One for Sorrow: Part 2

I really like Rebecca Front as Ch. Sup. Jean Innocent so much I'll look into viewing more of her roles in the future if she's in any other detective mysteries. But her Lewis role had become worn out really boring constantly hero praising "Robbie" never giving any pushback. The new Ch. Sup. Steve Toussaint as Joe Moody is a breath of fresh air. I really enjoyed his "I'm your buddy" act then micro managing to the point of creating tension.

Pt1 was terrific viewing loaded with possibilities of a strong Pt2. I enjoyed the similarities to "Midsomer Murders" oddball niche theme. But, Pt2 though not horrible was plodding, It never really took off and wasn't intense.

The villains reveal ending was a quite ridiculous mess. Even fine actors seemed to be struggling to pull it off. The fishing scene spoke volumes about embracing what you enjoy tied into bringing happiness to Hathaway's ill father. Clare Holman's role as Dr. Laura Hobson has been minimized which is truly a shame.

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.

'Lewis' was a show that started off promisingly with the pilot and the first season, while getting even better with a more settled Season 2 where the show hit its stride. Season 3 was more of a mixed bag (not a bad season at all, but started a little disappointingly, though better than reputed, with one of the show's generally lesser episodes "Allegory of Love"). Season 4 generally was one of the better seasons of 'Lewis', with all the episodes very good to great, and Season 5 was solid with the only disappointment being "The Mind Has Mountains".

Season 6 started off very well with "The Soul of Genius", while "Generation of Vipers" was even better. Unfortunately, "Fearful Symmetry" was very disappointing and has always been one of my least favourite 'Lewis' episodes. On the other side of the coin, fortunately the season gets back on track with a great finale and its best episode "The Indelible Stain".

The show's seventh season suffered from the rather bizarre decision to split its three episodes into two halves, meaning having to wait until the next week until the conclusion. In all three of the Season 7 episodes, this has proved to be rather awkward and in "Down Among the Fearful" and "The Ramblin' Boy" ran the risk of forgetting what happened previously and being even more confused by events and who the characters were. "Intelligent Design" however was much better and easily the best of that season.

"Entry Wounds" was decent if unexceptional, with things getting better with "The Lions of Nemea" (although that didn't wow me either). "Beyond Good and Evil" is generally the best episode of Season 8.

"One For Sorrow's" second half proved to be promising, and while a long way from the best 'Lewis' episode it's a quite decent start to the ninth and final season. Still think that splitting the episode into half when aired was not a good idea, especially with the story being as twisty and sometimes convoluted like it was in "One For Sorrow".

Really don't care for the character of Maddox still, she is bland and doesn't gel and Angela Griffin's acting doesn't make me feel any different. Parts are a little hastily paced, even in the first half there is a lot going on and one doesn't yet get to know the characters and feels like the story should have had more time to breathe. The final solution felt a little too rushed and over-complicated.

As always however the acting is solid, on the other hand, with Kevin Whately very good and Laurence Fox a breath of fresh air. Their chemistry is wholly convincing, always a huge part of the show's charm, with a strong contrast between Lewis being the world weary one with the hunches and Hathaway being the more logical and witty. Really like the chemistry between Lewis and Hobson (Clare Holman doesn't disappoint) too, and that Hobson's character has expanded for the better overtime in the show.

Moody seems to be settling in well and one doesn't miss Innocent too much. The support acting is good from particularly Nicholas Jones and the late Tim Piggott-Smith.

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.

Some of the writing is thoughtful and fun and the story is mostly compelling and suitably twisty with Hathaway's subplot intriguing and touchingly done and things tied up neatly.

Overall, decent if unexceptional. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Drugs, social media, taxidermy and murder.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode, the conclusion is also of a very high standard. I loved how everything was nearly tied together, there were several strands, none of which seemed to link, however, the writing is so good, that it all comes together.

It's been a very thoughtful, intelligent mystery, with focus on Hathaway's personal life as well as the case, never at any point does it feel soap like.

The scenes of Hathaway and his father have felt very real, they are so incredibly sad, and close to home for many, self included.

I'm still not sure about the new boss.

Tony the Tabby made me laugh.

Very good, 8/10.

This completes the episode. We have a tangled web that leads to three murders. Taxidermy is at the center of it all. These strange pieces provide a kind of receptacle. But under it all is something more dire, having to do with a kind of experiment that seems to have gotten out of hand. Our performance artist has left behind a video that is very disconcerting. We follow the tension of a couple who seem to be keeping secrets--who really have no moral sense. I think that the whole thing is not handled well in the writing, so the plot becomes really confusing. There are a few decent twists that keep one going. The business with Hathaway's father continues and he must come to grips with his negligence in the past.