Dead on Time

I loved this episode. We definitely get more of an insight into the characters of Morse and Lewis. Lewis has a true love for Morse and Morse is so despairingly in need of someone's love. John Thaw is wonderful in this show..his character has so many facets to his personality. He's not just a grumpy guy..he's so much more. Lewis is truly a kind and very efficient partner..I just love his character more and more. I bought the box set from Amazon..money very well spent.

I do not wish to speak ill of the dead. In what image was Colin Dexter trying to create the Morse character? Was it Hercules Poirot, or James Bond?

The former for having a great detecting brain in solving whodunit crimes. And the latter not for his espionage and secret agent skills but for his womanizing skills.

Almost in every episode there is a woman interest. Morse is drawn to all sorts of women. Women much younger than he, married women, widowed women, even in one episode a woman of the cloth (episode with Zoe Wanamaker in it).

To me the stories of the series are hugely ruined by these women chasing shenanigans and at most times the really loud and annoying opera music and classical music. I do not like opera at all, but I like classical music but not any of the ones played in the eight season series.

Also Dexter could have created a much less despiseable character. Why did he have to make Morse a bitter, annoying, obnoxious, arrogant, demanding, egotistical and to an extent misogynistic drunk.

Having said all that no other person could bring the Morse character to life in the aforementioned mould than the late great John Thaw!

There is the apparent suicide of Henry Fallon who, suffering from a fatal disease, appears to have shot himself. The problem is that he is deemed to be incapable of performing the act. The victims wife was, at one time, engaged to be married to Morse - Susan Fallon.

Suspicion falls on Peter Rhodes,who is thought to be responsible for the deaths of Henry and Susan Fallon's daughter and grandchild. Fallon had asked him at 3.pm to come to the house at 6.0pm but the evidence appears to be that his phone was out of order at the time.

This episode fully explores the relationship between Morse and Lewis which has not, in my opinion, been given full credit. There are few partnerships that have the chemistry of these two characters.

Morse eventually comes to the conclusion that it was an assisted suicide but never actually solves the mystery. Lewis does but keeps it to himself.

My problem with this is that Morse just lets it go and does not appear to want to continue his enquiries. Totally out of character.

I watched this episode yesterday and was so deeply impressed I decided to register just for delivering a review.

I've watched a good half of all episodes and will recommend this one URGENTLY to you… … but ONLY if you have watched at least 5 others previously !

The episodes' s plot is Shakespearean fiendish (though not entirely selfish). It reeks of revenge, love, hatred, lost possibilities and much more. Including even a "Deus ex machina" ...

It is most revealing of Morse's character - who is drawn very personally into this murder case. So far indeed as to loose his grip on evidence, motives etc. Which gives Lewis a chance to rise above his usual role - indicating the attitude he will come to be loved for in his much later role as detective in his own right …

At first it seems soooo simple - but then "fate" starts to entangle all players into her fangs. Yet things eventually turn out quite differently! You'll only get an insight into what's occurred when Morse's finally "left" …

OH - and a goodie at the end: The title has a threefold meaning, an a) literal b) metaphorical and c) technical one … ;-)

Morse is one of the best shows ever made, when it's good it's good, when it's on top form very little comes close, this is one of the best.

Dead on time is a fabulous murder mystery, but it is so much more, we get such an insight into the personal life of Morse, we meet the woman that he almost married, plus we see how much Lewis cares for his grumpy colleague.

Such a smart plot, it will have you puzzled right the way through, you'll be intrigued, but you'll also be engrossed by Morse's behaviour as he is re acquainted with his former love.

It's a wonderful episode for Lewis, possibly his best, he shows how clever he really is.

An amazing cast, some truly brilliant talent pops up here, Joanna David is tremendous, she's fantastic throughout, mentions also for Samantha Bond and David Haig.

One of the best of the best, 10/10.