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SPOILERS AHEAD!
Where’s Colin?
We see Colin at around the 57 minute mark.
Directed by – Herbert Wise. Herbert also directed the Morse episodes; Twilight of the Gods and Ghost in the Machine.
Written by – Julian Mitchell based on the novel by Colin Dexter. Julian also wrote the following Morse episodes; Death Is Now My Neighbour (1997), Twilight of the Gods (1993), Cherubim & Seraphim (1992), Promised Land (1991), Masonic Mysteries (1990), Ghost in the Machine (1989), The Wolvercote Tongue (1987), Service of All the Dead (1987), The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn. (1987)
First broadcast in the UK on 27 November 1996
SYNOPSIS
The death of a college professor, Felix McClure, may be related to a female escort, Kay Brooks, or to the world of drugs. Thrown into the mix are Ted Brooks a man who abuses his wife and a teacher, Julia Stevens, who has a terminal brain tumour. While Morse and Lewis are attempting to solve the death of Felix McClure the body of Ted Brooks is found in the river Thames. Lewis learns that there is little chance in the near future of any promotion and questions why he is doing the job. As Morse and Lewis try to solve both cases, which may be related, their relationship is tested.
REVIEW.
(warning, this review will contain some spoilers)
Jags out of ten:
MUSIC.
At the beginning of the episode we hear, La Traviata – Prelude to Act 1 by Giuseppe Verdi.
At one hour and 39 minutes at the cremation of Julia Stephens; String quartet in g minor, Op.74, No.3 by Joseph Haydn
LITERARY REFERENCES.
At the five minute mark, Mrs Stephens says to her pupils, “Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.” This is a quote from Macbeth, Act 3 Scene 4.
In the same scene as above Mrs Stevens says to Kevin, “5E. I find you a bit of a blasted heath.” Another allusion to Macbeth. In Act 1,
Scene 3 Macbeth speaking to Banquo says, “Say from whence You owe this strange intelligence, or why Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting?”
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At around 9 minutes and 50 seconds Morse says to Lewis when he remarks that newlyweds never got up until 1pm, “Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, but to be in bed was very heaven.” Morse paraphrased lines from a William Wordsworth poem, The French Revolution as It Appeared to Enthusiasts at Its Commencement.
Upon our side, we who were strong in love!
Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive,
But to be young was very heaven!
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In the home of Felix McClure at around the 11 minute mark, Lewis says to Dr. Laura Hobson, “Hell hath no fury.” “Hell hath no fury.” An interpreted line based on a quotation from the 1697 play The Mourning Bride by William Congreve.
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At around 30 minutes and 30 seconds in Morse’s office Morse is about to tell a story about Guy de Maupassant before Lewis interrupts him. Morse says, “There’s a wonderful story by de Maupassant about that. All the girls…
Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant (5 August 1850 – 6 July 1893) was a 19th-century French author, remembered as a master of the short story form, as well as a representative of the Naturalist school, who depicted human lives, destinies and social forces in disillusioned and often pessimistic terms. I’m not familiar with de Maupassant’s work so I can’t be certain which ‘wonderful story’ Morse is referring to.
Thank to Tsjechov who informed me that they believe Morse was referring to Maupassant’s, La Maison Tellier.
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At 57 minutes the pupils are reading from Macbeth. “The time has been my senses would have cooled To hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair.” This is from Act 5, Scene 5.
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At one hour and two minutes, Lewis is investigating the theft of the knife at the Pitt Rivers Museum. The curator, Jane Cotterell, says “This is the fabled land where myths go when they die.” The curator is paraphrasing James Fenton who said, “You have come upon the fabled lands where myths Go when they die, But some, especially the Brummagem capitalist Juju, have arrived prematurely.” James Fenton was talking of the Pitt Rivers Museum. The quote is from James Fenton’s book of poems called The Memory of War published in 1982.
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At around one hour and five minutes when Morse is interviewing Mrs Stevens he picks up her copy of Macbeth and says, “Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day” It’s from Act-V, Scene-V.
