Masonic Mysteries

Perhaps, I'm just not 'getting it.' Thaw's favorite episode? Or one of them? Really? I watched it half way through before I felt compelled to check how the episode scored and was reviewed compared to the other ones. Simply shocked. Dumb-founded to find it has scored so highly. I restarted the episode to give it another chance. Perhaps, if this episode was meant as a farce? All credibility goes out the window the second grabs hold of the knife. A seasoned, cultured and highly intelligent (more so than, even, other detectives) would really grab hold of the supposed murder weapon in such a full-handed method? Even if he could spot with his keen (had to be beyond human capabilities) that it was not the murder weapon? Way to many holes.

A dark, fantastical episode of Morse. No detective show is complete without an episode where the tables get turned and the hero gets framed for a crime or series of crimes. This is Morse's turn to get that treatment.

The result is as complex and cliched as you'd imagine. Some rather predictable developments, some cartoonish characters and some hammy performances are the entree. All this leads up to a rather silly, stylised ending. I can't give too many details for fear of providing spoilers but it's the sort of ending that would never happen in the real world, the world where cops arrest the perpetrator when they have the chance, not decide to have a chat with them while unarmed and without backup.

This all said, its intriguing and interesting enough to not be a waste of time. Has to be one of the worst, if not THE worst, Morse episodes though.

In fictional time Morse had been an Inspector for around 30 years by season 4 of "Inspector Morse."

Morse gets into an argument with his date to the opera rehearsal at the very first scene of this episode. She tells him in front of several other members of the opera group that she wants nothing to do with him, that he drives too fast, that she was scared to get into a car with him, and that she wants her friend (another opera group member) to drive her home after the rehearsal.

So a few minutes later when everyone hears a chilling scream in the concert hall building, Morse runs directly to the scream, and finds his ex-date has been murdered. Just like any dumb patsy in any old Perry Mason TV series episode, Morse immediately holds the dead woman to him as if she had been the love of his life (not just a casual acquaintance).

Then Morse sees the huge carving knife laying next to the dead woman and picks it up (destroying any possible fingerprints of the real killer). When the rest of the opera group arrive, Morse is holding the knife over the dead woman, and he is covered in her blood. What a moron.

Morse should have been sacked from the Police force on the spot just for being so stupid. Any copper that can pull the dumbest and most cliche self-incrimination move of a TV show from the 1950s needs to be canned. I am surprised he did not also claim amnesia and PTSD to top it off.

When Morse gets suspended because he is a suspect in the murder, he pulls his tired "I am the victim" routine. It is consistent with his alcoholism that he resents the people assigned to clean up after his incompetence for incriminating himself.

Sergeant Lewis should have taken him out back of the police station and administered a sobering beating, so that Morse could take time while at Hospital to reflect on his many dumb mistakes during his suspension. Considering the way Morse treats Lewis, it would have been nice to see Lewis pound his flabby face in.

This episode was perhaps the worst of the series. In later years, Morse occasionally played the victim of police politics, and did not take accountability for his own bad choices and mistakes. Like the many times when Morse would try dating a witness or suspect, and it usually blew up in his face. Morse routinely took advantage of his position to ask witnesses and suspects out for a drink, so he could hit on them, as the "dirty old man" without any scruples.

The atmosphere is quite menacing, a cross between Lynch movies and The X-Files. Morse has clearly been set up, and the way things defy rational explanation im going from bad to worse becomes quite creepy and unsettling in a skilfully visceral way. Ultimately, however, the episode creators bite off more than they can chew: Characters from a distant past; old mentors; old scores getting settled; a villain who represents Morse's nemesis; IT hackers; the impossibility of love... It's too much and it turns the story into a cake. I know quite a bit about Mozart and the Magic Flute and all that. But if you asked me WHY this particular investigation has masonic symbolism swirling all around, in truth I would struggle to give a coherent reply.

Morse attends a rehearsal of the Magic Flute, there he discovers the body of Beryl Newsome, a lady he had become friendly with. He foolishly touches the murder weapon and becomes the number one suspect for the crime. Chief Inspector Bottomley is placed in charge of the crime, Morse has to battle against him, and pit his wits against Psycopath Hugo de Vries. Fortunately Morse has help from the faithful Lewis and old friend and colleague Desmond McNutt.

Masonic Mysteries stands out for me as possibly the best episodes of Morse, there are so many rich layers to it, finally Morse gets his arch nemesis, Holmes had Moriarty, Father Brown had Flambeau etc, every great detective needs a rival.

The regulars of course are on exceptional form, Thaw puts in a wonderfully strong showing, but as for guests, I thought Iain Cuthbertson was awesome in his admittedly small role, but Ian McDiarmid puts in one of the most memorable performances I can think of, he is utterly brilliant as de Vries, the closing scene between the two is an unbelievable moment.

Please introduce Hugo de Vries into an episode of Endeavour, how good would that be.

Look out for Mark Strong's small role as PC Mike Butterworth.

TV Gold 10/10 fabulously acted, awesome script, an episode that gets your heart rate going.