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!
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!