Inspector Morse - Season 1 - DVD

Film: Before Kevin Whately became the star of his own series as DCI Robert Lewis, he worked as a sergeant alongside Inspector Endeavour Morse (John Thaw) from 1987 to 2000. Based on the novels of Colin Dexter, Morse solved a total of 38 cases over seven seasons and several specials before taking a well-deserved retirement. After the death of John Thaw, the popular series could not be continued, so it was decided to create the spin-off Lewis - The Oxford Detective, which itself can now look back on seven successful seasons. After Inspector Lewis was able to win a large fan base in Germany, now finally comes the predecessor series Inspector Morse in the German trade - but with a small drawback: since only a few episodes have been dubbed at all, the series appears in this country only in the English original with German subtitles.

Admittedly, the first episodes of the series is their age quite noticeable. The look has a distinct 80s feel to it, which sometimes takes some getting used to. Nevertheless, from the very first episode, written by The English Patient director Anthony Minghella, who sadly passed away in 2008, it becomes clear why the series has been such a huge success, and not just in the UK. Because the rather conventional cases are built up in a very rousing way and are clearly enhanced by the charming main character with her unconventional investigative methods. And also the not always easy relationship between the sarcastic Inspector, who does not always rigidly follow the rules, and his colleague Lewis, already rather grounded by his family, gives the series additional charm.

Series fans are currently experiencing truly paradisiacal conditions in the current series landscape. Still, there are series for which it's worth looking back. Inspector Morse is one such series. Although it may be a bit antiquated, as a viewer you are still quickly captured by its very special charm and wonderfully entertained. Superbly written, excellently acted and, despite the sometimes rather nasty retro décor, absolutely timeless, this is how the first four episodes present themselves 27 years after their first broadcast. For all fans of British crime fare of the particularly fine kind, who can also do without a German dubbing, this entry into the world of Inspector Morse is therefore absolutely recommended!

And this is what the first episodes of the cult series are about:

DVD 1: The Dead of Jericho / Die Toten Von Jericho

In the pilot episode, Inspector Morse, who is actually rather unromantically inclined, falls for the beautiful Anne Staveley (Gemma Jones). Unfortunately, the two are dramatically separated by fate when Anne is found hanged in mysterious circumstances. Morse grieves and does everything he can to uncover the truth with Sergeant Lewis (Kevin Whately).

DVD 2: The Silent World Of Nicholas Quinn / Die Stille Welt Des Nicholas Quinn

Dutiful exam board member and low-key character, hard-of-hearing Nicholas Quinn is found dead at home one day. The apparent suicide raises inconsistencies, however, and Inspector Morse is increasingly ensnared by Monica (Barbara Flynn). Might she even be involved in the case herself?

DVD 3:Service Of All The Dead / A Mass For All The Dead

The body of a parish councillor is found with a knife in his chest in a country church. This proves to be the first in a series of grisly murders in and near the church. As the situation comes to a head, the congregation already has five dead to mourn. In a race against time, Morse tries to put a stop to the unholy killer...

DVD 4: The Wolvercote Tongue / The Wolvercote Thorn

Inspector Morse investigates the mysterious death of a wealthy American tourist. Laura Poindexter, proud heiress to a very precious piece of jewelry known as "The Wolvercote Thorn," was on an educational tour of Britain with her husband. Her intention to donate this treasure to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford was common knowledge. Whether this intention was her death sentence?

Image + Sound: The series is also only available in the original English audio with optional German subtitles on the German release. The mono sound sounds a bit flat, but at least transports the dialogue well understandable from the speakers. The age of the series can definitely be seen in the picture. Especially in the darker sequences, the whole thing is a little grainy and also the image sharpness shows clear weaknesses here. Overall, however, the picture quality is on a good TV level for a series over 25 years old.

Extras: Bonus material has this box unfortunately not to offer.

Conclusion: Inspector Morse, the predecessor of Lewis - The Oxford Thriller, finally comes to Germany - but not in dubbed, but only in German subtitled version. The first episodes, which were made at the end of the 1980s, offer classic crime entertainment with a lot of charm and some dry humor, whereby especially in the pilot episode is clearly more emphasis on the development of the characters, than on the actual resolution of the case. If you don't mind the somewhat sedate narrative pace and the sometimes very nasty 80s look, you'll be treated to a British crime classic par excellence. For O-Ton lovers and crime fans who are content with subtitles, absolutely recommendable!

Source: Sebastian Betzold / Episode summary: edel:Motion