The fundamental reason for the activities of the people involved is so beyond pure reason, it is almost laughable. Still, the writer puts together a tale of alchemy and the religious world, pulling in all elements. I can buy into the skills of detecting, but sometimes Lewis and Hathaway are able to move way beyond the normal realms of possibility. One big problem for me is the portrayal of the one who turns out to be the murderer. He/she is hard to accept when all is said and done. My concern is the incredible expertise and skill that was necessary. I have enjoyed this series, there apparently being only one episode left, but I may find myself on the side of those who say it needed to end. I watched "Endeavour" before the "Inspector Morse" series and am glad that the canon continued, even though we were dealing with a prequel.
7 Reviews
Alchemy in Oxford
Tweekums1 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Hathaway and Lewis are called in when an academic is found murdered; on the body they find a tattoo featuring an alchemic symbol. At first it is just thought to be a simple tattoo but when a second body bearing the same symbol is found it becomes obvious that it is much more than that. There is a society whose members each have the tattoo and they are all being targeted for some reason. As the investigation proceeds there are more deaths and we learn that the group had all performed a ritual which was meant to grant them forgiveness
but what for and assuming that this is related to the murders who doesn't think they deserve forgiveness. Away from the main story Hathaway is still dealing with his father's deteriorating condition and isn't impressing his new boss.
This is a fairly standard 'Lewis' story; not that that is a bad thing. We have a society with a secret so as the story progresses we aren't just guessing who the killer is but what their motivation is. The ritual elements to the deaths make them interesting and not particularly disturbing. There are plenty of suspects to keep the viewer guessing; some of whom end up dead almost as soon as they become suspected! The cast do a solid job making the story believable even when it is really rather far-fetched in the way that most murder mysteries are. Overall I'd say that this was a solid enough story that fans are likely to enjoy.
This is a fairly standard 'Lewis' story; not that that is a bad thing. We have a society with a secret so as the story progresses we aren't just guessing who the killer is but what their motivation is. The ritual elements to the deaths make them interesting and not particularly disturbing. There are plenty of suspects to keep the viewer guessing; some of whom end up dead almost as soon as they become suspected! The cast do a solid job making the story believable even when it is really rather far-fetched in the way that most murder mysteries are. Overall I'd say that this was a solid enough story that fans are likely to enjoy.
Guest starring Isaballe Laughland
safenoe6 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I'm a big fan of Lewis, and having spent some time in Oxford, I know that Lewis presents Oxford through the lens of the cloistered world of Oxford University with some filming in fancy suburbs like Jericho and Summertown in the North of Oxford, and the countryside. But rarely do you see scenes in Cowley, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys (Cowley's just a stone's throw from Magdalene College) where Lewis would be working 24/7 to crack down on thuggery big time. I chuckled when one of the characters in a previous episode fleetingly referred to "Cowley", wich sums up the Oxford University world of Lewis. Still, Lewis is entertaining.
In this episode there's a subplot of a LGBTI secret relationship which gets exposed at the end just as we get close to finding the murderer.
The ending was quite gripping and involved revenge as a motive big time. The murderer sure know his/her alchemy that's for sure.
Rebecca Front was unable to return for season 9.
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).
In this episode there's a subplot of a LGBTI secret relationship which gets exposed at the end just as we get close to finding the murderer.
The ending was quite gripping and involved revenge as a motive big time. The murderer sure know his/her alchemy that's for sure.
Rebecca Front was unable to return for season 9.
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).
Magnum Opus: The second half
TheLittleSongbird2 July 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 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" was decent if unexceptional, with things getting better with "The Lions of Nemea" (although that didn't wow me either). "Beyond Good and Evil" is generally the best episode of Season 8.
"One For Sorrow" was a promising start to the ninth and final season, and the succeeding episode "Magnum Opus" while a long way from great was also decent. The premise is not exactly a new one and does see some over-familiar scenes and moments that could have done with more freshness.
Really don't care for the character of Maddox still, she is bland and doesn't gel and Angela Griffin's acting doesn't make me feel any different. A big turn off here was Hathaway's unusual grumpiness and rudeness, there is more explanation provided as to the reason but it still felt out of character.
The ending does lack a little emotional punch, partly because of some anaemic acting from the murderer in a role wanting of more menace and pathos, and felt a little rushed and over-stuffed, starting having things explained earlier would have helped.
As always however 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.
Moody seems to be settling in well and one doesn't miss Innocent too much. The support acting is good, especially from Honeysuckle Weeks and Stephen Boxer seeming to be really enjoying himself.
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 is mostly compelling and suitably twisty without being too convoluted. Despite the predictability, the Charles Williams references were fun and the modus operandi provides some chills and more grisly than usual (while not feeling too out of place), the third corpse in particular.
