7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Lewis and Hathaway face three new mysteries inspired by the Inspector Morse novels of Colin Dexter. Episodes include - Down Among the Fearful; The Ramblin' Boy; and Intelligent Design.
Starring: Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox, Clare Holman, Rebecca FrontDrama | 100% |
Mystery | 60% |
Crime | 46% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
After their crime-busting efforts in “Series 5” proved highly engaging if a tad routine, the creative course for “Inspector Lewis: Series 6” takes the venerable ITV program down a slightly different path of sleuthing and character development, introducing a turn of events that tease the end may be nigh for the small screen adventures of D.I. Robert Lewis (Kevin Whately) and D.S. James Hathaway (Laurence Fox). Granted, a new batch of episodes is set to debut this fall, but “Series 6” feels like a transitional year for the show, making the most of its limited screentime to rearrange vocational interest and private pursuits, perhaps on the verge of a major casting shake-up to come. Or maybe the production doesn’t know quite what to do with these reserved personalities anymore, breaking them down before building them back up for yet another round of extensive investigation. “Series 6” is odd at times, but rarely does “Inspector Lewis” fail when it comes to tinkering with the puzzle of murder, delivering a satisfactory season of slippery suspects and personal inventory.
The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation fares a bit better than most PBS releases, never struggling with significant crush issues, with most blacks properly defined. Some contrast muddiness is detected, along with light banding, but this is an inviting viewing experience with encouraging detail. Age lines and skin textures are exposed in full, while set design achievements are easily surveyed, keeping the visuals interesting. Colors are stable and true, finding highlights in greenery and domestic interiors, where paint choices and fabrics bring out bolder hues. It's a very crisply shot HD program, and the discs preserve the basics with satisfactory definition.
There's minor surprise with the 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix, which actually offers a small dose of directional activity with vehicle movement during the series, instead of simply employing surrounds to push out scoring efforts. It's a modest addition but a nice one. Dialogue exchanges are the primary focus here, finding voices crisply defined and contained, preserving the straightforward emotionality of the show, while accents are clean, easy to follow. Music isn't a priority for "Inspector Lewis," but synth-based offerings are respectfully balanced with the human element. Atmospherics are welcome, creating defined environmental changes.
There is no supplementary material on these discs.
While there's no finality to "Series 6," it often plays like "Series 7" isn't going to happen. The writing teases thoughts of retirement and soulful inspection, generating an end-of-the-line tone of life-changing decisions for Lewis and Hathaway. Admittedly, such soul-searching is a quick way to rile up the program, opening new dramatic opportunities as age becomes a factor for its stars. However, "Inspector Lewis" isn't about hand-wringing or confession, but tightly-bound offerings of identity mixed in with the game of murder. Maybe it's all a tease to goose ratings, but if "Inspector Lewis" is indeed winding down, let's hope the next series keeps Fox around for the full ride. Whately's a fine actor, but the show just isn't the same without their cautious and casual interplay.
Lewis: Series 5
2011
Lewis: Series 6
2012
Lewis: Series 8
2014
Lewis: Series 9
2015
(Still not reliable for this title)
Masterpiece Mystery
2019
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