Inspector Lewis (TV Series) Wild Justice (2011) User Reviews

Death of a bishop

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 12 April 2011]

This episode starts with the death of a visiting American bishop who was attending an interfaith conference in Oxford and drank from a bottle of poisoned wine; as she was a woman suspicion falls on traditionalists who aren't keen on female priests let alone bishops. As the death toll rises further motives appear and many key suspects are keeping the sort of secrets one might kill to protect. As more than one of the victims was seen with a friar shortly before their deaths the prime suspect is the friar who just happens to be in charge of the college wine cellar; of course just because somebody has motive and opportunity doesn't mean they committed the crime. While the investigation proceeds there is the question of whether Lewis, Hathaway or both of them might resign from the force.

This was another enjoyable episode that featured so many well-known actors it was impossible to pick who did it by picking the best-known actor, as is often the case in such series! As is always the case with this series the cast did a fine job and once again the city of Oxford provided a picturesque backdrop.

Season 5 continues to go strong

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 12 June 2017]

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.

As said a number of times already, 'Lewis' started off very promising with the pilot and Season 1. It was with Season 2 where 'Lewis' hit its stride with things generally feeling more settled. Season 3 was a more mixed bag, started disappointing "Allegory of Love" (though to me it was not a bad episode), before getting better with "The Quality of Mercy" and finishing well. "The Dead of Winter" was a well done start to Season 4, "Dark Matter" was to me the best episode since "Music to Die For", "Your Sudden Death Question" was solid and "Falling Darkness" was the best from that season.

"Old, Unhappy, Far Off Things" is one of the few episodes of 'Lewis' where it was difficult to find any fault, and "Wild Justice" comes close to that. While the killer's identity was a surprise and the climax not confusing or silly, the motive is pretty old-hat, not exactly a new one is it.

As always, the acting is fine, anchored by Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox. Whately is again very good and carries the episode with aplomb, advantaged by that Lewis is much more developed and as said he has more development. Clare Holman adds a lot, and Innocent has been better written over time. The supporting acting is very good, Ronald Pickup and Amelia Bullmore are standouts in very prominent roles. Daniel Ryan is decent but the character could have done with more development.

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.

Writing is smart and thought-provoking. The story is gripping with great twists and turns, lots of suspects and a higher body count than usual and there is also a real effort to properly develop all the ideas introduced rather than leaving questions in the balance, not always the case with 'Lewis'. The characters are well written and engaging.

Overall, Season 5 continues to go strong. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Some tough Murder's to solve.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 24 March 2018]

Wild Justice is a fine example of Lewis at its very best. The story is intelligent, the setting is perfect, the characters are great, and there is just enough complexity to make it interesting without being confusing. It's what I'd call a classy murder mystery, everything about it is finely tuned, nicely detailed, almost high brow. At no time do you know who the killer is, the reveal is certainly a surprise, and the route to the killer's motive is well developed. Plenty of suspects, some fine performances, Sian Phillips is glorious, so commanding in her role as Adele Goffe. Amelia Bullmore and Daniel Ryan are both excellent, and their final scene together is very gripping and well performed. Now a huge criticism, I love Ronald Pickup as a rule, he's terrific, but what was going on with his accent here, he was supposed to be Italian, but at times sounded like he'd come from Merthyr, it was shocking, the first time I've thought him give a bad performance. I can remember picking up the tomato's sign, so was glad it had a relevance in the case.

Strong episode. 8/10

Oh, those Guilt-Ridden Suspects and Tough, Tender and Secretive Detectives

[WeatherViolet · 18 September 2011]

In 1968, Oxford's Saint Gerard's College had expanded from strict Roman Catholic to interdenominational influence. While this academic institution remains headed by a priest, College Head Father Moreno Mancini (Ronald Pickup) decides to retire from his position, while consider naming a candidate from a non-Catholic faith as his successor.

Father Mancini narrows his roster of candidates to four: Brother Stephen Blackmore (Nicholas Sidi) and fellow Franciscan Friar, Vice-Regent Brother Jeremy Swain (uncredited actor), along with non-Catholic educators, Professor Joanna Pinnock (Sorcha Cusack) and Caroline Hope (Amelia Bullmore).

Caroline shares a checkered past with ex-convict Alastair Darlow (Paul Anderson), while Bishop Helen Parsons (Pamela Nomvete) visits from Portland, Oregon, while the mysterious Adele Goffe (Siân Phillips) receives an anonymous letter depicting Father Mancini in a negative light, while Gina Goffe (Amanda Ryan), daughter of Adele, and servant Felix Sansome (Daniel Ryan) tend to her care, while Ben Pinnock (uncredited actor), son of Joanna, plans his wedding for this very week.

But, before the week which Father Mancini assembles a gathering to announce his successor concludes, four bodies surface around Oxford, and fingers of suspicion point toward candidates at Saint Gerard's College and those around them.

Years earlier, in 1982, now-retired Detective Sergeant Barry Winter (Christopher Timothy) investigated the case of Sally Bond, in which a family of three perished as a result of arson. How will his return influence the case of "Wild Justice," which is translated from an Italian message found upon the body of a victim?

DI Robert Lewis (Kevin Whately) and DS James Hathaway (Laurence Fox) launch into two connecting subplots, as Robert confides with the sensitive Doctor Laura Hobson (Clare Holman) and the equally-concerned Chief Superintendent Jean Innocent (Rebecca Front) about the notion of retiring from the Oxford Police force, without revealing his reason to the audience, who learns about the possibility of a James' being suggested for an academic Julian research fellowship, which may, in turn, resign him from the force, as well.

