I like the fact Morse does in fact merit some of the resentment his much put-upon Sergeant Lewis finally lets fly at him...though he's right about Lewis' strengths and his own. Despite being a dour and at times self-centred boss, Morse is forced to get down to brass tacks in the case when his brains are not winning him any friends and are alienating his work horse junior, nearly causing Lewis to jump ship. The case is interesting and its untangling seems to evolve naturally, with the counterpoint of Morse and Lewis' relationship tensions adding to the drama. The confession of Morse to one character that he'll die in the saddle and doesn't have much else in life to look forward to is poignant given his character's and John Thaw's deaths that fell quite close together.
14 Reviews
A truly first class episode.
Sleepin_Dragon26 March 2016
The Way through the Woods is arguably one of the finest episodes in Morse's history. For me it feels like the beginning of the end of Morse, after seven glorious series, we'd now only get a special each year.
It boasts an intelligent, strong, multi layered story, with twists and turns, and questions coming from all angles. We have a fantastic deal of tension between Morse and Lewis, some time since the pair worked together, both actors brought their A game to this particular story. It features one of the best endings of any show I can think of, masses of tension, a genuine feeling of unease.
It was an absolutely fantastic debut from Clare Holman as the much loved Dr Laura Hobson, she started off as she continued, full of sass and sarcasm. Tough job replacing the wonderfully charismatic Max, but she did it in style.
Beautifully acted as I've mentioned by all concerned, but Michelle Fairley steals the show, what an outstanding shift she put in, she lacks in some huge emotion into Cathy Michaels. The ending is something special, it's a hugely dramatic and memorable scene, the delivery is terrific.
One of the best, 9/10 (Up next, another one of the best, Daughters of Cain.)
It boasts an intelligent, strong, multi layered story, with twists and turns, and questions coming from all angles. We have a fantastic deal of tension between Morse and Lewis, some time since the pair worked together, both actors brought their A game to this particular story. It features one of the best endings of any show I can think of, masses of tension, a genuine feeling of unease.
It was an absolutely fantastic debut from Clare Holman as the much loved Dr Laura Hobson, she started off as she continued, full of sass and sarcasm. Tough job replacing the wonderfully charismatic Max, but she did it in style.
Beautifully acted as I've mentioned by all concerned, but Michelle Fairley steals the show, what an outstanding shift she put in, she lacks in some huge emotion into Cathy Michaels. The ending is something special, it's a hugely dramatic and memorable scene, the delivery is terrific.
One of the best, 9/10 (Up next, another one of the best, Daughters of Cain.)
Well done episode
gxjhfrb23 August 2022
I found it to be the better than the typical Morse investigation....full of surprises, twists, subplots and a surprise ending. The pace towards the end of the episode was more uptempo than normal.
I don't tire of the storylines and excellent writing, nor excellent acting done by all. However, I do get tired when I see that there is an attractive single female between the ages of 20 and 40 in the cast, I just know that somehow this young female is going to be unexplainably attracted to Morse. Every single female character in this series is practically given a pass by Morse, as, in his mind, she couldn't possibly be the killer. He has a blind spot and it's a wonder it hasn't killed him yet.
In this episode, I did have a problem with Lewis' comment that he didn't like guns because they have a way of "going off". No...no they don't by themselves. They go off when a suspect fires them. They also go off when a police officer fires them to save his life or Morse's life.
Other than that, it was a nicely paced episode with excellent twists and turns.
I don't tire of the storylines and excellent writing, nor excellent acting done by all. However, I do get tired when I see that there is an attractive single female between the ages of 20 and 40 in the cast, I just know that somehow this young female is going to be unexplainably attracted to Morse. Every single female character in this series is practically given a pass by Morse, as, in his mind, she couldn't possibly be the killer. He has a blind spot and it's a wonder it hasn't killed him yet.
In this episode, I did have a problem with Lewis' comment that he didn't like guns because they have a way of "going off". No...no they don't by themselves. They go off when a suspect fires them. They also go off when a police officer fires them to save his life or Morse's life.
Other than that, it was a nicely paced episode with excellent twists and turns.
