The Sins of the Fathers

Just to second the motion raised by other commenters: This episode is notable for its weird, distracting camera angles; lots of shots in mirrors, through windows, on polished metal signs, etc.; confusing focus on hands, ears, lips, armpits (yes, literally), or other body parts; stiff, stagey, unnatural placement of actors, as if they're posing for a photographer; and many unnecessary, jarringly sudden close-ups.

The result is that you're pulled out of the story by a director who clearly doesn't think the plot is enough to hold your attention on its own, and who, in scene after scene, is practically screaming, "Look at me! I'm so clever! I'm much more interesting than Morse!"

One crucial boardroom scene lacks a standard establishing shot, so that -- except for, briefly, their hands and a bit of the back of their heads -- we never see three of the people sitting around a long table till the end of the scene, as if the director shot just one side of the table and forgot to include the other characters.

I do like the fact that Lewis keeps smiling and continues to hold up well under Morse's perpetual grouchiness, and that he actually gets in a few impish comebacks of his own.

As many of the other reviewers, I , who really love this excellent series, was appalled and also distracted by this very very bad director, who seemed more keen to show his arty farty vision of how to visualize a detective story then that he was interested in the actors and the story itself. Indeed, lots of glasreflections, windows and extreme and unnecessary close ups; A real bummer, this one !! Sad to say.

This is a good episode with a jolly decent mystery.

Above all, it's a wonderful exhibition of how to act from the legendary, but criminally underrated, Lionel Jeffries. He was primarily seen as a comedian. But he was so much more than this.

The story finally comes together in the usual inimitable Morse manner.

It's also got the telltale analysis of upper class snobbery and hypocrisy that only exists in England. This prevails to this day where the Lord of the Manor looks down on his and hers slaves and minions.

Mutton dressed as lamb, as Morse points out with such gleeful alacrity.

It's hardly a subtle episode, but elitism is rarely subtle or pleasant.

Morse always makes brilliant societal observations.

Morse is an acquired taste.

It's a taste I acquired long ago.

This may be the single most dreadful piece of direction I've seen in an otherwise good television series. Agree with the other reviews regarding mirrors and glass. Add to that artificial, amateurish angle shots and facial closeups. But the worst offender in my opinion was the stilted direction of the actors, especially in the early scenes when the action was "posed", people standing around like mannequins. An otherwise good plot, ruined by horrible direction.

At least Peter Hammond won't ever direct again, given his demise.

The Sins of the Fathers is a fine episode, it's a smart mystery, with some terrific characters, and an ending that offers a real surprise. It's a mystery that gets the grey matter working, you can put the pieces together.

It is a fair observation that the direction of this one is a bit off, particularly when you compare it to other episodes, the flashbacks and dream sequences, but it's such a minor fault that it didn't spoil my enjoyment at all.

Many scenes I enjoyed very much, Morse's first encounter with the family being the best of them.

Isabel Dean is the real standout, she is wonderful in her final acting role, a character that is stoic, superior and bound up in self importance, Lionel Jeffries is equally as good as her hard of hearing, but fully aware husband.

Thoroughly enjoyable, 8/10.