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Morse returns from interviewing Mrs Stevens and meets Lewis in their office around the one hour and seven minute mark. Lewis is talking about the missing knife and Morse says, “Is this a dagger I see before me.” This is from Macbeth. The actual line is, “Is this a dagger which I see before me,”
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Morse and Lewis are standing on a road bridge over the Thames river when Lewis says, “Hell hath no fury.” “Hell hath no fury”, an interpreted line based on a quotation from the 1697 play The Mourning Bride by William Congreve.
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At one hour and 13 minutes Morse, in the Pitt Rivers Museum examining the drawer of knives, says, “Your mind lay open like a drawer of knives.” As the curator says it is a quote from a poem by Philip Larkin; Deceptions.
And light, unanswerable and tall and wide,
Forbids the scar to heal, and drives
Shame out of hiding. All the unhurried day,
Your mind lay open like a drawer of knives.
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Of course the title of the episode, The Daughters of Cain is a biblical reference, of sorts. In the modern canonical Amharic Ethiopian Orthodox Bible: Henok 2:1–3 “and the Offspring of Seth, who were upon the Holy Mount, saw them and loved them. And they told one another, ‘Come, let us choose for us daughters from Cain’s children; let us bear children for us.’
Also, Biblically undocumented transgressions by Cain’s descendants are then summarily drafted in standard Christian theology as the source for evil and violence. And thus they are seen as willing partners, who helped spawn the Nephilim race of giants-via the copulation of the degenerate daughters of Cain with the enlightened sons of Seth.
Morse mentions the Daughters of Cain and Cain’s killing of Able when he and Lewis are leaving the Pitt Rivers Museum at around one hour and 15 minutes.
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Morse and Lewis visit Mrs Stevens in hospital at around the one hour and 22 minute mark. The first thing she says is, “Double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn and caldron bubble.” Part of the Song of Witches in Macbeth. She continues to use lines from the Song of Witches.
In the same scene she says, “‘Out damned spot.” This is of course spoken by Lady Macbeth in relation to the killing of King Duncan.
Again in the same scene she quotes Lady Macbeth, ““Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia.”
Julia also says, “It will have blood, they say. Blood will have blood.” Spoken by Macbeth. Blood will have blood comes from a phrase meaning that a murder will avenge another murder.
ART
In Felix McClure’s home at the 15 minute mark we see on the right a bronze statue of Venus De Milo.
The Venus de Milo is a 204 cm (6.69 ft) tall Parian marble statue of a Greek goddess, most likely Aphrodite, depicted half-clothed with a bare torso by Alexandros of Antioch. To the left of the statue looks like a model of part of the Parthenon.
LOCATIONS.
The episode opens with a shot looking over Oxford.
After the opening shots overlooking Oxford it cuts to outside the hospital.
This is St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey.
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1 minute and 34 seconds
This is Wadham College.
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Two minutes and 10 seconds.
This is Wadham College Dining Hall.
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At around the four minute and 25 second mark we see the outside of the Brooks’ home.
This house is in the Carpender’s Park area of Watford, North London. Unfortunately, I can’t find the actual house. I spent about an hour searching using Google street view but to no avail.
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At seven minutes we get another view over Oxford.
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At seven and a half minutes we see the outside of Felix McClure’s home.
Unfortunately, I cannot find this location. I know it’s in the St Giles area of Oxford but…
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At 12 and a half minutes we see Mrs Brooks coming out of the hospital after visiting her husband.
This is Harefield Hospital, Middlesex.
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14 minutes – Morse is walking with Brownlee.
This is Christ Church.
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Morse is on his way to the college at around the 17 minute an 20 second mark.
Morse is driving down Magdalen Street with the Martyr’s Memorial in the background.
———————————————-
After the above scene Morse is seen driving into the Pitt Rivers Museum.
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31 minutes – Morse with Brownlee again.
This is Christ Church. This is the entrance to Peckwater Quad.
Where Morse and Canterbury are walking is Canterbury Quad which can be entered via Canterbury Gate which looks onto Oriel Square.
