry out the murders, it takes a real stretch of the imagination.
I loved Sian Thomas in this, she defines the whole era here, wonderfully 1980's, so elegant, she is wonderful in this. Teniel Evans is excellent also.
It's a solid episode, it's a a clever mystery, it has some wonderful characters, if also benefits from a truly wonderful performance from John Thaw, he really is at his absolute best here, some great interplay between him and Lewis, he's quite amusing here too. Terrific production values as you'd expect, not just the idyllic countryside, that goes without saying, but the shots of both the High Street and busy train Station, they look impressive, and natural.
Two things spoil this episode for me, first, the performance of Michael Aldridge, I get that his character is supposed to be larger than life, but I would say he's overacting, it's too much. Secondly, without giving away any clues as to the identity of the murderer, I would say I struggled to believe in the killer's identity to physically carry out the murders, it takes a real stretch of the imagination.
I loved Sian Thomas in this, she defines the whole era here, wonderfully 1980's, so elegant, she is wonderful in this. Teniel Evans is excellent also.
Dry but intriguing enough
grantss2 September 2022
Maybe I was just in the wrong mood but I found the tone of this episode quite flat and dry. While reasonably interesting everything seems rather join-the-dots-like. Even the usual Morse-Lewis banter is lacking or just doesn't hit the mark.
The plot is intriguing enough though not brilliant. The fact that the initial victim can't be identified provides a good layer of mystery, as a start.
On the plus side, I enjoyed the addition of Dr Grayling Russell (played by Amanda Hillwood) the previous episode and the producers in their wisdom have decided to keep her around. She really does add a spark and vitality to the show. She also might just bring out a more positive and softer side to Morse.
The plot is intriguing enough though not brilliant. The fact that the initial victim can't be identified provides a good layer of mystery, as a start.
On the plus side, I enjoyed the addition of Dr Grayling Russell (played by Amanda Hillwood) the previous episode and the producers in their wisdom have decided to keep her around. She really does add a spark and vitality to the show. She also might just bring out a more positive and softer side to Morse.
Based on the book Riddle of the Third Mile, The Last Enemy is a classic!
TheLittleSongbird2 July 2009
I still think that Morse is the best drama series ever to grace British television, whilst I prefer later Morse episodes, The Last Enemy is definitely one of the better episodes. Based on the book, Riddle of the Third Mile, it consists of a discovery of a decapitated body in a river, rivalry in an Oxford college and even Morse has some humour, with the subplot of a terrible toothache. The episode benefits from gorgeous Oxford scenery, and a well-written script. Other than some alterations to some of the characters, not to mention the names, it is fairly true to the style of the book. As always, John Thaw and Kevin Whately positively shine in the title roles, and Barry Foster and Tenniel Evans also give able support. Sian Thomas, Beatie Edney and Amanda Hillwood are also excellent, and Michael Aldridge (Seymour in Last of the Summer Wine), is a pleasant surprise as Arthur Drysdale, and you actually kind of feel sorry for his character. All in all, a a very well done episode, that I am very fond of. 10/10 Bethany Cox
The Riddle of the Third Mile
acnmorrison26 January 2007
This is a reworking of Colin Dexter's novel - "The Riddle of the Third Mile".The plot line keeps well with the book though character names are changed and the other alterations were principally to remove a London Strip Club.Visually with a canal plenty of Oxford scenery and an exceptionally strong supporting cast in particular involving Tenniel Evans,Michael Aldridge and Barry Foster.Morse's conversations with Sian Thomas and Amanda Hillwood in their way show how much he seems to miss a possible opportunity for happiness and with Beatie Edney the female support whilst less experienced is no less strong.I must wonder if Oxford University can approve of academics being portrayed as double crossers and jealous schemers but then it makes life more interesting.
Best By An Oxford Mile
Marqymarquis30 June 2017
By an Oxfordshire country mile this is my favourite Morse: the subject matter, revolving around a headless corpse washed up in The Thames is grim enough; but the sub plots make the story even grimmer: collegiate machinations; sexual jealousy and rivalry and intellectual rivalry and jealousy. There are moments of levity, but most are tinged with sadness: Morse developing a very understandable (and obvious) crush on Reece's PA; Morse morally berating the happily married Lewis for offering assistance above and beyond the call of duty to an attractive young female boat skipper; Morse pressing an attractive young female witness to a further alcoholic beverage; the interrogation of Riverman Geoff where he claims that "even the fish jump about laughing" and, best of all, Morse offering one of his witnesses' juvenile sister an ice cream whereby she buries her face in her older sister's stomach as though being propositioned by a paedophile. Star turns abound in this episode as with all Morse's: Here we have Michael Aldridge, Tenniel Evans and Mary Morris - none of whom could turn in a bad performance to save their life; but it's Morse's main adversary and historical bete noir Barry Foster who really and nearly gives Morse a run for his money: who is the taller when they face off? You decide. 10/10 Mark James Burden
A puzzle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a mystery.
rmax30482314 February 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I had an awful time keeping track of what was going on in this episode. I enjoyed the opening: a couple of fun-loving youngsters operating a tour boat on a canal accidentally bump into a body from which the head and extremities have been removed. Lots of promise there.
