[.ca] Mystery!: Inspector Lewis

Amazon.ca:
Inspector Lewis is a very satisfying follow-up to the legacy ofInspector Morse, the late investigator (played by John Thaw, who died in 2002) beloved by many a fan of British television mysteries. Lewis (Kevin Whatley) was Morse's right-hand sergeant. Following the elder sleuth's death, Lewis was promoted but then faced the sudden and unexpected loss of his wife. Inspector Lewis catches up with him upon his jet-lagged return from a two-year assignment in the British Virgin Islands. Destined to be put out to pasture as an instructor at detective school, Lewis instead gets caught up in a murder case that overlaps with an old, strangely yet apparently unresolved investigation by Morse. Joined by a new character, Detective Sergeant James Hathaway (Laurence Fox), Lewis looks into the murder of a brilliant American student at Oxford and her connection to the survivors of a racing legend killed, years before, under questionable circumstances. A coffee-stained, cryptic note in Morse's hand could provide a valuable clue, but fans of Morse holding any doubts about a possible new series built around Lewis will see this determined and hugely likable fellow come into his own. Lewis's emerging partnership with Hathaway is one of the real delights of this drama. The younger man, a former seminarian, and Lewis, who lost religious faith following his family tragedy, manage to find some ground for mutual respect and appreciation. --Tom Keogh

Surprisingly - an improvement over Morse -- JUST!:
I was a long time fan of Inspector Morse and Sergeant Lewis. I have the entire 'Morse' series on DVD! I never expected to find a serious challenger to 'Morse' - or, to the entire production of 'Morse'. I've been found wrong! Lewis, while being his own man, comes out ahead of his mentor - by virtue of the fact that where Morse was virtually infallible, Lewis is fallible. Additionally, Lewis treats his 'side-kick' Sergeant more humanely - and, therefor, more believably than Morse treated Lewis. Lewis, additionally, can take advice and, even, criticism! It is a brilliant piece of Production nous, that the writers have 'killed off' Lewis's wife. She could well have proved an extravagance - an unnecessary extravagance. (While Chief Inspector Barnaby's writers - in the 'Midsomer Murder Mysteries' - cope well with a wife and daughter, invariably they only clog a series dialogue. Barnaby gets away with it, Lewis, would fail so to do). I feel the production crew are to be highly commended, for having Lewis now cast as a widower - even a young widower! In summary, 'Inspector Lewis' is a superb show, in the highest traditions of British Detection fiction.

The uninterrupted UK version would have been better put to DVD!:
This is a fine continuation of the Inspector Morse series. This review is not a critique of the story but this annoyingly cut DVD. Instead of recording the episodes straight onto DVD, as was done with the Inspector Morse series, the mistake has been made of recording the US-aired version from PBS' Mystery. None of the story has been omitted, but one has to endure the tedious PBS Mystery introduction, which has no chapter break to separate it, and we don't hear the originally composed music ending the show. This kind of thing is hugely unnecessary. Fans don't want the PBS Mystery interruptions and rushed editing (perhaps an attempt to advertize PBS' show to Inspector Lewis fans), but just the show itself with all the little touches, including the appropriate fade into the end theme music. I don't think it's too much to ask.

Riviting:
Inspector Lewis is a wonderful continuation of the Inspector Morse series. Kevin gives a surperb performance as Inspector Lewis. It puts Lewis in charge of the investigation instead of being "second fiddle" and showing he is quite capable of making senior decisions. It's nice to see Lewis come into his own. I hope there will be more in this series.

An Excellent Successor to Morse! Well Done!:
I wasn't sure about ordering this dvd. I had my fingers crossed that it would be an acceptable production probably falling short of the beloved Morse stories. I was so wrong! This is a legitimate heir to Morse, a wonderful homecoming for Lewis, and Lewis's new sidekick so wonderfully familiar (Morse-ism's and habits). I heartily endorse and applaud this new series! Morse would be pleased.