—————————————————–
After Morse’s talk with Brownlee he meets Morse and they walk to the car at about 34 minutes and 30 seconds.
This is Oriel Square.
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Ashley and Kay attend a party. About 38 minutes.
This is Bolney Court, Bolney Road, Lower Shiplake, Henley. I’m not sure the exact location but I think it is the property below.
————————————————
Lewis visits Ashley at around the 40 minute mark.
This is Seven Barrows Stables, Lambourne, Berkshire.
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Morse meets Kay Brooks at the railway station about 42 and a half minutes in.
I’m assuming this is Oxford Station.
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Around 48 minutes the police officer finds Ted Brooks bicycle.
This of course is Radcliffe Square with the famous Radcliffe Camera in its centre.
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At 53 minutes Mrs Stevens is at her school marching the kids onto a bus to travel to Stratford Upon Avon.
I remember reading that that this was a Marston Ferry School, Oxford but I cannot find any school with that name. Any schools on Marston Ferry Road in Oxford don’t match the two areas shown in the pictures above.
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At 55 minutes we return to the Pitt Rivers Museum. Kevin is returning the knife.
See above for details.
———————————————————–
At around 56 and a half minutes we see Morse drive over Magdalen Bridge.
And then he drives down Cowley Road.
———————————————–
We are at the doctor’s surgery. The receptionist calls out Ted Brooks name but he, of course, hasn’t turned up for his appointment.
This is probably a studio set.
————————————————————-
Ted Brook’s body is found.
I believe this is City of Oxford Rowing Club on the River Thames based on Meadow Lane, Oxford.
——————————————————–
At one hour and nine minutes, Kevin steals a car.
This location may also be in the Carpenden’s Park area of Watford where the Brook’s house is located.
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Near the end of the episode Morse attends Julia Steven’s funeral.
I couldn’t find this location.
PUB LOCATIONS.
Morse and Lewis discuss promotions and such like.
This is the The Crown Inn, High Street, Bray, Berkshire.
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Morse and Lewis are back in the pub at about 36 minutes and 33 seconds.
This is also the Crown Inn.
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Kay and Morse visit a pub around the 48 minute mark.
This is the Victoria Arms, Mill Lane, Old Marston, Oxford, Oxfordshire.
Actors who appeared in The Daughters of Cain and/or Endeavour or Lewis.
First up is Gabrielle Lloyd who played Brenda Brooks.
Gabrielle turned up in the Lewis episode, The Gift of Promise (2011), as Eileen Norman.
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Bernard Brown played Felix McClure.
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Bernard also turned up in the Sins of the Fathers Morse episode as Wheatly.
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Next is Lynn Farleigh who played the curator, Jane Cotterell.
Jane also turned up in the Endeavour episode, Nocturne.
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Next is the actor who played Kay Brooks, Amanda Ryan.
Amanda turned up in the Lewis episode, Wild Justice playing Gina Goffe.
CONNECTIONS OTHER THAN ACTORS TO THE LEWIS, ORIGINAL MORSE SERIES AND PREVIOUS ENDEAVOUR EPISODES.
When Morse is visiting the museum for the first time he is told that the shrunken heads are the most popular items.
This makes a tenuous connection to the Lewis episode, Expiation. In that episode Hugh Mallory (played by James Wilby) tells his children that their late mother would visit the museum to look at the shrunken heads. The mother thought the shrunken heads looked like she felt.
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Morse returns from interviewing Mrs Stevens and meets Lewis in their office around the one hour and seven minute mark. Lewis is talking about the missing knife and Morse says, “Is this a dagger I see before me.” This is from Macbeth. The actual line is, “Is this a dagger which I see before me,” Morse also quotes the same line in the episode Masonic Mysteries.
Miscellaneous.
At around the 3 minutes and 20 second mark we see Morse in his natural habitat. I have been trying to figure out what the poster he has on the wall in background is advertising. It has to be an opera, but which one? The whiskey bottle is Glenfiddich.
A big thank you to Nancy and Sloan who recognised and identified the poster. It is La Traviata, a Royal Opera poster.
