Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox, Clare Holman, Edward Fox, Rebecca Front, Isabella Parriss, Josh Bolt, Ariyon Bakare, Jane Slavin, Norman Gregory, Glen Davies, Miranda Raison, Alison Steadman, Stephen Churchett, Crystal Leaity.
When does the line blur between faith, science and protecting the law? In the final episode of the latest, perhaps the final series, of Lewis deals with dark question and like any question of faith, whether it is in a spiritual being, the answers in laboratory or what you know is your duty in protecting the public is all brought to bear as the man of faith, Hathaway, starts to question his belief in at least two of the facets of truth in Intelligent Design.
The seeds have been sown in the mind of Lewis; portrayed perhaps in his most happiest times for many years due to the companionship of Laura Hobbs, something that his old boss would have approved of no doubt, that the time has come to retire. As the latest body count becomes too much handle even for his redoubtable and loyal subordinate, Hathaway it seems has finally and quite understandably had enough too.
If this is the end of Oxfordshire’s great detective team then it may come across as odd to the viewer that there was no high to go out on, no firm resolution to sway the audience one way or the other in their manner of exit, just a knowing conversation between two old hands at the game and the invitation by the senior for the junior to call him by his first name. It was something that would have been unheard of in Morse’s day but it shows the strength, the bond of the friendship that has been built up over the last seven series. Lewis is not cold, not aloof enough to carry off the old ways and it is a credit to both actors who have played the central characters, Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox, that they have become so well liked for their stirring portrayals of detectives in the dreaming spires of Oxford.
The answer to whether science, religion or the law is broken first in terms of who loses faith quicker is not one that is easily given and in time honoured tradition it seems that one cannot exist without the other two. The wonderful Alison Steadman finds that out to her cost and in the science corner, Miranda Raison’s character serves up enough dishonesty to make an entire police force resign. The remainder, the faith in law and restoration of order may be snapping in the Thames Valley Police but there may be time to stop Lewis and Hathaway leaving.
A great end to the series, it can only be hoped that it is not the end completely.
Ian D. Hall