The Settling of the Sun

More a case of Inspector Clouseau than Morse, I'm afraid. The solution to the mystery of a murdered Japanese student is silly, and the direction is freakish. It just isn't believable at all and is one of the worst episodes in the Morse canon. Thank heaven this is an abberation. Normally Morse is much better than this.

I agree this is not one of the best episodes. The plot line, performances and production are all below the usual standard. And the references to "Japs", drugs, and WW2 certainly do not age well but that's how it works. However I am an Inspector Morse fan. I watched it as a student when it first started in the late 1980s, have seen every episode several times and still like dipping in now and then on a wet Sunday afternoon.

What I DON'T understand is all the negative reviews starting "I have never liked Inspector Morse..." Why bother watching it in that case? Just so you can enjoy trashing it?

Compared to other Morse episodes, this falls very short. Nearly every scene is horribly clunky and deliberate. It made the whole episode very flat and plodding. Morse's interest in a female character (a recurring theme in Morse and often awkward) is very awful in this episode, it couldn't be less believable.

Having set the crossword competition for a group of visiting foreign students, Morse attends the college dinner to present a prize. Proceedings are halted, when Japanese student Yukio Li is found dead, having been killed in a seemingly ritualistic manner.

One of those episodes that I think you somehow need to be in the mood for, other episodes like Masonic Mysteries, Driven to Distraction etc. I could watch anytime, not this one. It's a good storyline, if the anti Japanese feeling is a little strong. It's the characters I have some issue with, none are particularly appealing, warm or endearing. Jane is certainly unpleasant, trying at every opportunity to escape Morse's constant attention. Sir Wilfred Mulryne is utterly odious, and as for the Welsh porter!!

Even though I didn't care for the characters, that's not to say the performances aren't up to scratch. I think Anna Calder Marshall is excellent, you almost see Jane building to that crescendo, her eventual outburst. Avis Bunnage is also superb, an actress I know little of, other then seeing her as the wonderful wife of Rigsby, Veronica.

Strong story, excellent performances, but clunky production values, it looks grainy, doesn't have the slick camera-work you see in later episodes.

I enjoyed it, what i'd call a heavy episode, it's still very, very good though. 8/10

I'm re-watching this series after a few years, and I must fondly remember later seasons because so far it's been a disappointment. The dialogue is often stupid or incomprehensible, and the direction is herky-jerky. Thank goodness for the Max and Lewis characters who keep things moving and entertaining.