Hearing about 'Lewis' for the first time when it first started, there was a big touch of excitement seeing as 'Inspector Morse' was and still is one of my favourites but also a little intrepidation, wondering whether the series would be as good. The good news is, like the prequel series 'Endeavour', 'Lewis' is every bit as good as 'Inspector Morse' and stands very well on its own two feet as a detective mystery and show in general.
'Lewis' was a show that started off promisingly with the pilot and the first season, while getting even better with a more settled Season 2 where the show hit its stride. Season 3 was more of a mixed bag (not a bad season at all, but started a little disappointingly, though better than reputed, with one of the show's generally lesser episodes "Allegory of Love"). Season 4 generally was one of the better seasons of 'Lewis', with all the episodes very good to great, and Season 5 was solid with the only disappointment being "The Mind Has Mountains".
Season 6 started off very well with "The Soul of Genius", while "Generation of Vipers" was even better. Unfortunately, "Fearful Symmetry" was very disappointing and has always been one of my least favourite 'Lewis' episodes. On the other side of the coin, fortunately the season gets back on track with a great finale and its best episode "The Indelible Stain".
The show's seventh season has suffered from the rather bizarre decision to split its three episodes into two halves, meaning having to wait until the next week until the conclusion. In all three of the Season 7 episodes, this has proved to be rather awkward and in "Down Among the Fearful" and "The Ramblin' Boy" ran the risk of forgetting what happened previously and being even more confused by events and who the characters were. "Intelligent Design" however was much better and easily the best of that season.
"Entry Wounds" signals the return of Lewis, with him coming out of retirement assisting a now promoted Hathaway. It was great to see him back, but judging from the first half of "Entry Wounds" he deserved a better episode to return to. Not a bad episode by all means, but it just isn't the same.
Chemistry between Lewis and Hathaway, as has been said already, has had much more spark, unfortunately it's pretty much bland at best and barely existent at worst. This is further disadvantaged by the dynamic not being there, Lewis feels more like a supporting character here but at least he's in character, being suitably world weary. Hathaway however is out of character and he is focused on a little too much, he's too serious, ill at ease and he has been much more logical and less rude (somewhat). All of this is enough to bring the first half of the episode down significantly.
Like most of Season 8, the decision to split the episode into two halves is still an odd one and doesn't really come off. It doesn't feel that rounded off and in the first half the pace could have been tighter and not everything or everybody is as easy to follow as ought. Hathaway has a new partner in Maddox, she is not a particularly interesting character and the two's chemistry has nothing on the chemistry of Lewis and Hathaway at its best.
However, the acting is good. Not just from always reliable Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox, doing quite well with what he was given to work with, but also from the supporting cast. Really like Clare Holman still and her chemistry with Lewis.
Production values are of very high quality. It's beautifully shot as always, and Oxford not only looks exquisite but is like a supporting character in itself. Barrington Pheloung returns as composer, and does a first-rate job. The theme tune, while not as iconic or quite as clever as Morse's, is very pleasant to listen to, the episode is charmingly and hauntingly scored and the use of pre-existing music is very well-incorporated.
Some of the writing intrigues and some of the story compels, just not consistently enough.
Overall, a slightly above average first half, but, while a better episode than "Allegory of Love" and particularly "Fearful Symmetry", Lewis did deserve a better return. 6/10 Bethany Cox
7 out of 24 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
