Your Sudden Death Question

This is probably one of my favorite episodes. It's Full of very familiar actors, Inspector Sullivan, Alastair MacKenzie of Father Brown and Alan Davies of Jonathan Creek for example. Superintendent Innocent is a bit playful while serious funny. It's great to have an episode that's not centered on some crazy religious fanatical bunch of priests or professors. Sargent Hathaway is keen on so called helping with Inspector Lewis's advancing relationship with Dr Hobson. At least they killed off a man before killing off the pretty girls. It's usually pretty girls eighty percent of the time I believe. Enjoy rewatching it.

A group of people gather at an Oxford college to compete in a quiz contest for a large prize. One of them, an annoying, know-it-all womaniser is murdered. Due to his personality quite a few people would loathe him, but murder him? Lewis and Hathaway investigate.

One of the better Lewis episodes. A classical whodunnit in the Poirot mould as all the possible suspects are locked in a location. Now Lewis and Hathaway just have to figure out who did it.

Better too because the plot and evidence builds up to the revelation rather than like many Lewis episodes where revelation of the guilty party comes out of the blue as a wild twist in the last 10 minutes.

Some interesting, engaging sub-plots too. Good to see that at last there might be some progress on the Lewis-Dr Hobson relationship. That's been due for some time now.

Hearing about 'Lewis' for the first time when it first started, there was a big touch of excitement seeing as 'Inspector Morse' was and still is one of my favourites but also a little intrepidation, wondering whether the series would be as good. The good news is, like the prequel series 'Endeavour', 'Lewis' is every bit as good as 'Inspector Morse' and stands very well on its own two feet as a detective mystery and show in general.

As said a number of times already, 'Lewis' started off very promising with the pilot and Season 1. It was with Season 2 where 'Lewis' hit its stride with things generally feeling more settled. Season 3 was a more mixed bag, started disappointing "Allegory of Love" (though to me it was not a bad episode), before getting better with "The Quality of Mercy" and finishing well. "The Dead of Winter" was a well done start to Season 4, "Dark Matter" was to me the best episode since "Music to Die For" and this episode "Your Sudden Death Question" is solid.

It is an imperfect episode, while liking the show very much very few of the episodes are without flaws. Alan Davies has an annoying character who Davies plays just as annoyingly. The pacing occasionally lacks tightness and the mystery is not always focused.

On the other hand, the acting is fine, anchored by Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox. Whately is again very good and carries the episode with aplomb, advantaged by that Lewis is much more developed and as said he has more development. Clare Holman adds a lot and has an even bigger role than before (a sensitive performance that is some of her best on the show), which was great. Fox is a breath of fresh air in a great contrasting role that reminds one of a more intelligent Lewis in his younger days and his sparkling sparring chemistry with Whately is a big part of the episode's, and show's, appeal. The support acting, Davies aside, is very good.

Production values are of very high quality. It's beautifully shot as always, and Oxford not only looks exquisite but is like a supporting character in itself. Barrington Pheloung returns as composer, and does a first-rate job. The theme tune, while not as iconic or quite as clever as Morse's, is very pleasant to listen to, the episode is charmingly and hauntingly scored and the use of pre-existing music is very well-incorporated.

Writing is smart and thought-provoking with the identity of the killer a real surprise. The climax is not as confused, far-fetched or over-stuffed as some climaxes/endings of the show. The story is gripping with great twists and turns and there is also a real effort to properly develop all the ideas introduced rather than leaving questions in the balance, not always the case with 'Lewis'. The characters are well written and engaging.

In conclusion, nice solid episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Add a couple corpses to the famous campus. In this one a group of bright people, mostly associated in some way with the College, have entered a competition, a quiz contest. A curly haired moderator has promised a 5000 pound prize to the winner. I am quite good at trivia and quizzes, but the questions are about as obtuse as any I've ever encountered. The odd mixture of people seem to know the answers. One in particular knows everything. He doesn't even seem to be trying. Well, it isn't long before he is found dead, but the show goes on. We have a classic whodunnit, with a bevy of suspects confined to a relatively small space. It isn't long before a second one of theirs is strangled. This is a decent episode because we get to knew each participant pretty well. The first victim seemed to have a serious connection to the remaining cast and it is Lewis and Hathaway's jobs to unravel their duplicity. There is also a subplot that relates to Hathaway's classic guitar being stolen from his car. And, the Inspector starts a little romantic encounter with the medical examiner.

Ive just watched this right through for about the 4th time and I still don't can't remember who did or why. That's the epitome of the perfect murder mystery to me. Also included in this episode which helps the story along is an amazing cast of actors and great characters, a favourite being Alan Davies. Love the quiz background as well along with other things afoot. One of the classics.

PS just watched for about the 10th time know and remember who and why now yet I still love watching it, that's how great it is. And so is Alan Davies.