The first half of this is about a group of graduate students and a couple professors. They are damaged people who have little respect for those around them. One day a young woman is killed and Lewis and Hathaway are thrust into this world. A girl has a rare disease that seems to factor in their poor decision making. If the characters had shown compassion instead of selfishness, this evil would never have rested here.
4 Reviews
Great return to form
grantss7 November 2022
(Review is of both parts).
A young woman is murdered, stabbed to death. Suspicion immediately falls on her boyfriend, a married professor, whom she'd just argued with and then tried to run over with her car. However, he has a solid alibi. Other than that, who could possibly have a motive to kill her?
I initially wasn't impressed with the new Lewis-and-Hathaway-as-equals structure that was revealed in Episode 1 of this season. It smacked of the producers trying to wring the last remaining dollar out of the show when its natural end was after Episode 6 of Season 7. Furthermore the plot to Episodes 1 and 2 of Season 8 was far-fetched and overly complex.
However, this, Episodes 3 and 4, gets things back on track, more or less. We still have the too-many-chiefs scenario with both Lewis and Hathaway handling cases while being the same rank. It seems to be working now though. Newcomer DS Griffin is a great addition and seems to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks due to the joint leader setup.
The plot is also very good. Intriguing, plausible and we have a good build up to the conclusion. No rabbits out of the hat at the last minute (unlike many Lewis, and Morse, episodes).
Great episode.
A young woman is murdered, stabbed to death. Suspicion immediately falls on her boyfriend, a married professor, whom she'd just argued with and then tried to run over with her car. However, he has a solid alibi. Other than that, who could possibly have a motive to kill her?
I initially wasn't impressed with the new Lewis-and-Hathaway-as-equals structure that was revealed in Episode 1 of this season. It smacked of the producers trying to wring the last remaining dollar out of the show when its natural end was after Episode 6 of Season 7. Furthermore the plot to Episodes 1 and 2 of Season 8 was far-fetched and overly complex.
However, this, Episodes 3 and 4, gets things back on track, more or less. We still have the too-many-chiefs scenario with both Lewis and Hathaway handling cases while being the same rank. It seems to be working now though. Newcomer DS Griffin is a great addition and seems to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks due to the joint leader setup.
The plot is also very good. Intriguing, plausible and we have a good build up to the conclusion. No rabbits out of the hat at the last minute (unlike many Lewis, and Morse, episodes).
Great episode.
The Lions of Nemea: The first half
TheLittleSongbird28 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.
'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.
After a decent if unexceptional start to the eighth season in "Entry Wounds"), which saw Lewis come out of retirement and while still worthwhile he did deserve a better return, "The Lions of Nemea" generally is an improvement. It is not one of the best episodes of 'Lewis' by any stretch, and what made the best episodes so good when the show was in its prime is not all there.
While most of the compelling is compelling and easy to follow, maybe there are slightly too many elements and a couple of them on the predictable, derivative side. Pacing could have tightened too in places.
Maddox is still not an interesting character (also questioned the need for her here actually), she also isn't gelling and both the character and Angela Griffin's acting is bland and somewhat annoying.
As always the acting is solid, on the other hand, with Kevin Whately very good and Laurence Fox a breath of fresh air. Their chemistry is wholly convincing, always a huge part of the show's charm, with a strong contrast between Lewis being the world weary one with the hunches and Hathaway being the more logical and witty. Really like the chemistry between Lewis and Hobson (Clare Holman doesn't disappoint) too, and that Hobson's character has expanded for the better overtime in the show. Likewise with Innocent being much softer than she was when 'Lewis' first started.
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 is thoughtful and fun and the story has enough very compelling moments. The supporting acting is solid.
Overall, good. 7/10 Bethany Cox
'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.
After a decent if unexceptional start to the eighth season in "Entry Wounds"), which saw Lewis come out of retirement and while still worthwhile he did deserve a better return, "The Lions of Nemea" generally is an improvement. It is not one of the best episodes of 'Lewis' by any stretch, and what made the best episodes so good when the show was in its prime is not all there.
While most of the compelling is compelling and easy to follow, maybe there are slightly too many elements and a couple of them on the predictable, derivative side. Pacing could have tightened too in places.
Maddox is still not an interesting character (also questioned the need for her here actually), she also isn't gelling and both the character and Angela Griffin's acting is bland and somewhat annoying.
As always the acting is solid, on the other hand, with Kevin Whately very good and Laurence Fox a breath of fresh air. Their chemistry is wholly convincing, always a huge part of the show's charm, with a strong contrast between Lewis being the world weary one with the hunches and Hathaway being the more logical and witty. Really like the chemistry between Lewis and Hobson (Clare Holman doesn't disappoint) too, and that Hobson's character has expanded for the better overtime in the show. Likewise with Innocent being much softer than she was when 'Lewis' first started.
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 is thoughtful and fun and the story has enough very compelling moments. The supporting acting is solid.
Overall, good. 7/10 Bethany Cox
A pretty good start.
Sleepin_Dragon14 November 2019
Student Rose Anderson is killed whilst out jogging. Who's F, is it lecturer Felix? and who's attempted to kill him?
It's very well made, a terrifically solid production, it's very well acted, Clive Merrison is particularly good. It just doesn't sparkle as the show did in its early years, this installment if I'm honest I found a little bit flat. It is elevated by the presence of the wonderful John Light.
Angela Griffin was a good addition to the team, she was perhaps a better actress then the part allowed, although all were overshadowed by Fox.
A fairly good watch. 6/10
It's very well made, a terrifically solid production, it's very well acted, Clive Merrison is particularly good. It just doesn't sparkle as the show did in its early years, this installment if I'm honest I found a little bit flat. It is elevated by the presence of the wonderful John Light.
Angela Griffin was a good addition to the team, she was perhaps a better actress then the part allowed, although all were overshadowed by Fox.
A fairly good watch. 6/10
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