Dead on Time

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!

An ailing man is found dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound and all the evidence points to it being suicide. However, his doctor disputes this, saying that he was not physically able to pull the trigger. Morse and Lewis investigate.

An interesting and emotional Morse episode. We have the intrigue of the death and the possibility that it is murder. We have Morse's personal involvement: the wife of the dead man was once his fiancee. This all leads to some interesting developments and an emotional ending.

The Morse entanglement with a female person of interest in a case is beginning to wear thin though. Due to the conflict of interest you'd think either he'd have to remove himself from the case or his superiors would make that decision for him. At least in this case it's an old flame, rather than him taking a fancy to a woman that's potentially involved in the crime, but it is starting to be predictable.

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 … ;-)

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.

Certainly, this is one of the better episodes of this series. An Oxford Don is found dead at his desk, an apparent suicide. When Morse comes to investigate, he realizes this is the husband of a woman he was once engaged to. The cause of death becomes questionable because of the timing of some phone calls. Morse begins to come into conflict with Lewis after he seeks out the former lover and soon becomes blinded to some possibilities. Mixed in all of this is the death of a mother and her child and an apparent cover-up. Once again Morse starts to move into a romantic relationship but can't break through the shadows.