Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2219 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-04-07
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 370 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
After the successful first standalone outing for the character, Kevin Whately returns to the title role of Lewis again, for a second full season of investigations. And things seem, to the benefit of the viewer, just as dangerous as they always were.

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

Synopsis
Kevin Whately stars as Oxford police's Inspector Lewis in this spin off of the hugely popular series INSPECTOR MORSE. Set five years after Morse's death, Lewis has returned from working in the British Virgin Isles to Oxford. This second series finds Lewis and his trusty sidekick D.S. Hathway (Laurence Fox) once again investigating mysterious murders in the idyllic surroundings of the University campus.

Customer Reviews

Great drama, can't get enough.
I never watched Morse and so don't view this Drama with the same, nostalgic eyes as some of the other reviewers and I'm glad I don't, as I think all things should be judged on their own merits. I have now seen both series of 'Lewis', having watched the first on DVD before viewing these new episodes, which have been backed up on my SKY+ box.

I was absolutely engrossed in these new episodes, which were well written, well acted and developed the characters of Lewis, and Hathaway, at just the right pace. Whately's acting is very natural and honest, like his character, who wears his heart on his sleeve. Laurence Fox's character, DC Hathaway is more veiled but we learn a little bit more about him in this series. At times his acting in Episode 3 was so good, that I forgot I was watching a drama at all. The script was also so well contructed that we were left hanging right until the end on the subject of his sexuality.

I shall be buying this DVD collection as soon as it comes out and enjoying these episodes all over again. Yes, the scenery is great but good drama is about characters you care about, and I feel you can't fail to care about Lewis. Let's hope he gets some answers in series three, which can't come around too soon for me.

Lewis Atop Detective Fiction
I have seen the first instalments of Lewis Series Two and have been fascinated by the characterization and plot-twists. All the production qualities of Morse are there: extremely high-quality writing, direction, photography and acting. The only thing missing is Mr Thaw, alas. But, given we cannot have the great man back, Mr Fox is proving to be a superb replacement. Lewis' own character has plausibly matured. Yes, he does have a certain bitterness of life which Morse had - but convincingly portrayed and arrived-at via a rather different path of loss. Lewis did, in the latest episode demonstrate a cursory knowledge of Wagner certainly - perhaps slightly over-done. However, given all the time he spent with Morse this did not seem (to me) too unreasonable - and was certainly not a major part of the drama.

I have the entire Morse DVD collection and watch most episodes quite frequently. Using analysis it is possible to pull them apart too - possible to pull almost anything apart. However, Morse had a certain magic forged in those production values and the chemistry of the two main actors. I am delighted to say that Lewis, to a very large degree, replicates that for me.

Lewis - Faultless
I have always been a great fan of Morse, but Lewis has surpassed even that wonderful series , a must-see for all fans of detective mysteries.
Kevin Whately is fantastic as always ,but Laurence Fox made it for me. as the cool unflappable Hathaway, absolutely brilliant I hope that Lewis will continue to run as long as Morse did.