The Best Whodunit?
EngAnglo7 June 2017
The exception to the rule that "the book is always better than the screen version". This episode of Morse is far superior to the novel and one of the finest, if not the very best, whodunit.
As is usual for the Morse series, the supporting cast are top notch. Malcolm Storry is excellent as the antagonistic DCI Johnson, a Jekyll and Hyde character who appears to have Lewis' best interest at heart. The shady Daley family are all played superbly, as are the Michaels who hold the key to the case. Throughout the investigation, the jousting between Kevin Whately's Lewis and John Thaw's Morse adds to a mystery full of misdirection and red herrings, with an end solution which is both logical and convincing.
This has to go straight to the top of any whodunit fan's wishlist.
As is usual for the Morse series, the supporting cast are top notch. Malcolm Storry is excellent as the antagonistic DCI Johnson, a Jekyll and Hyde character who appears to have Lewis' best interest at heart. The shady Daley family are all played superbly, as are the Michaels who hold the key to the case. Throughout the investigation, the jousting between Kevin Whately's Lewis and John Thaw's Morse adds to a mystery full of misdirection and red herrings, with an end solution which is both logical and convincing.
This has to go straight to the top of any whodunit fan's wishlist.
Superb episode based on a superb book!
TheLittleSongbird7 July 2009
I loved the book, but I thought the adaptation was better, again I could be biased as I do prefer John Thaw's interpretation of Morse. Speaking of Thaw, he was absolutely outstanding here, definitely one of his best performances of the character. Kevin Whately also shines in the episode, somehow loyal, yet yearning for a promotion. Malcolm Storry and James Grout are also excellent. Good supporting performances from Michelle Fairley, Chris Fairbank, Neil Dudgeon and Nicolas Le Prevost. But for me, Claire Holman was excellent as Dr Hobson, I loved her line, "I am looking for Chief Inspector... Looks like Mouse," it was very funny. The highlight of the episode has to be the scene in the woods with the murderer, one of Morse's best climaxes, honestly it was tense and so well-acted, I couldn't have asked for anything more. Beautiful music too, and the story line and characters hold up well despite a 2 year absence between this and the 7th series back in 1993. The episode isn't really faithful to the book, but it was so good in terms of plot and acting that I don't care to honest with you. 10/10 Bethany Cox.
The Way Through The Woods
erh8327 January 2006
In my humble opinion, I think that this episode of Morse is up there with the best of them. The cinematography is crisp, the music is first class, the scenery is beyond compare, the acting is incredible and John Madden's direction is superb. This episode was adapted from Colin Dexter's book of the same name - the book itself is also one of his best - and though it changes several elements of the original story, it is (believe it or not) actually an improvement.
The tension between Morse and Lewis is portrayed exceptionally by Thaw and Whately and the murderer is one of the best developed murderers in the series!
This episode was the first in a series of one off specials of the series which appeared almost every year until the end of the programed with 'The Remorseful Day' in 2000. For anyone looking for a Morse episode which is thrilling and utterly absorbing and one which offers one of John Thaw's greatest performances - then this one is certainly for you.
The tension between Morse and Lewis is portrayed exceptionally by Thaw and Whately and the murderer is one of the best developed murderers in the series!
This episode was the first in a series of one off specials of the series which appeared almost every year until the end of the programed with 'The Remorseful Day' in 2000. For anyone looking for a Morse episode which is thrilling and utterly absorbing and one which offers one of John Thaw's greatest performances - then this one is certainly for you.
Tremendous Acting !!
chaswii29 July 2015
This is my choice for the very best episode of the Inspector Morse series. I've watched all of the series episodes from the beginning, and I noticed right away that the writing and acting improved as each season progressed. The chemistry between Morse and Lewis may have developed slowly, but now I cannot imagine the series casting any better actors for the lead roles. The characters are fallible and believable, and frankly, I never thought I could grow to love a British crime drama. Now, as for this particular episode.. the writing is superb, and the acting is absolutely tremendous. It is truly an edge-of-the-seat thriller at the end. I highly recommend it.
