[Mitten Kitten]

Originally Posted by striing

I like the new sidekick. Can't think where I've seen him before though.

Apart from one off appearances in shows such as Luther, Casualty, Law & Order UK and a few others, Getting on seems to be one he was in for the series (never saw it myself). I wanted him to be more in evidence. Maybe he will get more to do in the second part.

[Doghouse Riley]

Originally Posted by alfster

Whately has been wondering for a fews years whether he should carry on. Part of is thoughts about carrying on has been that there are people who get employed to the make the show and rely on him for some yearly work...how about that for a nice thing to think about in why you carry on - thinking about the effect on others.

But he has said he's been playing the role (not every year though) for 25years.

He was unsure of doing the Lewis series in the first place as he wasn;t sure he could step into Thaw's shoes as it were or whether the series would be good.

I think he has been great and the series have been as good as Morse.

It's often the case, actors who "star" in particular long running series, think that "everyone will want them" if they decide to stop doing it. They forget that it's the drama with which people mostly identify. In the last couple of series John Thaw's character began to irritate me, but I still watched it.

I'd suggest Whatley would be "unemployable" in a major role in something else.
But he might find occasional work, as did a previously high profile actor, "The Last Detective's" Peter Davidson in this.

[catsitter]

Originally Posted by Doghouse Riley

It's often the case, actors who "star" in particular long running series, think that "everyone will want them" if they decide to stop doing it. They forget that it's the drama with which people mostly identify. In the last couple of series John Thaw's character began to irritate me, but I still watched it.

I'd suggest Whatley would be "unemployable" in a major role in something else.
But he might find occasional work, as did a previously high profile actor, "The Last Detective's" Peter Davidson in this.

Peter Davison is a regular on Law and Order UK.

[Doghouse Riley]

Originally Posted by catsitter

Peter Davison is a regular on Law and Order UK.

Hmm..

Is he?
Is it a central role?

I remember vaguely seeing one episode, but it seemed a rather lame version of the popular U.S. series. So not something I'd watch again.

[catsitter]

Originally Posted by Doghouse Riley

Hmm..

Is he?
Is it a central role?

I remember vaguely seeing one episode, but it seemed a rather lame version of the popular U.S. series. So not something I'd watch again.

I must admit I haven't watched it much since he joined the cast but I believe he took over Bill Paterson's role as the prosecutors' boss.

[Yvie123]

Decided to watch the first half last night instead of waiting for the full episode.
An intriguing plot but it did feel a bit flat for me without Hathaway - I've grown as attached to him as I was to Lewis as Morse's sidekick; presumably he couldn't commit to all 3 episodes this series.
Some nice moments with Lewis and Laura, though.

[Verence]

Did the new sidekick actually do much??

[Yvie123]

Originally Posted by Verence

Did the new sidekick actually do much??

He barely spoke!
Maybe he'll have more to do next week.

[Verence]

Originally Posted by holly berry

I think it works just as well without Fox. Wonder what that notebook found by the alcy dad contains ...

Possibly details of some of Peter Davidson's dodgy deals??

[Gill P]

Originally Posted by Verence

Did the new sidekick actually do much??

He smiled a lot!

[catsitter]

I wonder whether Hathway will be calling in at Croatia on the way back from Kosovo to find some important clue?

[Eater Sundae]

I really really do not like it split into two episodes. I much prefer self contained stories. Fair enough if it needed 5 hours to tell the story, then you would show it over several weeks. However, when it's just 2 hours, I think it spoils the flow to split it.

[Doghouse Riley]

Originally Posted by catsitter

I wonder whether Hathway will be calling in at Croatia on the way back from Kosovo to find some important clue?

Yes it looks like it, as usual all the "best bits" were included in the next episode's trailer showed after the programme.

[catsitter]

Ah, I switched channels to avoid that!

[Granny McSmith]

I missed my Hathaway fix.

The new bloke had hardly anything to do - I couldn't really see the point of introducing him; Lewis could have done it all on his own. Still, maybe he'll contribute the vital bit of evidence that solves the case. Though I do worry that these characters who seem to be introduced for no good reason often end up dead.

Nice to see the Robbie/Laura romance warming up slightly - not before time!

[davie1924]

Originally Posted by Gill P

He smiled a lot!

Reminded me of Parking Patawaya on Harry and Paul. Was it the same actor?

[striing]

Originally Posted by Mitten Kitten

Apart from one off appearances in shows such as Luther, Casualty, Law & Order UK and a few others, Getting on seems to be one he was in for the series (never saw it myself). I wanted him to be more in evidence. Maybe he will get more to do in the second part.

