Inspector Morse

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Inspector Morse ranks 2,482 out of the 18,229 shows on TV.com.

The 159 users who count themselves as Inspector Morse fans have written a total of 4 reviews.

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Welcome to the Inspector Morse guide at TV.com.

Morse (played by the late John Thaw) is not the ideal policeman, his superiors think. He is prickly and sarcastic, a bachelor, an Oxford graduate, an intellectual snob, and he doesn't always follow protocol strictly as he... more »

Welcome to the Inspector Morse guide at TV.com.

Morse (played by the late John Thaw) is not the ideal policeman, his superiors think. He is prickly and sarcastic, a bachelor, an Oxford graduate, an intellectual snob, and he doesn't always follow protocol strictly as he should. But he gets results.

Sergeant Lewis (Kevin Whately) is a plain family man, he follows orders, and the thing that keeps him from advancing in the Force is that he seems a little slow.

The show takes place in and around Oxford, where many a mysterious murder occurs.

Colin Dexter, the author of the Morse novels from which most of these dramas developed, appears in cameo roles in very nearly every episode.

The books are:

Last Bus to Woodstock (1975)
Last Seen Wearing (1976)
The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn (1977)
Service of All the Dead (1979)
Winter's Crime (short stories) (1981)
The Dead of Jericho (1981)
The Riddle of the Third Mile (1983)
The Secret of Annexe 3 (1986)
The Wench Is Dead (1989)
The Jewel That Was Ours (1991)
The Way Through the Woods (1992)
The Daughters of Cain (1994)
Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories (1995)
Death Is Now My Neighbour (1996) and
The Remorseful Day (2000)

Barrington Pheloung's theme tune for the series is based on the Morse code for m-o-r-s-e. Less well known is the fact that he weaves other characters' names into the score in Morse Code at suitable moments. Pheloung appears as a Choirmaster in The Remorseful Day, the last episode of the series featuring John Thaw.

The Inspector Morse concept is to be revived by ITV, but apparently without Morse himself. A new two-part pilot, now expected to appear in late 2004 or early 2005, will centre around Sergeant Lewis (played again by Kevin Whately). If the new series will have a different name, it has not been announced yet.

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• Is Lewis better than Inspector Morse?

  Is Lewis better than Inspector Morse ? I don't think so, but that seems to be the consensus opinion of this site'...more »

  Is Lewis better than Inspector Morse ? I don't think so, but that seems to be the consensus opinion of this site's voting bloc. As of Sept. 13th, 2008, Morse has an overall show rating of only 8.0, compared to Lewis at 8.5. Also, looking at ratings of the individual episodes, only seven from Morse have been rated 9.0 or higher (21% of the total, counting the five specials); Lewis , by comparison, has already put five of eight over that mark (63%), with the pilot barely missing joining them as well. Is this the usual "score creep" where current fans always bid up ongoing shows while off-air products, by comparison, receive a more critical look? Or do folks agree with these relative outcomes? Don't get me wrong, I like Kevin Whatley. But he's no John Thaw. *** . less «

  soubriquet
  1 comments, last one Sep 16, 2008 + Add Comment

• Inspector Lewis

  Did anyone else see the recent follow-up episode Inspector Lewis , taking the Lewis character played by Kevin Whately and f...more »

  Did anyone else see the recent follow-up episode Inspector Lewis , taking the Lewis character played by Kevin Whately and following his life after Morse? This was shown in Britain a few months ago, made by the original Inspector Morse team and of the same quality - now it has been reported that a series is being made. I can't wait!less «

  alice2810 Last online Oct 27, 2007
  4 comments, last one Dec 22, 2006 + Add Comment

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  9.5 Superb

  English drama at it's best. hide « show »

  This is and remains one of the best dramas ever to come out of England. The interplay between the characters was always excellent. Some of the best scriptwriting and acting on television. Some beautiful Oxford settings, even though some of the storys were a little far-fetched for a town like Oxford they were always intriguing and filled with twists and turns at almost every opportunity. A wonderful show and probably John Thaw's finest performances of his career. Unique in the world of TV and there will probably never be another show like it. Unmissable any time it comes on. highly recommended.

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  chris_stfc Added Jan 15, 2007 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  It doesn't get better than this! hide « show »

  I'm positive that the world couldn't have imagined just how successful this show was ever going to be when it hit our TV screens way back in 1987, and I most certainly doubt that they expected that it would run into the next century.
  
  Morse is one of only a handful of shows that lasted several seasons while still maintaining throughout great storylines and some truly great acting, which has certainly made Morse one of greatest detectives ever.
  
  John Thaw is superb, and only adds to the fact that Inspector Morse is an essential edition to any detective mystery fan's favourite show line-up.

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  xGowronx Added Jan 23, 2006 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  The greatest detective series to come out of Great Britain ever! A must see, with greatly casted characters that keeps you coming back for more. British TV at its best. hide « show »

  Back in the year of 1987 Oxford started to get a bad reputation, a reputation they never asked for. And what was the reason that the highly acclaimed and known city of Oxford got this reputation? Because of a grumpy old detective by the name of Inspector Morse. This highly cultural, intelligent detective that fancied a good beer and classical music over anything else in life. Brilliantly casted by John Thaw, one of Britains best actors of all time, shows just what British Television is all about. Quality, through and through.
  
  The people behind the casting of this series has done a terrific job, the human interaction betweeen the characters in this series is nothing short of brilliant. The relationship between Morse (John Thaw) and Lewis (Kevin Whately) is a relationship that one wonders how works. They seem to be from different planets, but yet they manage to interact in such a way that they always ends up sorting the beans. Morse, a man that always carries around large bills always leaves Lewis to pay the bar bill because the bartender has no change for twenties, and that always patronizes Lewis in such a way that you pity him. But in spite of this slightly akward relationship, you do feel the compassion that is between the two. Even though they are highly different, they work so well together. Piecing together the pieces of the puzzle like the whole puzzle was nothing but a story book telling them exactly what happened.
  
  Morse being a loner, living on his own embracing what he loves the most, classic music he in many ways comes of as socially inapt seems and odd match to the family man Lewis. But as you watch this series, you come to understand that it could not have been in any other way. They are a perfect match, which makes the series move along so perfectly as it does. The way the series illustrates just how great detective work is done, and what personal sacrifices the ones doing such work has to endure just leaves you in awe.
  
  If you want good quality television, Inspectore Morse is a first choice by far. Many people get intimidated by the run time that a standard Inspector Morse episode has. But it's the best 100 minutes you can spend in front of the TV if you first are to spend time in front of it.
  
  Thank you John Thaw, for the work you and all the others put into Colin Dexter's works. You will always be remembered.

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  sir-tolecnal Added Jul 26, 2005 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  Chief Inspector Morse was THE greatest character on British television in the 90's. hide « show »

  Inspector Morse had it all: a charismatic lead actor (those blue eyes), a respectable sidekick, interesting storylines, great guest actors and a red vintage Jaguar. From the very episode I saw I was hooked on this grumpy, drinking, intelligent officer of the law.
  This is a series I could watch over and over again and is a standard for all other police dramas.

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  Plasticcastle Added Jun 16, 2005 All my reviews