A&E Mysteries: Inspector Morse

Welcome back my little foragers of forensics to the continuation of A&E Mysteries.  Thought we might take a look in at Thames Valley as I hear they have a gruff but brilliant CID (Criminal Investigation Department) Detective Inspector by the name of Morse.   Fueled by cynicism, a pint of bitter and a love for classical composure, this Inspector ruffles feathers, beats down doors and goes out of his way to find the truth no matter who it may hurt.   So fetch us a cup of tea, don’t skimp on the biccies and for God’s sake mind the traffic.  This is Inspector Morse.

I am smiling, sir. Truly I am.

Morse: Drink that, Spoiler, and loosen some brain cells.

A working class man that developed more than a few connection at Oxford, Inspector Morse (John Thaw of Redcap, Dr. Phibes Rises Again, Thick as Thieves, The Sweeny and The Glass) brings a different investigator far retracted from Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot.  A thinking man in his own right you get the feeling as though solving these mysteries is almost beneath him.  Exhibiting a keen intellect and a flawed soul our good inspector had arrested the wrong suspect or arrived at the wrong conclusion giving an honest human that is fallible but in no way or shape a fool.  

Can't wait to have a DS to torment meself.

Saddled with a young, bright eyed police sergeant Lewis (Kevin Whately of Auf Weidersehen, Pet, The Return of the Soldier, Look and Read, Peak Practice and Inspector Lewis) who is a family man striving to do right by his inspector and community.  Morse is ill-natured and sullen towards Lewis trying desperately to beat some of that police training out of his head and getting the lad to think and conclude for himself.    In the middle of a case Morse is known for dragging Lewis to a pub for a few pints allowing Morse to review the case in his head and give the crime scene another go but this would be seen as a derelict of duty by most eyes.  

As you peruse this particular series you will notice that Morse is not a people person, his attempts at a love life are comical and he is a acrid fellow with a love of fine wines, literature, chess and Wagner (the composer not the paints).  These elements give him a true vulnerable human quality not found in most of the detective characters and I for one am glad to see a genuine person rather than the proximity of one.

For some of you BBC fans you will note more than a few guest stars grace the Morse series such as: Gemma Jones (Rainbow City, The Devils, The Duchess of Duke Street, Devices and Desires, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) and Patrick Troughton (Smuggler’s Bay, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Doctor Who, Scars of Dracula, Blake 7, Crown Court and The Omen) for example and others let’s just say you have seen more than your fair share of them even if their names do not immediately jump in your head.  This is an intense series showing pain, joy and some unrivaled acting.

Bloody hell, is that Elizabeth Hurley??!