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Wadham College stands in for Wolsey College.
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At around eight minutes and 25 seconds we are in Strange’s office. On the wall above a picture of a submarine is this…
The Admiralty Constabulary was a police force in the United Kingdom formed under the Special Constables Act 1923 which existed from 1949 to 1971. The Admiralty Constabulary is recruited from the Royal Marine Police, Admiralty civil servants, mostly ex-Royal Navy, and the Royal Marine Special Reserve. Another element of Strange’s life never alluded to in the Endeavour series.
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About 30 minutes and we are in Morse and Lewis’s office. On the wall a poster.
It’s a poster advertising the Verdi Festival.
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At around one hour and five minutes when Morse is talking to Mrs Stevens she says, “The number of times I’ve had her in here weeping and showing her bruises like it was St Crispin’s Day.” It is a day most famous for the battles that occurred on it, most notably the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
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Behind the scene’s photos.
Copyright T Carlton.
Copyright T. Carlton.
Sorry for the poor quality.
—————————————————
We see Julian Mitchell the writer of the episode at the funeral of Julia Stevens.
He’s the tall man with the beard behind Brenda.
British Phrases/Colloquialisms
When Brooks shouts at around the four minutes 50 second mark, “Bugger Mrs Stevens, I want my tea.” Tea is a name used in many parts of the UK to refer to dinner, a late afternoon, early evening meal.
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At around 31 and a half minutes Morse is walking with Brownlee discussing the dead student Rodway and his friend Ashley Davies. Brownlee mentions that Ashley Davies was ‘rusticated.’ Rusticated means to suspend (a student) from a university as a punishment (used chiefly at Oxford and Cambridge).
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In the same scene Brownlee mentions that Ashley Davies could have got his ‘blue‘. The Blue is the highest honour granted to individual sportspeople at the University of Oxford and is a highly sought-after achievement for Oxford student athletes.
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At around the one hour and 18 minutes Morse is talking to Brenda about Ted’s murder of Felix McClure. She says, “He came home and took his Mac off.” ‘Mac’ is an abbreviation of MacIntosh. A Macintosh is a raincoat.
———————————————————-
At around the one hour and 33 minute mark Morse and Lewis are discussing who should be arrested. Lewis thinks Brenda should be but Morse says the CPS wouldn’t go for it. The CPS in England is Crown Prosecution Service. In Scotland the equivalent of the CPS is Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
In the same scene Morse says that the women would be defended by the likes of Helena Kennedy. Helena Ann Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, QC, FRSA, Hon FRSE, is a Scottish barrister, broadcaster, and Labour member of the House of Lords. She was Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford from 2011 to 2018.
THE MURDERED, THEIR MURDERER/S AND THEIR METHODS.
First victim, Felix McClure stabbed with the ceremonial knife.
Killed by Ted Brooks. Felix found out Ted was still dealing drugs and that he would report him.
——————————————————
Next victim is Ted Brooks.
Stabbed by the ceremonial knife. But who killed him? Kay or Julia? Morse speculates he was dead before Julia and Brenda went to the theatre.
CAST
Clare Holman as Dr. Laura Hobson
James Grout as Chief Superintendent Strange
Gabrielle Lloyd as Brenda Brooks.
Phyllis Logan as Julia Stevens
Bernard Brown as Dr. Felix McClure
Benjamin Whitrow as Brownlee
Tony Haygarth as Ted Brooks
Shane Hickmott … Kevin Costyn
Dominic Brunt as Detective
Lynn Farleigh as Jane Cotterell
Amanda Ryan as Kay Brooks
Nadim Sawalha as Dr. Hassan
Jason Riddington as Ashley Davies
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This is one of my favorites so I would rate this at least an 8. In my opinion, the story line is excellent, the women characters keep you enthralled with their acting abilities as well as conjuring up an ingenious revenge plan that kept me guessing as to how this will all end. It may not have all the directing flourishes but I loved the literary references, the music and the justified (in my opinion) ending. As Morse says, they were clever and cleverest of all by being dead. I did especially enjoy the father/daughter kind of interaction between Morse and Kay. And of course there is Shakespeare! Thanks Chris for your, as always, comprehensive review. I always look forward to all of your reviews.
