Dave I don't understand how this was popular for so many years. It's deadly dull and very slow. When there are many much more entertaining shows, I don't see how this maintained high viewing figures in the United Kingdom throughout its run.The regular characters aren't likable or interesting.

Catharina_Sweden I loved this series when I watched it on television many years ago, and now when I re-watch it on my computer screen I still find it very good. I like the Oxford setting: the beautiful time-honoured surroundings in the old university town. The calmness - but with passion and wrath beneath it! I like the perfect Oxford English that most of the actors speak. It is like music in my ears! And I like Inspector Morse himself of course - I can quite relate to him, with his high intelligence, cultural interests (I am also a Wagnerian), lofty ideals when it comes to the opposite sex... and the hopeless loneliness that ensues from those kind of ideals. His romantic interest for some woman he encounters in every episode - but which always comes to nothing...What I do NOT like is first of all that the mysteries are far too complicated. As a viewer, you haven't got a chance to remember or keep apart all the people involved, and all the facts about them and the various crimes, and even less to solve the mystery yourself. I have now begun to stop halfway in every episode, and watch it from the beginning, paying great attention to detail at all times. This makes it easier to follow - but I think for a show that SHOULD be entertainment and not a mind-game, it should not be necessary.Another objection: John Thaw looks VERY old and frail for this role. I thought that he was probably 60-65 in the first seasons, so I was surprised to see, when I looked it up, that he was in fact only 45-50, which ought to be the perfect age for a successful Inspector. Maybe too much booze and to many cigarettes..? :-)Talking of age, as I am myself a middle-aged woman, I appreciate that the women Morse falls in love with are also middle-aged, a bit wrinkled, sometimes even with full figures and grey hairs. I think it is good to show the audience, that middle-aged women with a few age-related flaws can still be lovable!

Maddyclassicfilms This series is one of the most beloved British Detective series and is a superb adaptation of Colin Dexter's novels.Detective Chief Inspector Morse(John Thaw)is an Oxford Detective,he's a prickly,short tempered and shy man who loves classical music, women, beer and The Times crossword.His assistant is Detective Sgt. Robbie Lewis(Kevin Whatley)who comes from the North and is a family man with a great sense of humour.They come to work well together and become friends with Lewis giving Morse a link to the middle class and working class world and family life something the Chief Inspector really knows nothing about. The series features so many famous guest stars including Robert Hardy,Ian McDiarmid,Rachel Weisz,Patrick Troughton,Oliver Ford Davies and Sir John Gielgud. The only major change here from the books is the character of Lewis,in the books he is middle aged with a wife and is closer to Morse in age, whereas in the series he is married with a family and is much younger than Morse.In the series they have a father son relationship that I think works very well on screen and is funny and touching at times.John Thaw gives one of his very best performances as Morse and Kevin Whatley and James Grout provide strong support as Lewis and Superintendent Strange.

jeremy-tipton After following Inspector Morse as a teen and even now after watching episodes again again, I still find myself taken with how well the programme was devised, written, produced, and acted - every time I watch an episode I take a fresh view on how good it was and is. I've come across a website which is the 'Official' site for all fans of this incredible drama - http://www.morsetv.com - it really is a site all those who want to find out that little bit more about the programme and man 'Morse'. There is loads of information with interesting video clip insights from John Thaw, Kevin Whately, Colin Dexter and Ted Childs about the characters from their own personal perspective - this is a great site, highly recommended.