Just rewatching this episode after a while, and I've just noticed what appears to me to be some form of jiggery pokery at the Cowley Nick with regards to Jim Strange. As through the 1st and 2nd series he was a lowly PC (police counstable) in series 3 episode 1 Ride, he'd been promoted to PS (police sergeant).
Now in series 3 episode 3 Prey, he has been elevated not only out of uniform into the CID, but straight in as DS (Detective Seargant) to replace DS Jakes who's left for the States. Explanation? Simply CS (Chief Superintendant) Reginald Bright, mumbling something like "in view of his promotion" and that he was taking over from DS Jakes.
What is that about, certainly looks remarkably fishy to me? If I were in Morse's shoes I'd be well put out after all he's been a DC (detective counstable) for long since Strange has been frankly fannying about in uniform.
Morse as the station DC should really have been doing, his DS exams to replace DS Jakes, but instead PS Strange is literally catapulted over Morse's head, into being his superior officer in the station, and in the force.
Further on through the episode we get a possible glimpse into what could have transpired with Strange, when he turns up unexpectedly on Morse's doorstep baring giftts. Strange invites Morse to the local for a chat, and it certainly appears to have been a case of a helping hand, or rather a rolled up trousered leg up.
A young woman Ingrid Hojort who has worked as an au pair locally has gone missing, and DI Fred Thursday is concerned that it may, in some way be linked to the disappearance, some 4 years earlier of a young woman Sandra Jordan of a similar appearance.
The Mortmaigne family own a large estate in the area with rather grandiose aims of starting up some form of wildlife park there, despite a bad history involving the cubs of wild cats, when a daughter Georgina was badly mauled by one.
Now in series 3 episode 3 Prey, he has been elevated not only out of uniform into the CID, but straight in as DS (Detective Seargant) to replace DS Jakes who's left for the States. Explanation? Simply CS (Chief Superintendant) Reginald Bright, mumbling something like "in view of his promotion" and that he was taking over from DS Jakes.
What is that about, certainly looks remarkably fishy to me? If I were in Morse's shoes I'd be well put out after all he's been a DC (detective counstable) for long since Strange has been frankly fannying about in uniform.
Morse as the station DC should really have been doing, his DS exams to replace DS Jakes, but instead PS Strange is literally catapulted over Morse's head, into being his superior officer in the station, and in the force.
Further on through the episode we get a possible glimpse into what could have transpired with Strange, when he turns up unexpectedly on Morse's doorstep baring giftts. Strange invites Morse to the local for a chat, and it certainly appears to have been a case of a helping hand, or rather a rolled up trousered leg up.
A young woman Ingrid Hojort who has worked as an au pair locally has gone missing, and DI Fred Thursday is concerned that it may, in some way be linked to the disappearance, some 4 years earlier of a young woman Sandra Jordan of a similar appearance.
The Mortmaigne family own a large estate in the area with rather grandiose aims of starting up some form of wildlife park there, despite a bad history involving the cubs of wild cats, when a daughter Georgina was badly mauled by one.