I found the opera poster – it’s La Traviata, Royal Opera House, 1994. https://m.facebook.com/royaloperahouse/photos/a.10157148050777579/10157148051707579/?type=3&_se_imp=0xphDJDCTqOBAiv3l
Thank you Sloan, I’ve updated my post.
Good story with an excellent cast.8.5
Good to read your review. I rate this one a little higher than you. It’s a bit padded in the middle (the scenes with Lewis at the race track are too long) but it’s a fascinating premise, with some terrific acting (Phyllis Logan, Tony Haygarth). I found the ending a bit unsatisfactory when I first watched it many years ago, but I now enjoy the low-key, open ended conclusion.
Hi Chris, how do you know the house is in the Carpender’s Park area of Watford?
Hi Stephen. I read some years ago that it was thought to be in Carpenter’s Park, South London. But there is no Carpenter’s Park in London. Carpender’s Part was the closet in name. I also went around the streets via Google street view and there is similar types of houses to the one I was looking for.
I believe Ted and Brenda Brooks’ house is at 43 Lytham Avenue, Carpenders Park. In the episode the house number has been reversed to 34 in an effort to disguise the location!
I am assuming that residents permit filming in their homes for a fee? And I’m sure there must be occasions when the location scouts have run into the perfect location but can not get permission to film. I can see why after filming the residents wouldn’t want to have it revealed. This episode is always in my top 5. Mrs. Stevens was clever indeed!
I have now watched the entire series of Inspector Morse, and I think that they should have stopped with “The Wench is Dead” as it seemed a fitting end to the show. Did Colin Dexter ever explain why he chose to kill Morse off ?
I believe, Sheldon, it was to stop not only and more any chance of Morse continuing but to make sure nobody else played the part.
I can understand that, Chris. John Thaw was sui generis as Morse. I am now on to watching him in the (so far) very entertaining “Kavanagh QC”. Interestingly, Russell Lewis wrote the first two episodes that I watched.
Kavanagh is a great series. I think Russell wrote five episodes for the series.
Hi Sheldon. When Colin Dexter himself was asked your question, his response was; “I didn’t kill Morse off, he died of natural causes!” Unfortunately, that may have been the first example of a non-suspicious death written by Dexter! It was sad, but alas Morse didn’t exactly look after himself very well. Too many pints down the pub and in the novels too many cigarettes.
The second episode of Kavanagh features a terrific performance by Phoebe Nicholls as a bereaved mum. She went on to appear in Endeavour as Caroline Bryce-Morgan in the Lazaretto episode.
I am being to suspect that Lewis was a bit of a misogynist, he would have had several female teachers in his life and yet he seems to say…they offered in nothing. A worrisome comment.
Why is it worrisome ?
I don’t see how you can make the leap from Lewis saying that he didn’t learn anything from teachers to him being a misogynist. I had bad female and male teachers whom I never learned anything from. Does that make me guilty of misogyny and misandry? No, of course not, they were just bad teachers.
This had.been my experience as well, Chris. I’ve had brilliant female and male teachers and then I’ve had very incapable ones of both sexes as well. I’ve never judged them according to their gender, just on their ability to teach. The same can be said of supervisors/bosses that I’ve had over the years. They were either good or bad and the only thing that mattered to me was how they treated me and how well they knew what they were doing.
Absolutely, Kathleen. I can still remember the names of the three teachers who had an impact on my life, Mrs Mcauley, Mr Doig and Mr Neeson. As for the names of the bad teachers, nothing.
He seems to be saying ..all his women instructors were incapable/unable to inspire and/or motivate. Would you be happy if l said my male teachers failed to inspire or motivate me? Or would you believe l was too dense to benefit from their instruction.
Men who talk like Lewis would be passing on to their children and junior officers that female intellectual contribution is of a lower level and lesser value than male intellectual contribution..thus encouraging them to disrespect female teachers and women in general. He would be robbing his children of an opportunity to expand and improve their intellect. I am not happy about that at all. Sadly this comment might be highlighting the writer’s prejudice.