Overall, decent but unexceptional. 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 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" was decent if unexceptional, with things getting better with "The Lions of Nemea" (although that didn't wow me either). "Beyond Good and Evil" is generally the best episode of Season 8.
"One For Sorrow" was a promising start to the ninth and final season, and the succeeding episode "Magnum Opus" while a long way from great was also decent. The premise is not exactly a new one and does see some over-familiar scenes and moments that could have done with more freshness.
Really don't care for the character of Maddox still, she is bland and doesn't gel and Angela Griffin's acting doesn't make me feel any different. A big turn off here was Hathaway's unusual grumpiness and rudeness, there is more explanation provided as to the reason but it still felt out of character.
The ending does lack a little emotional punch, partly because of some anaemic acting from the murderer in a role wanting of more menace and pathos, and felt a little rushed and over-stuffed, starting having things explained earlier would have helped.
As always however 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.
Moody seems to be settling in well and one doesn't miss Innocent too much. The support acting is good, especially from Honeysuckle Weeks and Stephen Boxer seeming to be really enjoying himself.
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 is mostly compelling and suitably twisty without being too convoluted. Despite the predictability, the Charles Williams references were fun and the modus operandi provides some chills and more grisly than usual (while not feeling too out of place), the third corpse in particular.
Overall, decent but unexceptional. 7/10 Bethany Cox
An average conclusion.
Sleepin_Dragon16 March 2021
I hardly ever criticise Lewis, or indeed anything from the whole Morse canon, but this second episode of Magnum Opus had me scratching my head. It's Lewis, so of course it's watchable, will acted, and beautifully made, but the story sucked, I can deal with far fetched, but this one stretched things just a little too far.
The story going in to this episode was good, I was intrigued, and curious, baffled by all of the religious/cult content, but it just all fizzled out, and that ending was absurd.
I am an adoring fan of Honeysuckle Weeks, but I didn't rate her here, for me, she wasn't right for the past.
This is the first time the show has looked tired, sorry, I didn't rate this, 5/10.
The story going in to this episode was good, I was intrigued, and curious, baffled by all of the religious/cult content, but it just all fizzled out, and that ending was absurd.
I am an adoring fan of Honeysuckle Weeks, but I didn't rate her here, for me, she wasn't right for the past.
This is the first time the show has looked tired, sorry, I didn't rate this, 5/10.
The Nine Seasons of the Kingdom of Shadows
frukuk6 April 2023
As others have said, once the murderer is revealed, it seems hard to square their motivation with the elaborate nature of the murders. OK, you could argue that there is a "genetic" predisposition, but it feels more like the elaborate murders are just there in order to make the story more interesting.
I think it's fair criticism to say that it's virtually impossible to work out the motivation for the murders before an essential piece of information is revealed towards the very end (of part 2) of this story. But, there is some signalling that there's perhaps something in the past of one of the characters that suggests that something "occult" -- in the non-esoteric sense -- is actually the driving force behind the murders.
(It was interesting to see Foyle's War's Honeysuckle Weeks here and somewhat ironic in that she played Foyle's driver in that show.)
I think it's fair criticism to say that it's virtually impossible to work out the motivation for the murders before an essential piece of information is revealed towards the very end (of part 2) of this story. But, there is some signalling that there's perhaps something in the past of one of the characters that suggests that something "occult" -- in the non-esoteric sense -- is actually the driving force behind the murders.
(It was interesting to see Foyle's War's Honeysuckle Weeks here and somewhat ironic in that she played Foyle's driver in that show.)
Rather boring 2 part episode.
lizzieqever28 January 2024
I've found the last couple seasons of Lewis to be rather boring. I was able to guess the murderer(s), so that's always a plus, though it was more of a reasonable guess.
The premise of this was rather stupid. Some kind of a weird secretive group looking for forgiveness. This is basic Christianity. I don't know why you'd develop so weird secret society around forgiveness. Just go to any decent church. Maybe decent Christian churches are really rare in modern England?
In case anyone doesn't know, basic Christianity is Jesus died for the sins of everyone. It's a free gift, all anyone has to do is accept his sacrifice.
This one felt more like a bad midsommer murder mystery. Acting was solid as usual.
The premise of this was rather stupid. Some kind of a weird secretive group looking for forgiveness. This is basic Christianity. I don't know why you'd develop so weird secret society around forgiveness. Just go to any decent church. Maybe decent Christian churches are really rare in modern England?
In case anyone doesn't know, basic Christianity is Jesus died for the sins of everyone. It's a free gift, all anyone has to do is accept his sacrifice.
This one felt more like a bad midsommer murder mystery. Acting was solid as usual.
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