Best Morse episode!
zgystard15 January 2021
I'm rating this 10/10 due mostly to the very dramatic ending. Also, Morse's career is under serious attack from several fronts, leaving you totally uncertain as to whether he will be able to solve the crimes, the only way to save his professional life.
For me, the choice of music in the opening scenes is absolute genius. The episode starts with the string quartet playing the placid but somewhat depressing third movement of Debussy's quartet. Then when the action changes, the music changes to match it with the incredible, agitated and almost brutal end of the first movement.
A less noticeable but appropriate music choice is during Morse's dinner with Claire when he speaks about getting old and being forced to retire. The music is Debussy's prelude, "Footprints in the snow", a bleak little piece that perfectly matches the bleak subject.
For me, the choice of music in the opening scenes is absolute genius. The episode starts with the string quartet playing the placid but somewhat depressing third movement of Debussy's quartet. Then when the action changes, the music changes to match it with the incredible, agitated and almost brutal end of the first movement.
A less noticeable but appropriate music choice is during Morse's dinner with Claire when he speaks about getting old and being forced to retire. The music is Debussy's prelude, "Footprints in the snow", a bleak little piece that perfectly matches the bleak subject.
morse fans well know
A_Different_Drummer27 April 2022
Too complex for its own good
grantss30 September 2022
A Morse episode that started well. We have a year-old crime that appeared solved (by another DCI) as someone, Steven Parnell, had confessed to it. However, Morse had never bought the man's confession. WIth the death of Parnell and his death bed admission that he didn't commit the final crime, Morse appears vindicated. Even more so when someone connected with the case is murdered.
Morse makes some ground on the case but from a point things unravel a bit and he starts chasing his tail. He basically ends up jumping from suspect to suspect, convinced they're the guilty party.
The revelation at the end is less to do with great detective work or anything cerebral by Morse and more him just jumping from one suspect to another until something gives.
In addition, the plot by this time is so complex it's hard to know what's going on. The more twists that occurred, the less plausible and engaging it became.
Still reasonably watchable but one of the weaker Morse episodes.
Morse makes some ground on the case but from a point things unravel a bit and he starts chasing his tail. He basically ends up jumping from suspect to suspect, convinced they're the guilty party.
The revelation at the end is less to do with great detective work or anything cerebral by Morse and more him just jumping from one suspect to another until something gives.
In addition, the plot by this time is so complex it's hard to know what's going on. The more twists that occurred, the less plausible and engaging it became.
Still reasonably watchable but one of the weaker Morse episodes.
Wonderful, Meandering Plot
Hitchcoc9 March 2018
I always wonder how there can be so much animosity toward a person like Morse when he is the most successful, insightful detective imaginable. I suppose it's jealousy. There is apparently this guy running the department, who, no matter how many crimes are solved, constantly puts Morse under the microscope. I wonder what his department would look like if Morse hadn't saved his skin so many times. You do feel for Lewis. He is routinely abused and put down. He is incredibly hard working and good at what he does. Morse can be such an ungrateful ass. But in this episode, we get to see a whole cast come to the fore. We may not like most of them, but the sophistication of the plot speaks volumes. A trail of possible suspects is constantly winding here and there. A serial killer has recanted his confession to a priest and this sets it all in motion. Well done, to say the least.
"I don't want you outside the tent on this one Morse"
ygwerin128 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I am so unused to watching Morse that I am catching up on Episodes on ITV Hub.
Now I am somewhat surprised to see so few per Series.
It's a real surprise at first seeing that there were, so many Series actually made. But the greatest shock is that there were only 1 Episode per Series, for the last few made. Such that it looks like they were made more in the manner of 1 off Specials, with the inordinately long gaps between them.
Here we have Morse back to work after a break which frankly, I don't know if it's supposed to be a holiday.
Morse has apparently been relegated to being, Chief Superintendent Stranger's desk clerk.
Detective Sergeant Lewis has been teamed up, with a new DCI Martin Johnson. Lewis seems to have settled into Johnson's modus operend of police detection, and accepted it as natural.
There have been multiple murders with one man Steven Parnell, putting his hands up to all of them, However he changed his confession to responsibility for only four of them. "Not the 5th not the woman", was his rescinded statement.
