Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Inspector Lewis: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie Review

No need to start at the beginning.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 22, 2014

Because of the erratic nature of Blu-ray review assignments, there are times when a critic is presented with a program they aren’t necessarily familiar with. Even more complex are situations when the writer must jump into a program mid-run, tasked with covering a show that’s already established a tone and characterization. I’m relatively new to ITV’s “Inspector Lewis” (simply titled “Lewis” in England and on this BD set), leaving me at a disadvantage when it comes to exploring this “Series 5” set, not having viewed previous adventures in prior years. However, credit must be paid to the production, which has such a firm handle on mood and personality, it’s scarily easy to slip into the whodunit groove of the show. That the writing could welcome a newcomer so effortlessly without disrupting the ongoing narrative is wholly impressive, making these four episodes engaging and unexpectedly meaningful.

It’s business as usual for Detective Inspector Robert Lewis (Kevin Whatley) and his partner, Detective Sergeant James Hathaway (Laurence Fox). Two stately men with differing areas of expertise, the duo is challenged with four mysteries in Series 5, each with its own set of wily suspects and sordid details. The episodes also range in quality, with “The Soul of Genius” kicking off the viewing experience with a complex puzzle of murder and interesting romantic feelings emerging from standoffish Hathaway, while “Fearful Symmetry” suffers from too many characters and lackluster motivation, diluting the strength of its puzzle. Through it all, Whatley and Fox make an excellent onscreen team, trading crisp banter from gifted writers (artists who really have to maintain an interest is this type of procedural), creating two human characters who often play second fiddle to these winding plots. The men, and a flavorful supporting cast of cops and crooks, make “Inspector Lewis” dependably intriguing, preserving the integrity of the program through the occasional rough patch of stilted drama.

Episodes

“The Soul of Genius” (92:53)

When a dead body turns up in a botanical garden, Lewis and Hathaway are dispatched to make sense of the murder. Commencing their investigation, the pair is confronted with evidence that reveals the victim was an eccentric with an obsession for Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poem, “The Hunting of the Snark,” a passion that befuddled his studious brother, Revered Hawes (Alex Jennings). Exploring the garden, Hathaway finds himself drawn to employee Liv (Nadine Lewington), who knows a thing or two about her unhinged boss (Matilda Ziegler), while Lewis indulges possible crackpot Michelle (Celia Imrie), who’s convinced the murder is connected to the death of her only son. Discovering the presence of a secret society at a local college, the detectives encounter Mia Wallace (Daisy May) and Vincent Vega (Oliver Johnson), two “Pulp Fiction” enthusiasts who are desperate to gain admittance into this collection of geniuses, intentionally wasting Lewis and Hathaway’s time to raise their public visibility.

“Generation of Vipers” (91:20)

A prestigious professor at Oxford is humiliated when her online dating profile video is turned into a viral video by a callous gossip website. When she turns up dead by an apparent suicide, Lewis and Hathaway begin their investigation by confronting the obvious suspect: David (Toby Stephens), a tycoon about to close a land deal in the area, only to be undermined by the deceased. Tracking harassing comment section postings, a disgusted Lewis questions the owner of the dating site, whose commitment to privacy stymies the detective, while the gossip site’s editor shows little remorse after destroying a life, dedicated to page views not humanity. Hathaway finds himself drawn to Briony (Roxanne McKee), an employee at the gossip site with a boyfriend (Freddie Fox) determined to make the late professor suffer a tremendous public disgrace. Joining the investigation is D.I. Peterson (Jason Durr), whose inexperience initially troubles Hathaway.

“Fearful Symmetry” (92:53)

Returning home after a strange weekend getaway, a couple finds their babysitter tied up and murdered. Probing into the peculiar situation, Lewis and Hathaway soon discover the young girl’s interest in bondage photography, with artist Marion’s (Lucy Cohu) brazen disregard for the loss unnerving the detectives. Poring through the babysitter’s secrets, Lewis and Hathaway encounter a gloomy boyfriend, his doting father who works in a lab with monkeys, and a friend with a particular affinity for comic book justice, out conducting his own investigation. Confronted with uncomfortable fetish imagery and loose morals from select suspects, the police gradually paint a picture of obsession and free will, with such liberation causing a great disturbance in this community of the concerned and the homicidal.

“The Indelible Stain” (91:03)

A scientist from America (David Soul) promising a genetic cure for crime is hit with a wave of protestors, including Oxford student Nina (Pippa Bennett-Warner). Discovered the next morning with a necktie wrapped around his throat, the death is meant to look like a suicide, yet Hathaway and Lewis believe otherwise. Questioning university professors, the police walk into a delicate situation of infidelity, as Anne (Nancy Carroll) discovers her husband has been cheating with Nina, making her a suspect in the case, while Emily (Harriet Madeley) is also disturbed by the flirtatious student, watching her uninterested crush fixate on Nina’s every move. Collecting clues from conversations and online auctions, the detectives inch closer to understanding what exactly transpired that fateful night, while Lewis, after going two decades without dental care, faces a terrible toothache he refuses to take care of.

Inspector Lewis: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Inspector Lewis" carries a distinct HD look, providing a crisp view of screen particulars. Detail is strong, preserving facial imperfections and performance nuances, while costuming carries a fibrous feel. Set dressing is also easily surveyed, finding paintings, bookcases, and fields of computer screens open for inspection. There's some mild brightness boosting pulling the purity out of blacks, and while it doesn't sacrifice screen elements, consistent shadow detail isn't available. Hues are in solid shape, supplying stable, expressive primaries that push out of the brown and gray world. Skintones retain their natural appearance.

Inspector Lewis: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix supports the series with a basic design of music and voice, finding dialogue exchanges perfectly crisp and clean, highlighting emotional changes with ideal urgency. Scoring cues aren't insistent, but they blend into the track with care, emphasized when necessary, bringing a synthesized orchestral presence to the show, lacking heaviness. Atmospherics are warmly communicative, isolating wildlife and group activity, while flowing rivers and assorted outdoor environments are defined to satisfaction.

Inspector Lewis: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on these discs.

Inspector Lewis: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Granted, "Inspector Lewis" isn't the most scintillating offering of drama, as the most exciting thing that happens to the titular character is a bit of oral discomfort resulting from years of dental neglect. Still, the balance between the suspects and the lawmen is agreeably maintained over the episodes, with each day bringing a difficult murder to solve, generating a play-at-home atmosphere of sleuthing that enlivens the viewing experience. Although I came into this series without a firm understanding of its backstory, the production's appreciation of routine and dedication to character makes it impossible to get lost, remaining open to anyone in the mood for a whodunit at any time.