These comments refer to the whole two part story, not just the second episode:
Some time has passed since what was supposed to be the 'final' episode; Lewis is now retired and living with pathologist Laura Hobson and Hathaway has been promoted to Detective Inspector with new character DS Lizzie Maddox working under him. Inevitable Lewis' retirement doesn't last long as DS Innocent invites him to help them with a case without mentioning it to Hathaway first!
The first investigation of the season involves a neurosurgeon who has been shot. A few suspects soon arise; the parents of a child who suffered serious brain damage after an operation went wrong, animal rights activists who object to hunting taking place on his land and a colleague. It looks as if the last of these is the killer when a bullet from his rifle matches one recovered from the victim. He is taken into custody but is then taken ill and escapes from hospital. He isn't free for long though as he is soon found with a bullet in his head; a bullet from the same rifle which is still in police possession!
Like many viewers I was a little sad when it looked as though the previous story was the last ever so I was rather pleased when I saw it was returning for a new series. I was also a little wary; how would they overcome the fact that the two protagonists had apparently left the police and once it had them back together would the dynamic be changed? Thankfully getting them back was handled quickly and effectively and the inevitable changes in their relationship proved to be fine character development; Hathaway is no longer the junior but he doesn't begrudge his former boss returning. There is also a new dynamic as Hathaway must work with his new sergeant; if he can just learn that being in charge means delegating some tasks to one's junior. The case itself was fairly standard for the series with plenty of disparate suspects to choose from. There was also the secondary puzzle as to how the second victim could have been killed by a bullet which matched a rifle that was in police custody; a mystery that was perhaps more fascinating than the identification of the killer. Overall I'd say this was a welcome return for this long running series; it is just a pity ITV showed it in two hour-long episodes rather than as a single two hour episode.
Some time has passed since what was supposed to be the 'final' episode; Lewis is now retired and living with pathologist Laura Hobson and Hathaway has been promoted to Detective Inspector with new character DS Lizzie Maddox working under him. Inevitable Lewis' retirement doesn't last long as DS Innocent invites him to help them with a case without mentioning it to Hathaway first!
The first investigation of the season involves a neurosurgeon who has been shot. A few suspects soon arise; the parents of a child who suffered serious brain damage after an operation went wrong, animal rights activists who object to hunting taking place on his land and a colleague. It looks as if the last of these is the killer when a bullet from his rifle matches one recovered from the victim. He is taken into custody but is then taken ill and escapes from hospital. He isn't free for long though as he is soon found with a bullet in his head; a bullet from the same rifle which is still in police possession!
Like many viewers I was a little sad when it looked as though the previous story was the last ever so I was rather pleased when I saw it was returning for a new series. I was also a little wary; how would they overcome the fact that the two protagonists had apparently left the police and once it had them back together would the dynamic be changed? Thankfully getting them back was handled quickly and effectively and the inevitable changes in their relationship proved to be fine character development; Hathaway is no longer the junior but he doesn't begrudge his former boss returning. There is also a new dynamic as Hathaway must work with his new sergeant; if he can just learn that being in charge means delegating some tasks to one's junior. The case itself was fairly standard for the series with plenty of disparate suspects to choose from. There was also the secondary puzzle as to how the second victim could have been killed by a bullet which matched a rifle that was in police custody; a mystery that was perhaps more fascinating than the identification of the killer. Overall I'd say this was a welcome return for this long running series; it is just a pity ITV showed it in two hour-long episodes rather than as a single two hour episode.