That being said it that sort of attitude would lead a police officer not to listen, respect or take on board what females say to them.
Jimmy Saville and male exploiters rely on the deafness of police to allow them to escape justice.
That is why l was most unhappy about what seemed like a throw away remark. Male bullies thrive in an atmosphere where females are not respected.
Loretta – I have learned so much from my female teachers. I would never say otherwise. The episode was aired many years ago, when attitudes were very old-fashioned. I expect that the dialogue would not be the same in this day and age. Best regards to you.
Thank you Sheldon,
l believe you understood it was the dismissing of a whole gender that alarmed me. I found it alarming a writer would have Lewis say such lines. People are influenced by TV characters, so a likeable character like Lewis dismissing a whole gender is worrisome for me. However Morse however proved he had a greater intellect than Lewis when he pointed out the teacher [ Ms Stevens?] had outsmarted them both. The whole programme was about how a female teacher made her stand against male disrespect, taking the form of verbal and physical violence. Her terminal illness allowed her to escape to the normal consequences. As Baroness Kennedy noted in her book ‘Eve she was Framed’ female offenders are subject to harsher justice under the law than men.
The murdered man reminded me of a deputy head l once had the unpleasant experience of working under, a bullying and bad tempered mouthy individual.
Take care.
Today l watched “Death is now my Neighbour,” l found it very interesting when Lewis had to attend his son’s school because he had been disrespecting a young french teacher. Might it be a stretch if l suggested his son might have picked up on his father’s attitude. Lewis stated his female teachers were unable to inspire him therefore his son would be very likely to arrive at school believing women teachers were unlikely to have anything to offer him. So glad the headteacher was determined to rein in these misogynists in the making. Just saying.
Hi Loretta,
Perhaps you are reading too much into this show. I raised two boys and I can tell you it didn’t matter to them if their teacher was male or female when it came to being mischievous, as teenage boys will be. As a matter of fact, my one son had more of a problem with his male history teacher than anyone else because he could not control his class and spent most of the class time talking about himself! So some teachers, as well as some people, inspire negative behavior. Perhaps Lewis and his son experienced that with a female teacher. That would not make them misogynists. Thankfully though most teachers do wonderful things for young minds. I guess it’s the luck of the draw.
I might listen to the Lewis statement again this week if l get time, but it seemed to me Lewis dismissed a whole gender as being unable to inspire and motivate in their professional role. That in my opinion makes him a misogynist, in that instance. A whole gender? …as you pointed out there are strong and not so strong individuals within the teaching profession of both genders. It worries me a writer might slip in a misogynist statement like that and have it be accepted because it came out of the mouth of an otherwise very likeable character.
It was the writer’s intention l was questioning.
Thanks for the great blog, as always, Chris. Any update on when we can expect the reviews of the three remaining Morse episodes? Much like my old Panini sticker albums, I can’t rest until I have the full set…
Hello Digby and welcome to my website. Having just finished a new post, Merton College and it’s place in the Morse Universe, I will next be working on a review of Death is Now my Neighbour.
Look forward to those. Personally I’ve always found the last three episodes a bit disappointing. Good, just not great. Interested to hear your take
This episode in some ways is as relevant now than it was then. As the years have passed women have become more willing to speak out about male violence, and the unwillingness of the police to intervene effectively. We are all now becoming increasingly aware of the existence of a totally dis tasteful vein of police more evil and controlling than the majority of British citizens.That is why l was not convinced Lewis made just a throw away misogynist remake, but a statement that that hinted he understood his son’s inability to learn from female teachers…[chip of the old block we must assume was active in his subconscious]
Surely Jason Riddington won the annual ‘Dick Van Dyke Worst Accent’ award for this
Yes he is from Derby originally, I just looked it up!
This is always an enjoyable episode to watch. It has a good story, and because it is not all neatly sewn up at the end, it is unique. As we know Morse has always gone softer on the ladies than men.