Fans may quickly appreciate a mounting degree of tenderness being exercised by the authority figures as series regulars, here. While Laura remains invariably tender and caring, as well as James, most likely, Laura's kindhearted sensitivity seems to spread into Jean and Robert's direction, increasingly so, as the series progresses.

"Wild Justice" may, therefore, exemplify an elevated degree of the tough but tender combination, as we see Jean Innocent's becoming increasingly soft and caring toward Lewis and Hathaway's methods and concerns, as well as Lewis and Hathaway's, themselves, exercising a growing concern for the well-being of each other. Oh, and yes, the return of the purple socks may be noticed here. Their absence has become a crucial concern upon the Inspector Lewis message board during recent seasons.

Extra points for the guilt-ridden behavior of surviving suspects during the compelling and exciting denouement sequence, in which the camera itself playfully teases the audience as to whodunit.

Entertaining But Quite a Stretch

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 18 March 2018]

Obviously, one sets up come contrived plots so that the characters can move through them, exhibiting their charms and talents. Here we have a former Catholic entity, now bringing in a new order where women have the right to achieve authority. In this episode we have several murders. At the center are two of these candidates. One is a slack jawed priest who writes his own rules; the other is a woman with a strange past. Of course, the fact that two women are running in the beginning is very hard for the establishment. Once we accept that the job is reason enough for murder in a religious community, we can get on with Lewis and Hathaway trying to inveigle their ways into the case. Hathaway loves being there. He has quite the intellect but follows a blind faith that, for me, gets tiresome at times. Lewis also has issues. The conclusion is quite exciting despite being pretty dramatic.

Good mystery

[grantss · 8/10 · 26 October 2022]

At an ecumenical conference a female Bishop is murdered, poisoned. Shortly afterwards another clergyman, a candidate for the head of the college, is found murdered. There is a fair amount of rivalry and philosophical differences between the different clerics so the suspicion is that one of them did it. However, what if the female bishop wasn't the intended victim?

A pretty good episode of Lewis. A fair amount of intrigue, twists and turns. The revelation is a bit out of the blue but not as much as many other Lewis episodes.

Lewis is usually good for star-spotting and this time we have Paul Anderson, later to find fame as Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders.

Lewis may yet grow on me

[ygwerin1 · 6/10 · 8 March 2020]

After barely seeing one random episode of Inspector Lewis to check it I wasn't chuffed hence my derisory Rating of only 5/10.

I have since thought that I may have been a tad stingy so I decided to give it another go, and I picked this episode at random on the ITV Hub.

I didn't find it quite as slow and meandering as the previous episode, nor did it especially stand out. However it did remind me somewhat of Inspector Morse, in its tone and manner. Such that I have decided to view a few more episodes, to be able to properly judge Lewis. I have decided to tweak my Rating for this episode and may well do likewise with subsequent episodes.

The episode has a reasonably interesting story well written and told, and I found myself drawn into it to follow the tale. Which In itself is an improvement over the previous episode, where I found it hard to get involved as I was distracted by its slow pace.

Great Story and acting but historical DRIVEL!

[rhriggs52 · 8/10 · 2 December 2019]

There were no Catholic Colleges at Oxford after the Reformation. In 1886 they allow non Anglican formations to exist . there are now three. None are called St. Gerards. The writers would never risk a lawsuit by using the name of a real College.

And justice for all...

[safenoe · 7/10 · 23 November 2020]

Crime and punishment and retribution is at the heart of this episode. What is justice when the perpetrator has served her time in this episode? How far do we need to go back to right the scales? This set amongst a Catholic college at Oxford University, St. Gerard's (which is fictional by the way) where there's an election for the College head that gets really cut-throat in a literal way.

Maybe one day Lewis can be rebooted please for these more contemporary times. If so, Danny Dyer should be cast as Lewis, with Ant or Dec playing Hathaway. They can investigate crimes around Oxford Brookes University (no relation to Oxford University) and crime ridden areas in Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Wood Farm (especially the area behind Awgar Stone Road).

"We'll pray for her soul...after pudding."

[vitoscotti · 9/10 · 19 February 2024]

The hidden heinous child crime reveal now an upstanding citizen has been done by many of the classic British detective mysteries. The crime is usually quite gruesome for shock value which can be a little too much detail. It was done in better taste here than most.

The story was a wonderful follow picking up the clue pieces along the way. Solid writing, pacing and clue reveals. I especially liked the large number of possible villians held on to until finally whittled down.

Besides the strong writing the highlight was the excellent cast of characters all with unique devilish sides. I especially enjoyed stunning Amelia Bullmore as Caroline Hope who bares a striking resemblance to Bess Armstrong..

Not much pretty Clare Holman as Dr. Laura Hobson one of few faults to a top-notch episode.

Can they portray religious themes more accurately and sympathetically?

[paulfford-1 · 4/10 · 26 September 2011]

I love "Inspector Lewis"; but I am growing less and less satisfied with the portrayal of religion, especially Christianity, in the series. Yes, the UK is post-Christian and all that, but greater fastidiousness is also characteristic of British sensibilities.

Yes, "Wild Justice" correctly distinguishes friars from monks and correctly identifies Saint Gerard's College as a permanent private hall.

A little digging would have uncovered the fact that Gerard was an eighteenth-century Italian saint, a sentimental favorite patron of expectant mothers but hardly in the same intellectual league with Dominic of Blackfriars or Benedict of Saint Benet's Hall.

But the carrying of a monstrance, without any of the trappings of adoration, at the head of an academic procession is upsetting to RC sensibilities. This RC professor of theology was upset, anyway.

Surely the producers and art directors could have asked for some trustworthy advice in these matters. Hathaway's character deserves better.