Lewis

[altariel]

I really do like Lewis, which is as enjoyable and attractively made as Inspector Morse, but doesn’t have that miserable misogynist snob spoiling my fun. I like it even though they cruelly bumped off Lewis’ missus at the start of the first episode, just so that he could pretend he was mourning her and not Morse, which I probably shouldn’t like for all sorts of reasons.

I also like how the Lewis-Hathaway relationship replicates the Morse-Lewis one, only this time the over-educated misanthrope is the junior partner. It makes you believe that this dynamic stretches back and back, even unto the Middle Ages, where the medieval equivalent of a grumpy grammar school boy and a put-upon working class boy are forever together in the green wood, fighting crime.

Last week’s episode, “The Point of Vanishing” made much use of The Hunt in the Forest by Paolo Uccello. It made me think of Pauline Baynes’ illustrations for the Narnia books, particularly the end of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, when the young kings and queens of Narnia go on a hunt in a forest and vanish from the world. Lewis did an episode about the Inklings at the start of the season: I’m surprised that’s not turned up in the Morse-verse before.

Comments

[toft-froggy.livejournal.com]

I also like how the Lewis-Hathaway relationship replicates the Morse-Lewis one, only this time the over-educated misanthrope is the junior partner. It makes you believe that this dynamic stretches back and back, even unto the Middle Ages, where the medieval equivalent of a grumpy grammar school boy and a put-upon working class boy are forever together in the green wood, fighting crime.

A STORY ETERNALLY RETOLD. It could be like Highlander! There can be only one over-educated misanthrope at a time! Did the junior partner cut off Morse's head?

[kathyh]

doesn’t have that miserable misogynist snob spoiling my fun.

LOL. Yes. I don't think I realised it while I was watching it but Morse really was a misery. With "Lewis" I can sit back and enjoy the series, the slightly unlikely mysteries and the Lewis-Hathaway dynamic without cringing for poor Lewis the entire time.

the medieval equivalent of a grumpy grammar school boy and a put-upon working class boy are forever together in the green wood, fighting crime.

Ever thought of writing a history mystery :)

[hafren.livejournal.com]

Pauline Baynes’ illustrations for the Narnia books

How did she manage to make Lucy dark and Susan blonde, when Lewis clearly says it's the other way around? And why didn't he notice and get it corrected?

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Lewis's initials aren't CS by any chance? Or could he be CS's child or grandchild?

It makes you believe that this dynamic stretches back and back, even unto the Middle Ages, where the medieval equivalent of a grumpy grammar school boy and a put-upon working class boy are forever together in the green wood, fighting crime.

Robin Hood and Little John might fit those descriptions, except that Robin Hood isn't normally portrayed as particularly grumpy. He has generally come across as being quite posh, though.

[paranoidangel]

I'm not sure I watched that much Morse - I don't remember watching much of it anyway. But Lewis is really good and I really enjoy it. I like Lewis complaining about all the academics etc and having to deal with all these supposedly intelligent people. Also these days I can spend lots of time going 'been there' at large parts of it.

[qatsi.livejournal.com]

Yes, I enjoy it too (though it clashes with RamotsweThe No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and so I am behind on watching it).

I've noticed the re-emergence of Morse's Law (Our Hero is about to become romantically embroiled with either the next victim or the killer). On the contrasts front, Chief Superintendent Strange has been replaced by a more politically correct boss; whilst I can imagine her taking the afternoon off, it wouldn't be to go Golfing with the Lord Lieutenant (unless that's a euphamism with which I am unfamiliar).

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

It's one of my few Must Watches, on account of being cheery & predictable, yet well made. I didn't like the way they de-gayed Hathaway in 'The Point of Vanishing', though perhaps looking back he was only ever gay in my head.

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

I can never go into the Ashmolean (one of the joys of living in Oxford, it's almost as much fun as the Fitz) without going to have a look at A Hunt in the Forest. There's something about that very extreme use of perspective, with everything shrinking away towards the vanishing point in the darkness, that almost literally tries to suck you into the painting - it's addictive.

And you're quite right, though I'd never thought of it before, there is something reminiscent of Baynes - her drawing of human figures is rather graceful in a Uccello way, though I think Uccello is more robust, particularly in his use of colour. (I've always found Baynes's illustrations rather weedy for my taste somehow: I don't mind them in Narnia too much, but when applied to Middle-earth they always feel twee beyond belief.) As you say, I'm sure in that particular painting it's the combination of the dark forest setting and the vanishing motif which particularly says "Narnia!"

[sherlock1.livejournal.com]

Loving Lewis, although it's 50% great fun and 50% shite. The interplay between Hathaway and Lewis provides most of my joy I think. Read an interview with them awhile ago in the Radio Times, and they are obviously hugely fond of one another in real life.

Felt a bit of deja vu at Sunday's plot (old rockers). Sure I've seen an almost identical Midsomer Murders story. Still, think Lewis is morphing into Midsomer Murders, so it's hardly surprising.

Maybe one day they'll have a one-off drama about a police conference in, say, the Cotswolds, and Barnaby will turn up, along with Lewis, Hathaway, everyone from New Tricks (who have also done an 'old rockers' episode if I'm not mistaken) and Frost. And Miss Marple will happen to be staying at the same hotel, and Columbo will turn up to do a masterclass in how to interrogate suspects without them realising they're being interrogated. Brilliant.

On another note (well, not really), how did you enjoy the series of L&O UK as a whole?