The excellent acting of all, the cleverly planned crime, the frustration of Lewis and Morse at the end and, to me, the show of respect by Morse (as he says she was cleverest of all) to Mrs Stevens by attending her funeral, all put it in my top 5.
A particularly good performance from Amanda Ryan in this. She turns from charming (a slightly smitten) Morse to being icy cold in the interrogation room very effectively. Shame we don’t see more of this actress
Amanda Ryan plays a very different role in the Lewis episode Wild Justice.
I’m looking forward to one day reading the reviews of:
Death Is Now My Neighbour (Coming Soon)
The Wench Is Dead (Coming Soon)
The Remorseful Day (Coming Soon)
Hi Carolyne. Now that I have finished my Endeavour book my next task is writing a review of the Morse episode Death is now my Neighbour.
So great to hear from you Chris. You take your time with all of this; it’s a great legacy you have created that will hopefully remain online for future viewers.
I watched Death Is Now My Neighbour last night and have two more Morse episodes plus the Lewis series to watch next. I will always check back to see if there are any new posts from you. I wish you all the best.
Hi Chris, just wondering when you might finish the reviews? I thoroughly enjoy them and am looking forward. I have the last two episodes of Morse still to watch and will miss it when I’m finished. Endeavor is also fantastic and have yet to watch Lewis, but your blog really enhances the experience
Hi Jennifer. I hope to get around to the reviews very soon.
I just watched this episode again and this time it struck me that Morse is in a very good mood throughout, can’t exactly say happy, but he was quite nice to Lewis engaging in conversations with him and even laughing/joking with him. I love those scenes. He was also actively advocating for Lewis’ promotion praising him to Strange. He seemed very upbeat in contrast to his usual grumpy (still lovable) mood.
Indeed, it seemed to me that Morse was quite mellow in most scenes. He showed his loyalty to Lewis; he was affable to the suspects—well, not so much in questioning Brenda; and he seemed to smile quite a bit.
You correctly identified Harefield Hospital but located it in Herts. Admittedly, if one were to spit Northward when the wind was in the South, he might hit Herts but, in truth, Harefield is in Middlesex.
Thank you Kenneth, I have rectified the error.
Fascinating episode. While the murder of Felix McClure is wrapped up, that of Ted Brooks isn’t. It seems that Julia Stevens did mastermind that, and the student Kevin is shown stealing the knife, and it’s likely Brenda Stevens had some participation, we really don’t know exactly what happened. Morse and Lewis get tripped up trying to bring Kay Brooks into the circle, but we really don’t see anything that implicates her at all. And she doesn’t seem remotely rattled by the questioning, consistently insisting on her innocence.
In any case, Ted Brooks was a terrible man, and I rooted for his murderers.
I did think it odd that Kay used Brooks as her surname. Ted Brooks wasn’t her father, after all. It’s far more common for stepchildren to keep their birth names. And it’s not like she had a good relationship with the stepfather.
This stand-alone episode, like the first, does not start with the usual Barrington Pheloung opening, in which the name of the culprit/murderer is spelled out and enunciated (in Morse code rhythms) in the high strings. Instead, it is the opening (again, high strings) of “La Traviata” that is played. Why? The rest of the score is Pheloung (with a very occasional snippet of Verdi), and his work is used sparingly, and does not intrude on the action. If a Verdi opera had to be used, why not: “Macbeth”? A French courtesan who dies of tuberculosis scarcely nothing to do with this episode. Well, at least it’s not the travesty of the previous episode, in which Debussy’s one and only string quartet is hiudeously butchered and trashed, for no apparent purpose whatsoever.
What was Julia saying when she told Kevin he is “a bit of a blasted heath”? I understand it’s a reference from Macbeth, but what was she telling him? I find you attractive? I am ready to let you do more than just flirt with me? I find you overwhelming and you’re coming on too strong? Or what? I have seen this episode many times and I’m always a little baffled by this. Thank you so much for your fantastic website!
Possibly it’s not just a Shakespearean reference but Julia was possibly also alluding to Emily Brontë’s Heathcliff.