Ah yes of course, the cleaner who was offered the job that turned out to be unpaid. He was so good in that.

Originally Posted by Verence

Did the new sidekick actually do much??

Not really. They seemed to have brought Rebecca Front forward to fill the Hathaway gap - as if we can't cope with a new face.

Originally Posted by Doghouse Riley

I'd suggest Whatley would be "unemployable" in a major role in something else.

I disagree. But then I still think of him as Neville. If he can do two roles convincingly, why not more?

[Flukie]

Originally Posted by catsitter

I wonder whether Hathway will be calling in at Croatia on the way back from Kosovo to find some important clue?

The new TV mag does say Lewis gets in touch with him and asks him to do something for him and he's not happy about it!

I didn't watch this one, I always V+ Lewis so this time I'm watching both together next week.

[Doghouse Riley]

Originally Posted by striing

Ah yes of course, the cleaner who was offered the job that turned out to be unpaid. He was so good in that.


Not really. They seemed to have brought Rebecca Front forward to fill the Hathaway gap - as if we can't cope with a new face.


I disagree. But then I still think of him as Neville. If he can do two roles convincingly, why not more?

I can't see him getting a "lead role" in something else at his age, in the eyes of many, I guess he's a bit of a "Ken Barlow" now. Whereas Lawrence Fox, if he goes, would stand a better chance.

[centa01]

To be honest kevin whately has never given the impression in any interview that he wants another lead role, in fact the opposite is true. He certainly doesn't expect it. In one interview he gave he said he is not driven to act anymore. He enjoys his work but doesn't feel the need to do the big parts anymore. I would also take issue with the ken barlow comment, robbie lewis is not boring or stuffy just comfortable and safe and coming to the end of a long career! I love his craggy smile and his relationships with hathaway, laura and innocent are just getting better. We've also got to remember that lawrence fox is half his age and would logically have a longer career ahead of him post lewis!!!!! The shame of this series is splitting each episode into 2 parts. The beauty of the show was the slow build up with oxford itself playing her own stunning part. But hey i love it and will miss it.

[Doghouse Riley]

Originally Posted by centa01

To be honest kevin whately has never given the impression in any interview that he wants another lead role, in fact the opposite is true. He certainly doesn't expect it. In one interview he gave he said he is not driven to act anymore. He enjoys his work but doesn't feel the need to do the big parts anymore. I would also take issue with the ken barlow comment, robbie lewis is not boring or stuffy just comfortable and safe and coming to the end of a long career! I love his craggy smile and his relationships with hathaway, laura and innocent are just getting better. We've also got to remember that lawrence fox is half his age and would logically have a longer career ahead of him post lewis!!!!! The shame of this series is splitting each episode into 2 parts. The beauty of the show was the slow build up with oxford itself playing her own stunning part. But hey i love it and will miss it.

My point in mentioning the similarity with "Ken Barlow" was that Kevin Whatley after all this time, will forever be "Lewis" to most viewers in whatever else he's in, whereas Lawrence Fox still has the opportunity to do other work and would not so similarly identified with his character as he ages over the next twenty years or whatever..

[Yvie123]

Originally Posted by centa01

To be honest kevin whately has never given the impression in any interview that he wants another lead role, in fact the opposite is true. He certainly doesn't expect it. In one interview he gave he said he is not driven to act anymore. He enjoys his work but doesn't feel the need to do the big parts anymore. I would also take issue with the ken barlow comment, robbie lewis is not boring or stuffy just comfortable and safe and coming to the end of a long career! I love his craggy smile and his relationships with hathaway, laura and innocent are just getting better. We've also got to remember that lawrence fox is half his age and would logically have a longer career ahead of him post lewis!!!!! The shame of this series is splitting each episode into 2 parts. The beauty of the show was the slow build up with oxford itself playing her own stunning part. But hey i love it and will miss it.

Great post!
I agree with every word of this - especially about the lead-in with Oxford as the back drop.

[jk1978]

How adorable was the hand holding!???

In fact Laura and Robbie are just being so adorable in this "episode" Im counting the two weeks as one!

[19Nick68]

Not liking this week between episodes.

Would prefer something like Silent Witness where they have it on back to back nights.

[j'aimelatele]

Dont like the week gap either.... It just breaks the flow of the story IMO...
Lewis and Laura are def getting closer...very quickly suddenly! A bit of romance will be nice...