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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
When Inspector Morse first appeared on television in 1987, nobody could have predicted that it would run into the next century, maintaining throughout a quality of scripts and storylines that raised the genre of the detective series to a new level. Much of its success can be attributed to John Thaw's total immersion in the role. Morse is a prickly character and not obviously easy to like. As a detective in Oxford with unfulfilled academic propensities, he is permanently excluded from a world of which he would dearly love to be a part. He is at odds with that world--and with his colleagues in the police force--most of the time. Passionate about opera and "proper beer", he is a cultural snob for whom vulgarity causes almost physical pain. As a result, he lives from one disillusionment to the next. And he is scarred--more deeply than he would ever admit--by past relationships. But he also has a naïve streak and, deep down, sensitivity, which makes him a fascinating challenge for women.
At the heart of Morse's professional life is his awkward partnership with Detective Sergeant Lewis, the resolutely ordinary, worldly sidekick who manages to keep his boss in an almost permanent state of exasperation while retaining his grudging respect. It's a testament to Kevin Whateley's consistently excellent performance that from such unpromising material Lewis becomes as indispensable to the series as Barrington Pheloung's hypnotic, classic theme music. Morse's investigations do occasionally take him abroad to more exotic locations, but throughout 14 successful years of often gruesome murders, the city of Oxford itself became a central character in these brooding two-hour dramas: creator Colin Dexter stating he finally had to kill Morse off because he was giving Oxford a bad reputation as a dangerous place! -- Piers Ford
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
12 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Convenient Culprit
21 Dec 2004
Format:DVD
This mystery opens with the killing of an inmate (Parnell) who had confessed to five murders and was awaiting trial. However, at the point of death, the inmate recanted his confession regarding the last apparent victim--- a missing young woman whose body was never found even though her handbag was retrieved. The Parnell case had been originally investigated by Chief Inspector Johnson and Sergeant Lewis, with no involvement by Morse. Was Parnell involved in the fifth case or merely a convenient culprit? Morse, who had never been convinced that Parnell had murdered the missing woman, pursues his own independent (and unofficial) inquiries by questioning the man (George) who found the handbag. As a result of Morse's indagation, George is found murdered shortly afterwards and a sordid mixture of factors emerge (pornography, adultery, and possible rape and blackmail) which may be relevant to his death and the case of the missing woman. We are presented with several possible suspects and paths of inquiry as the two cases intersect. This installment in the series is particularly satisfying in that the viewer is kept guessing until the end when the relevant issues are fully clarified. One aspect of this mystery which distinguishes it from the other Morse episodes is the degree to which Morse and Lewis clash--- as Lewis expresses pent up resentment over what he regards as characteristically arrogant and unappreciative treatment by the Chief Inspector. Ultimately, their relationship is affirmed as their collaborative efforts resolve the intertwined cases.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A classic
16 Jan 2006
Format:DVD
The Way Through The Woods is an example of the Inspector Morse series at its very best: a police-procedural mystery that takes one unexpected turn after another, built around complex, three-dimensional characters -- well written and impeccably acted. The tale develops urgency as it unfolds, both from the developments in the murder case and the dynamics between Morse, Lewis, et al., all working together to produce an intense payoff. Top-notch storytelling in every way.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Intriguing. Suspenseful. Tantalizing. Satisfying.
6 July 2005
Format:DVD
Chief Inspector Morse is a curmudgeon. He is an aging, irritable bachelor with a keen sense of smell for murder. Just the right character to solve this mystery. Layer upon layer of lies, deception, and intrigue shield the truth from the casual observer.
Parnell confesses to five murders but had comitted only four. It takes a death bed recantation to spur the police into action. Even then, only Morse has the perseverance to follow the thin trail of evidence to its conclusion. A "closed case" suddenly opens into a profound mystery worthy of the talents of DCI Morse.
Well-acted, beautifully filmed, and with typically understated British humor, "A Walk Through the Woods" is very engaging and enjoyable.
Parnell confesses to five murders but had comitted only four. It takes a death bed recantation to spur the police into action. Even then, only Morse has the perseverance to follow the thin trail of evidence to its conclusion. A "closed case" suddenly opens into a profound mystery worthy of the talents of DCI Morse.
Well-acted, beautifully filmed, and with typically understated British humor, "A Walk Through the Woods" is very engaging and enjoyable.
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