Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Kevin Whatley, Laurence Fox, Rebecca Front, Angela Griffin, Clare Holman, Clive Merrison, John Light, Ian East, Kitty Rich, Sian Brooke, Jason Done, Jessica Henwick, Andrea Lowe, Rosie Cavaliero, Jenny Howe, Michael Ryan.
Heracles would have perhaps laboured in vain to understand to the 21st Century condition of false self pride and murderous intent that seems to be more prevalent than at any time in history, especially it seems in the academic halls of Oxford, to the point where he might have got in touch with Sisyphus and asked if it was possible to balance a collection of rocks on top of Everest for a while, than ever help the Thames Valley Police solve crimes in the area.
In the welcome, if be it short and forcibly split over two weeks, return of one the great British crime dramas, Lewis sees the pairing of the retired Inspector and the newly installed Detective Inspector Hathaway examine the case before them and witness the heavens fall on the colleges and private lives of the leafy Oxford streets.
The Lions of Nemea sees a young up and coming student find out a secret that could bring down the reputation of the college and of Doctor Simon Flaxmore, played by the superb Clive Merrison, it is a secret to die for and cause others to be taken down, Sisyphus might feel, despite his wife forever moaning about his obsession with a large rock, that he has the better bargain over Greek hero Heracles, Lewis, Hathaway and the addition of D.S. Lizzie Maddox, the refreshing return of Angela Griffin to a meaty role. Who wouldn’t rather get involved in rock pushing over investigating the many varied reasons why crime in Oxford has rocketed again?
Although the return of the much loved follow up to Morse is welcome, it comes with heavy heart that it feels as if the viewer is being teased into accepting something they had already said a fond and weepy goodbye to a couple of years ago. If this latest series isn’t leading up to Laurence Fox being installed into being the leading man in his own spin off series, then truly the question should be asked, what is the actual point?
With Clive Merrison placed well within the cast, the spotlight should also be put, however briefly upon Jessica Henwick who portrayed the spiky and suspicious Chloe Ilson with great depth, perhaps more than was originally considered when the two part story was written.
The final story, a serious end to crime investigation in the heartlands of Oxford, is spread over the next fortnight, the second of modern labours for Heracles would be to explain why such a popular series should have been split in such an ungainly fashion.
Ian D. Hall