Льюис The Quality of Mercy (2006–2015) watch online HD

All of the Inspector Lewis mysteries are beautifully produced, well acted, and respectful of the intelligence of the viewer. This episode delves once again into the back structure of Oxford, with numerous and varied views of the institution and its participants. The story this time revolves around the participants in a theatrical group and their associates. There is the requisite quantity of suspects, motives, and opportunities to keep things interesting. There is also the continued development of the relationship between Lewis and Hathaway. Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox are great in their portrayals in this episode, as in the entire series. One can only hope that another series of "Inspector Lewis" is forthcoming. I, for one, am anxious to enjoy many more of these intelligent and well executed presentations.

This chapter cleverly studies effects of corruption on idealistic students by misguided campus authorities and also develops in pensive fashion the association between its leading characters, Detective Inspector Robert Lewis (Kevin Whately) and Detective Sergeant James Hathaway (Laurence Fox), who discovers during the course of a double homicide investigation the identity of the perpetrator in the five-year-old cold case murder of Valerie Susan Lewis, late wife of his partner, Robert....

As Oxford University Thespians prepare for their opening night performance of a William Shakespeare Play, "The Merchant of Venice," Doctor Emma Golding (Daisy Lewis) directs them to aspire to great heights, as this adaptation could create stars of the lot of them.

This student cast includes Sally (Jo Herbert), Alison (Sonya Cassidy), Isabel Dawson (Abby Ford), Barham Rezvani (Tariq Jordan), (Antonio?) Webster (William Petrie), and Richard Scott (Daniel Sharman) in the role of Shylock the Money-lender.

For rehearsals on the eve of opening night, the troupe prepares its outdoor stage to perform for a roster of 20 guests, including Professor Denise Gregson (Maureen Beattie) a singer and Theatre Department Head; Professor James Alderson (Nicholas Pritchard) an Archaeologist and ex-husband of Denise; Simon Monkford (Ronan Vibert), a former embezzler, staying at Randall Hotel; Phil Beaumont (Bryan Dick), an Oxford dropout and playwright, returning from Edinboro, and working as a gardener and waiter; and Joe Myers (Geoff Breton) a current student and Understudy for the role of Shylock the Moneylender.

But, backstage, Sally screams when she stumbles across a body, the victim of a stabbing, with a note beside the body, reading "Neither a borrower nor a lender be," from Shakespeare's "Hamlet."

The team of Detective Inspector Robert Lewis, Detective Sergeant James Hathaway, Doctor Laura Hobson (Clare Holman) and Chief Superintendent Innocent (Rebecca Front) is called to investigate the homicide, they strangely discovering that only one of many suspects weeps for the loss of the victim.

Amanda Costello (Shereen Martineau), a journalist and theatre critic who has graduated from Oxford two years ago arrives on the afternoon of opening night to review the Play, she also remarking upon the absence of feelings from the higher-ups, but is invited to the opening night celebration, at Prospero's Bar, just the same, when a second body is discovered, the victim of strangulation by string, again with a note beside it, this reading, "I will lead them up and down," from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Lewis and Hathaway investigate, they questioning suspects together and separately, while obtaining additional information from Christine Harper (Annabelle Dowler), the sister of Simon Monkford; Mrs. Scott (Penny Bunton), the mother of Richard Scott; Graham Wilkinson (Shaughan Seymour), the former Second in Command at Oxford P.D.; Terry Bainbridge (Gwilym Lee), the Editor of Oxford student newspaper; and Duffy (Aled Pedrick), the Desk-clerk at Randall Hotel, all in search of a blonde wig.

But when James Hathaway learns which suspect is responsible for the vehicular homicide of Valerie Susan Lewis, he pensively confides with Chief Superintendent Innocent for the manner in which he should inform Robert Lewis, who also pensively confides similar thoughts to Chief Superintendent Innocent regarding James Hathaway. Neither over-acts over inspiring appreciation for his partner, but handles his emotions professionally and without excessive sentiment.

A break-in at the residence of Professor Denise Gregson, which she shares with several professors and students from time to time, leads to another Forensics investigation and, ultimately, to Lewis and Hathaway's showdown scene once they are able to figure their solutions for "The Quality of Mercy" which Lewis may see fit to bestow.

A student at Oxford dies just before opening in "The Merchant of Venice." This introduces us to an almost cultlike grouping of actors who have no respect or concern for one another. Before long, there are other murders. But a secret hangs over everything as a professor has more than a passing interest in one of the students.

Obnoxious student Richard Scott is brutally stabbed while he and his fellow students are preparing to give a live performance of The Merchant of Venice. Keen to see Lewis is stage manager Emma Goulding, who explains she's keen to open the next night with Jo Myers set to jump into Richard's shoes to play Shylock.

