Lewis - The Oxford Thriller Season 5 - DVD

Content: Inspector Lewis and his colleague DS James Hathaway are back to keep law and order in Oxford. Between 1987 and 2000, Kevin Whatley had portrayed the character of Detective Sergeant Robert Lewis 32 times alongside John Thaw in the Inspector Morse series based on Colin Dexter's novels. Following the series death of Inspector Morse in 2000, Lewis was promoted to Inspector in 2006 and was allowed to reprise the popular role in a spin-off special. This was so well received by viewers that more episodes were ordered for a first season.

In the meantime, Lewis - Der Oxford Krimi has already run its seventh season in England, while in Germany the four episodes of the fifth season are celebrating their debut on television and DVD. Once again, the good chemistry between Whatley and his co-star Laurence Fox, the harmonious music, the atmospheric locations, the exciting stories and the fine pinch of English humor ensure that the new episodes again play in the top crime league.

That Lewis works so well is not only due to the good actors and the typical British crime flair. Also the fact that the individual films are accessible to new viewers and do not require much prior knowledge, but on the other hand for fans of the series also offer references to older cases or the past of the protagonists again and again, makes the Oxford crime so worth watching for all fans of dignified crime entertainment. Thus, in season 5, Lewis is confronted again with the accidental death of his wife right in the first case, which again continues this story consistently. Moreover, in these four new episodes, the viewer is again offered all the ingredients that make Lewis, alongside Inspector Barnaby, one of the best crime series the UK currently has to offer.
And this is what the fifth season is all about:

DVD 1: Open Wounds

At the venerable Oxford women's college Lady Matilda's, a banquet is taking place. Many former female students and the staff have gathered in honour of the much-loved Professor Diana Ellerby, who is leaving the college to take up a new teaching post in Princeton, USA. Between the women who have studied at the institute and the senior staff, however, one senses not only affection, but definitely also tension and mutual dislike. Then Diana Ellerby's direct co-worker, Poppy Toynton, is murdered. Inspector Lewis has extremely bad memories of Lady Matilda's College. There was an unsolved mystery case here ten years ago: student Judd Havelock, who apparently had close contacts with several female students, disappeared without a trace at a fancy dress party. That same evening, 15-year-old Chloe Brooks, who was visiting her sister Ruth, was attacked. She's been in a coma ever since. Ruth still hopes that Chloe will one day regain consciousness. Inspector Lewis suspects that the long-ago events are connected to the current murder. Lewis and Hathaway's research proves difficult, as the women they interview sometimes treat the police officers with palpable arrogance. While the investigation is in full swing, Samantha, a student who lived at the college's boarding school, is killed. To the surprise of almost everyone, Chloe Brooks actually wakes up from a coma after ten years. What does this mean for the case? Can Chloe remember what happened back then? Can she shed light on the investigation? She can - and after ten years in a coma, her life is now in danger. Based on statements, photos, and videos related to the costume party ten years ago, everything focuses on one person wearing the Dottore della Peste costume with the mask of a golden bird. Who was this unknown person? (Text: ZDF)

DVD 2: In the Sign of Revenge

In the conservative religious college St. Gerard's, the American bishop Parsons, who had come to Oxford for an ecumenical colloquium, is poisoned. The poison was in a bottle of the college's own wine, which actually comes from Tuscany. It is there in Italy that Father Mancini, the current vice-regent of St Gerard's, wishes to establish a new centre of study. This can only be accomplished through the financial support of an old benefactress, Mrs. Adele Goffe, who also lives at the institution. Inspector Lewis and Sergeant Hathaway investigate among the brethren of St. Gerard's and are forced to conclude that the death of the bishop's wife was probably more of an unfortunate coincidence and has no logical connection to the things that are to follow. Possibly the attack was intended for someone else entirely. But to whom? It all seems to be connected to the upcoming election of a new vice regent for the institution. For the murder of the American bishop will not be the only one. Do the conservative old men want to prevent the election of progressive professors Caroline Hope or Joanne Pinnock? Intense research reveals that one of the two women has a dark past. Who at St. Gerard's knew about this? Could it be that here lies the key to solving the mystery? In any case, Inspector Lewis and his assistant Hathaway are certain that not only is everything not above board at the venerable St. Gerard's College, but that the old walls conceal a secret that has cost several people their lives. (Text: ZDF)

DVD 3: The Death Drug

Psychiatrist Alex Gansa is conducting a test study for a new drug on behalf of "Plowden Pharmaceuticals". With a group of participants from different social circles, the effect of a new strong antidepressant is examined. The young participant Amy Katz falls out of a window. Based on the evidence gathered, it quickly becomes clear that this was obviously not a suicide. Shortly afterwards, another group member dies: student Adam Douglas is the victim of an overdose of the tested drug. Does the perpetrator come from the small circle of test participants? Is it possibly a case of jealousy? The investigations of Inspector Lewis and Sergeant Hathaway also focus on the equally dubious and arrogant psychiatrist Gansa, who, at least so it is said, is sometimes not averse to erotic contacts with his female patients. His current wife Claire was also once in therapy with him. One night, Claire makes a surprise appointment with Inspector Lewis in order to secretly pass on important information that could give the case a new twist. But this does not happen. Claire is hit by a car on the way and is seriously injured and in a coma. Lewis and Hathaway have no doubt that the accident was an unscrupulous attack. And again the trail leads to the victim's husband, Alex Gansa. Inspector Lewis, however, is suspicious when the circumstantial evidence is all too clear. Could it be that someone just wants to make it look like the killer has already been convicted? (Text: ZDF)

DVD 4: Murderous Doom

Former intelligence chief Grace Orde has written her memoir. At the public launch of the book, she is interrupted by a rabble-rousing student named Elmo. Shortly after, the founder of a foundation for gifted children, Andrea de Ritter, is murdered. Apparently she had an affair with the much younger student Elmo, who falls to his death a few days later while intoxicated with LSD. Lewis and Hathaway do not believe in suicide. But how are these two deaths connected? And what is the killer's motive? Among the murder suspects are Grace Ore's publisher Leon Suskin, his wife Judith, and their daughter Zoe, who has a scholarship for gifted students. Also playing a shady role are Irish pub owner Cullen and smart lecturer Donald Voss. While Lewis and Hathaway encounter their first inconsistencies during their interviews, another crime occurs. Publisher Leon Suskin is stabbed in the back by an unknown man in a park shortly after returning home from a trip to Belfast. It becomes increasingly clear to Lewis and Hathaway that the mystery of the murders must be connected to events long in the past. It can't be a coincidence that the series of murders began with the publication of former intelligence chief Grace Orde's memoir. But what explosives are hidden in it? And who was willing to commit three murders for it? (Text: ZDF)

Picture + Sound: The technical realization of the four new episodes is on a good TV level. Although there are a few blurs and slight image noise, especially in the darker scenes, but overall the picture can convince with a decent overall sharpness and an atmospheric color scheme. The sound is almost entirely determined by the frontally mixed dialogues, which sound somewhat more harmoniously embedded in the English language version. Overall, there is for the technical implementation of this box again a deserved good!

Extras: Bonusmaterial has the DVD box unfortunately not to offer.

Conclusion: Lewis goes with four new films in the now fifth season. The series is one of the best and most successful crime series in the UK. And rightly so, because the good actors, the atmospheric locations, the dignified, yet thoroughly exciting production, the fine pinch of English humor and the engaging scripts make the Oxford crime thriller a real treat for all lovers of the typical British thrill. Also the four episodes of the fifth season know how to convince again, which makes this DVD box absolutely recommendable despite the lack of extras

Source: Sebastian Betzold, synopsis: ZDF