The Dead of Jericho

Inspector Morse is just amazing, with complex characters, well outlined stories, and well-crafted scripts. The first episode The Dead of Jericho is just brilliant, you can't help cheering, when Morse arrives on screen in the Jaguar to Vivaldi's Gloria. I don't think Dead Of Jericho is the best Morse episode, but it definitely worth a watch, and I couldn't fault it really. I loved the soundtrack; when Morse is listening to Porgi Amor from Marriage of Figaro with a sad expression on his face, I just wanted to reach into the television and hug him. John Thaw is magnificent in the title role, maintaining that standard all the way through the series' run. Thaw adopted a more likable and sensitive character than his novelistic counterpart, and it is this portrayal that I do prefer. Kevin Whately also shines as Lewis, a young and quite charming character, who when compared to Morse couldn't be more different, and it is the characters' relationships toward each other that make the series so compelling. Also worth noting are contributions from the late Patrick Troughton as the blackmailing neighbour,Gemma Jones as the unfortunate Anne, James Laurenson as the "prime suspect" and the lovely Annie Lambert as his fiery wife. The script is well crafted, and there is an intriguing unpredictable storyline, and while it isn't faithful to the book, it is still an excellent episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox.

The first episode of the iconic Inspector Morse series, sees the enigmatic Detective investigate the death of a woman he was attracted to.

A fantastic start to the series, no wonder the entire nation fell in love with Morse and the show, John Thaw became Colin Dexter's character, watching it now it's hard to believe it was the first episode, John Thaw and Kevin Whately were both effortlessly brilliant in their respective roles, the relationship between the characters began in such a different way.

They made a fantastic job of casting in this opening episode, Gemma Jones was excellent as Anne. Troughton was a superb addition, great to see him play such a different role, he was really creepy in this. James Laurenson too, just great.

Cracking opener, 8/10

For nostalgia, I decided to look out the very first Morse mystery to be filmed and televised. I remember being drawn into the series when living in a flat on my own in Edinburgh, when the unusual for its time two hour format allowed for greater plot and character development than preceding detective - oriented series.

This starter episode introduced the viewer to staples for the show, the Oxford settings, Morse's cussedness and tastes for drink, classical music and red Jaguar cars, an eye for the mature lady, a trickle-down relationship with his dogged, home-loving, long-suffering Sgt Lewis sidekick and most of all an individual and intuitive method to crime-solving which frequently put him at odds with his superiors.

This episode concerning the suicide of a piano teacher Morse has just met at choir practice leads to another murder and overtones of voyeurism, blackmail, adultery and even incest before Morse has his customary Eureka moment and solves the crime just in time. The plot was suitably serpentine in construction although the apparent Sophoclean-attributed conclusion was possibly mistakenly dispensed with for a good old-fashioned case of mistaken identity to eventually catch the killer.

Sure both the direction and police procedures portrayed are dated (Morse barging in on the original death site, searching a suspect's premises without a warrant, roughing up a suspect like he was in the Sweeney, drinking on duty) but Thaw and Whately already demonstrate their chemistry in this introductory episode. The series in time became a TV national treasure, setting the standard for other shows which followed in its wake. Better episodes were to follow but a strong marker in terms of production standards, narrative quality and acting levels was definitely put down here for further investigation.

This is the series which led to the 2 hour detective format for ITV, not something that has always been successful, as I think their other cop shows have been padded somewhat.

John Thaw went from The Sweeney where he played the two fisted Jack Regan catching villains trying to get away with a sawn off shotgun in a Jaguar. To a genteel, real ale drinking, classical music loving detective driving a vintage Jaguar.

I never watched the early episodes when it aired on ITV only catching the repeats on Channel 4. It was then I became a fan of the series.

Anthony Minghella who would later win an Oscar for The English Patient adapted this story. Inspector Morse is late for choir practice as his Jag was involved in a prang as he tried to disrupt a dodgy garage.

Morse is attracted to Anne Staveley, who is a member of the choir, he even walks her home. She teaches piano, she has a student living with her who is a bit weird. He composes music but is a law student who scrounges money from her. The neighbour opposite is a peeping Tom who spies on her.

However there is tragedy for Morse as Anne is found hanging, it looks like suicide but Morse thinks there is more to it and even has a Oedipus Rex theory.

This is the story where Morse is partnered with Sgt Lewis who until now was under the command of another Inspector who has since been promoted. We learn that Morse went for the same promotion but he rubs some of his superiors up the wrong way or does not quiet say the right things to get ahead.

Luckily the younger Lewis gets on well with the older Morse despite not into drinking ale in pubs or classical literature or music. Lewis also provides some humour which helps.

The story is well paced, there are plenty of red herrings, blind alleys and the two hours fly by. Colin Dexter who wrote the original books also compiled crosswords and he treated his mysteries the same way. You have to look for little clues and some of them would be visual.

A few things we learn from the opening episode that continues throughout the rest of the run. Morse is always unlucky in love, in fact he should had just become a monk. Any lady he has an interest in either ends up dead or is a wrong un. Early on in this episode Morse is asked for his first name which he declines to reveal. This will continue until much later on in the series.

Morse seems to bring his own car to work, why he chooses to do this I have no idea, as it gets banged into twice in this episode.

I watched this episode again three decades after its first broadcast and it still stands up well. It is disconcerting to note that I am now several years older than John Thaw was when he first played Morse, he was 44 years old when the first series was made but he really looked much older.

I just finished watching, The Dead of Jericho, Inspector Morse's first detective case in the series, and mine too. Nothing short of immersive, in-depth, nuanced, with tons of plot twists.

The link between Sophocles and vintage Literature is in consonance with the series old world Oxford setting. These are in turn juxtaposed with Inspector Morse's unorthodox ways of carrying out his work, an experience that closely resembles life.

There is so much to study and enjoy in this detective series, mainly because I am a whodunnit fan. Ive been a follower of the crime and mystery genre as a reader and book reviewer for a long time. Inspector Morse is a class by himself. His solitary persona, impeccable intelligence, need to problem solve while enjoying opera, and being ahead of the curve, is some of the reasons one feels Morse is a 'real' person. And he is. Morse embodies our cavalier side, our inner belief in ourselves; and yet he also shows his vulnerability by seeking company to toss around his thoughts and theories with a subordinate who should know better than to make excuses to go home to his family. A typical side-kick who doesn't realise the gem that is Morse, because his blinkers are on. Hopefully, Morse's dynamic way of thinking will rub on Louis in time.

Let me just say, each minute is worth watching and yet there is no wastage of time in an episode that goes further than 1.5 hours.

After binging on Midsomer Murders, this is a different ball game. An upgrade from Economy Plus (mind you, I love Midsomer Murders) to First Class. On any airlines.

Detective stories are my guilty pleasure. Yet, this is more than a detective story. It is a story about a detective, who is nuanced, weak, flawed, brilliant and taking on too much. Yes, he has his drink to drown his sorrows and disappointments, but it is as if the eternal companion eludes him. If only he had a cat, or a dog to come home to.

Looking forward to the second episode in the first series. Morse, by the way, is my father's favourite detective series. I had to find out why.