Lewis: Series Two - Region 2

This series of Lewis is set five years after the death of Inspector Morse (to whom Lewis was, of course, the sidekick), and while the gap left behind by the late, great John Thaw is occasionally felt, this is still very much quality drama in its own right.

Thus, this DVD set brings together all four feature-length episodes from the second series of Lewis, and finds the detective in his familiar Oxford stomping ground. Accompanied by Laurence Fox’s DS Hathaway, a collection of well-written, compelling mysteries are waiting to be solved.

The series’ investigations cover the discovery of a body in a library through to the world of underground boxing and a rape case that brings out the worst in the Oxford establishment. And there aren’t any weak links here: each episode is involving, intelligent and a gripping watch. Even at its worst, Lewis is very good television drama.

What’s more, Whately is terrific in the increasingly complex central role, and the scripts continue to allow him to flesh out the character. Lewis is, in many ways, a flawed man, and as he works his way through the layered and involving cases, this becomes ever-more obvious. And the programme is all the better for it. For in spite of some cynicism when it first announced that a standalone Lewis programme was being produced, there’s ample here to silence the most sceptical of naysayers. For Lewis is, simply, very strong television. --Jon Foster