It gets even better when Morse and Lewis discover that the body is wearing somebody else's suit! I was kind of hoping that another decapitate preparation would show up and the two heads get confused. This happened in one of G. K. Chesterton's "Father Brown" stories and I'd been wildly amused by it.
No such luck. Out of nowhere, there are cuts to two men talking heatedly, and we don't know who they are, where they are, or what the problem is. Throughout the investigation, there are irregular cuts to one of the men, who remains unidentified until the very end, when he reveals all from his deathbed.
It's dizzying. It's like looking into a kaleidoscope except that it's you who is spinning around, not the fiendish device. A little more in the way of linearity would help, in the sense that it might make it possible to follow the various narrative threads.
So far, my experience with this series roughly parallels that outlined by a perceptive comment by keith-moyes-656-481491 under the generic "Inspector Morse" title. I too bought the boxed set and am slogging my way through it.
The difference is that keith-etc. doesn't give it as many points for "style" as I'm willing to fork over. Maybe one needs more exposure to the banality that is American commercial television to appreciate how much of a relief it is to watch a program that is aimed at a point in the central nervous system above that of the reptilian brain. I'd rather be baffled than slump into a state of shock.
It gets even better when Morse and Lewis discover that the body is wearing somebody else's suit! I was kind of hoping that another decapitate preparation would show up and the two heads get confused. This happened in one of G. K. Chesterton's "Father Brown" stories and I'd been wildly amused by it.
No such luck. Out of nowhere, there are cuts to two men talking heatedly, and we don't know who they are, where they are, or what the problem is. Throughout the investigation, there are irregular cuts to one of the men, who remains unidentified until the very end, when he reveals all from his deathbed.
It's dizzying. It's like looking into a kaleidoscope except that it's you who is spinning around, not the fiendish device. A little more in the way of linearity would help, in the sense that it might make it possible to follow the various narrative threads.
So far, my experience with this series roughly parallels that outlined by a perceptive comment by keith-moyes-656-481491 under the generic "Inspector Morse" title. I too bought the boxed set and am slogging my way through it.
The difference is that keith-etc. doesn't give it as many points for "style" as I'm willing to fork over. Maybe one needs more exposure to the banality that is American commercial television to appreciate how much of a relief it is to watch a program that is aimed at a point in the central nervous system above that of the reptilian brain. I'd rather be baffled than slump into a state of shock.
Morse: Top class.
mahadania5 May 2024
2024 is the year I started watching this remarkable series. Over the years, Ive heard my father talking about it and watching it but nit until recently did I begin ti watch it chronologically. My father has always been a huge Inspector Morse admirer. John Thaw is brilliant as the somewhat acerbic, sharp and immensely likeable Morse.
The Last Enemy does not disappoint at all. From the twisted and over the top plot it always manages to be tempered by Oxford's grayish hues and solid setting and backdrop. I love English humour and dry hued exchanges between characters. The last scene had me feeling poignant for Morse. Buying drinks for others who are more selfish and self-serving than grateful. The pathologists loss. Morse is great company even when he's brooding. He's an original. That's what makes this series wonderful to witness.
Maha.
The Last Enemy does not disappoint at all. From the twisted and over the top plot it always manages to be tempered by Oxford's grayish hues and solid setting and backdrop. I love English humour and dry hued exchanges between characters. The last scene had me feeling poignant for Morse. Buying drinks for others who are more selfish and self-serving than grateful. The pathologists loss. Morse is great company even when he's brooding. He's an original. That's what makes this series wonderful to witness.
Maha.
Tedious and so over acted
thedurhamcyclist9 August 2023
Very very dated and so so poor. Such a tired script around tedious Oxford academic rivalries that lead to such unbelievable outcomes. Terminally ill, infirm old boys dealing in gruesome murder. It really is too pathetic for words. More and more the overly intricate plots defy any enjoyment by those who have the most rudimentary of their human reasoning capabilities left. There is also the questionable practice of clearly signalling the plot twists in the early stages, so plain to foresee that one wonders how a man so brilliant as Morse cannot see them immediately: one imagines that all who watch it must see them immediately. That does puzzle me, perhaps the only mystery here: it is quite unexplained how some seem to find these tales entertaining. It's so obvious what is going on that as has been mentioned in the summary, it's just tedious in the extreme.
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