The characters are brilliantly created and realised, it is very much a character driven story, the kind of episode that made Lewis utterly unmissable. Beautifully acted Ronan Vibert and Daisy Lewis are particularly good, arguably Vibert steals the show, as he so often does, hugely underrated talent.

One of the best from a purple patch of the show. All the elements that made Lewis great are here and on show.

9/10

Two dramatic entities at work here. First involves the murder of a young actor performing in "The Merchant of Venice." Soon, thereafter, a young female critic is also done in, and everyone is close mouthed. The second issue has to do with news concerning the hit and run death of Lewis's wife. The whole thing is intricately plotted and well done.

Hearing about 'Lewis' for the first time when it first started, there was a big touch of excitement seeing as 'Inspector Morse' was and still is one of my favourites but also a little intrepidation, wondering whether the series would be as good. The good news is, like the prequel series 'Endeavour', 'Lewis' is every bit as good as 'Inspector Morse' and stands very well on its own two feet as a detective mystery and show in general.

As said a number of times already, 'Lewis' started off very promising with the pilot and Season 1. It was with Season 2 where 'Lewis' hit its stride with things generally feeling more settled. Season 3 started off disappointingly with "Allegory of Love", which to me wasn't that bad but compared to the high calibre of the best episodes it could have been much better. "The Quality of Mercy" is an improvement and sees the show back on track.

My only complaints are the underdeveloped and not particularly logical ending, with a practically non-existent motive for the killer, and the pacing occasionally lacks tightness.

On the other hand, the acting is fine, anchored by Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox. Whately is again very good and carries the episode with aplomb, advantaged by that Lewis is much more developed and as said he has more development. Clare Holman adds a lot. Fox is a breath of fresh air in a great contrasting role that reminds one of a more intelligent Lewis in his younger days and his sparkling sparring chemistry with Whately is a big part of the episode's, and show's, appeal. Innocent has more to do and is more commanding, her character not as problematic as in the pilot and Season 1. Ronan Vibert gives the best performance of the solid supporting cast.

Production values are of very high quality. It's beautifully shot (some of the best of the show at this point), and Oxford not only looks exquisite but is like a supporting character in itself. Barrington Pheloung returns as composer, and does a first-rate job. The theme tune, while not as iconic or quite as clever as Morse's, is very pleasant to listen to, the episode is charmingly and hauntingly scored and the use of pre-existing music is very well-incorporated.

Much of the writing is smart and thoughtful, some lovely droll exchanges with Lewis and Hathaway and some emotional impact. The story is gripping with great twists and turns, Lewis' subplot is incredibly well done with lots of intensity and poignancy, one relates to him here too.There is also a real effort to properly develop all the ideas introduced rather than leaving questions in the balance. The characters are well written and engaging.

In conclusion, good episode with Season 3 and the show back on track. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I enjoyed this episode until the last five minutes. Other reviewers disliked it entirely but as a English Lit major from a long time ago who studied A LOT of Shakespeare, I found it a bit nostalgic. All the ins and outs of romantic intrigues among the students as well as the petty jealousies of these half grown adults chasing fame and fortune. They are the same everywhere in every age. Though they don't range to murder -- or very rarely do.

But speaking to the story told, it keeps its interest until the end and then suddenly loses steam leaving it limp and wasted. No logic. No reasons. No neat little explanation. I still have no real idea why the murderer did what they did or even if they really did it -- there never is a real confession. It's like the writer was tired of the screenplay, got to a certain point and simply handed it in. Apparently, nobody bothered to read it before filming the final scene. Truly no where near the usual standard expected from the "Inspector Lewis" clan.

This episode of Lewis isn't as obnoxious as the last one. It is, still, inconsequential. The pace is slow, choices of killers seem illogical, and Lewis "made it personal" to boot. It was totally unrelated to the story, but you know, best sellers have to include the "personal motive" cliché in order to "catch everybody quickly" :(. I assume if you're a Shakespeare's "Merchant in Venice" fan, you'll enjoy this episode as you see a quote repeated like 3 times over the film. Yes, the one about "mercy" (thus, the title). Rehearsals, the meanness of the director, journalist/ critic and actors are all there. As a "social critique" of Oxbridge's class system, how money makes a rich Iranian "be in" and a poor Northerner who also happens to be a genius (but Marxist, clichés anybody?) to drop out and take many minimum wage jobs. At least we didn't have to endure "psychoanalytical cravings" from the writer (like on the awful last episode, "Allegory of love"), so it's a start. Shakespeare is better than Freud Vulgate.

Enjoy... if you can!

PS: Ronan Vibert as "Simon Monkford" is the only good character. With a profile similar to a psychopath, he doesn't feel anything, and even tries to bargain a deal with Lewis (right after "apologizing"), what makes the CI really angry. So, they're speaking two different languages: Lewis the one of emotions, Simon the emotionally tone-deaf psychopath. Good to watch. PS2: Emma Golding is really unbearable!