Johnson and Lewis investigated the cases and believed Parnell's original confession.
Johnson knew of but preferred to ignore, Parnell's changed confession. When Strange discovered this he took Johnson off the case, and put Morse in charge.
The reformed Morse and Lewis partnership gets off to a rocky start, as Morse hasn't changed. And Lewis seems to have picked up Johnson's rationale. Morse believing the division of labour is with him as the brains, with Lewis being the brawn. Morse tending to downplay Lewis's contribution, and only realising or taking note of it when really forced to.
When Strange isn't happy with Morse progress he reversed his decision, on the insistence of his superior officer.
It makes a change for me to see Morse seeming to take as much interest, in getting to know a Claire Osborne as detection. Or is Morse simply carrying on a particular line of police enquiry?
Here we have Morse back to work after a break which frankly, I don't know if it's supposed to be a holiday.
Morse has apparently been relegated to being, Chief Superintendent Stranger's desk clerk.
Detective Sergeant Lewis has been teamed up, with a new DCI Martin Johnson. Lewis seems to have settled into Johnson's modus operend of police detection, and accepted it as natural.
There have been multiple murders with one man Steven Parnell, putting his hands up to all of them, However he changed his confession to responsibility for only four of them. "Not the 5th not the woman", was his rescinded statement.
Johnson and Lewis investigated the cases and believed Parnell's original confession.
Johnson knew of but preferred to ignore, Parnell's changed confession. When Strange discovered this he took Johnson off the case, and put Morse in charge.
The reformed Morse and Lewis partnership gets off to a rocky start, as Morse hasn't changed. And Lewis seems to have picked up Johnson's rationale. Morse believing the division of labour is with him as the brains, with Lewis being the brawn. Morse tending to downplay Lewis's contribution, and only realising or taking note of it when really forced to.
When Strange isn't happy with Morse progress he reversed his decision, on the insistence of his superior officer.
It makes a change for me to see Morse seeming to take as much interest, in getting to know a Claire Osborne as detection. Or is Morse simply carrying on a particular line of police enquiry?
If You Go Out In The Woods Today You're In For A Big Surprise.
rmax3048233 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not going to vote on the number of stars this episode deserves because my attention was swept elsewhere by a tap on the shoulder from Morpheus but I can say the opening was of some interest. Morse has been away on holiday. Lewis's style has been tainted by his having had to work with a different DCI. Apparently, a murder investigation was botched. A man, killed in prison, was held responsible for three killings of young women but confesses on his deathbed that he was innocent of one of them.
Morse, determined to get to the bottom of it, finds a body in a wooded area, where the snotty woman pathologist on the scene twits him a little. She has nothing to be so uppity about. The skeleton, assumed to be that of the missing third victim, turns out to be that of a male instead of a woman. An anthropologist could tell a grown man's skeleton from a woman's on the spot after a one-minute exam. We learned to do it in physical anthropology blindfolded, and just from the skull.
Then, there was that lapse I referred to earlier.
The climax was genuinely tense. One of the most hellish looking women on earth holding a shotgun on Lewis as he digs the grave for her last victim -- and himself -- wearing a bloody shirt. Wow, is she angry! And she has reason to be, but after all you can't just go around killing people who get in your way. Those shotgun blasts are pretty convincing, though.
Morse, determined to get to the bottom of it, finds a body in a wooded area, where the snotty woman pathologist on the scene twits him a little. She has nothing to be so uppity about. The skeleton, assumed to be that of the missing third victim, turns out to be that of a male instead of a woman. An anthropologist could tell a grown man's skeleton from a woman's on the spot after a one-minute exam. We learned to do it in physical anthropology blindfolded, and just from the skull.
Then, there was that lapse I referred to earlier.
The climax was genuinely tense. One of the most hellish looking women on earth holding a shotgun on Lewis as he digs the grave for her last victim -- and himself -- wearing a bloody shirt. Wow, is she angry! And she has reason to be, but after all you can't just go around killing people who get in your way. Those shotgun blasts are pretty convincing, though.
See also
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