MovieChat Forums > The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001) Discussion > Inspector Lynley or Inspector Lewis whic...

Inspector Lynley or Inspector Lewis which is better?

posted 13 years ago by NEPatsFan83
17 replies | jump to latest

I've never seen Inspector Lynley, just clips of episodes in YouTube and the show seems really dated. I'm currently watching PBS Mystery's Inspector Lewis and I love the show & want all the series DVDs. PBS.org's store also has the complete series of Lynley, but given I've never seen a full episode I'm cautious about buying the complete series or buying 1 series, liking it and wanting the complete series and wasting money or having 2 series 1's...I should mention, I'm also a huge fan of Foyle's War. Any suggestions or input on Lynley or maybe a specific episode I could watch that would give me a good idea of how the show is. I hope it doesn't get too soap opera-y, and really sticks to the mystery solving story line.

[–] TravisTheSky 13 years ago

Hmm, they don't compare! I did not fall in love with the 'Lewis' programme until I started to think of it as 'Hathaway.' The episode 'Dead Of Winter' changed my focus off of Kevin Whately, who I never found compelling enough to carry a show, onto Laurence Fox, who is more interesting. I now like 'Lewis' more than 'Lynley,' but only because 'Lewis' is fresh and new. Both of the main characters in 'Lynley' were likeable right from the start.

Boycott PBS and watch everything on YouTube. PBS still expects its viewers to put up with missing scenes and deleted characters. In the days before multi-region DVD players and the world wide webosphere, that was the only way most Americans could access British Mysteries. Nowadays, it is a sad anachronism.
Lewis:http://www.youtube.com/user/starman2110#g/c/5B10E427455DBF02

Do NOT waste your money buying 'Lynley' on Region 1! Many of the episodes are the same cut-for-time ones that aired on PBS.

Just in the past few weeks, someone has uploaded all of the 'Lynley' episodes on YouTube. Unfortunately, he took the various series from different sources. The version of Series 1 that he uploaded is the same old edited version I've already seen half a dozen times! So far, series two and three appear to be the full authentic Region 2 originals. So if you pass over the first five episodes, any of the others should be fine. Look at IMDB's full episode list to see what the initials stand for.
http://www.youtube.com/user/candidate1951#g/c/35870D96B325E0F7

I'm sick of waiting to see the 'Lynley' content that I have missed for the past dozen years, so last week I used some of my birthday money to order the real UK version of Series 1 from Amazon.co.uk. It only cost seven pounds!!!

Foyle:http://www.youtube.com/user/starman2110#g/c/1CA805DF2CA50400

[–] NEPatsFan83 13 years ago

Wow thanks for the info. I'm in the US and don't own a region free dvd player. I can play region 2 dvds on my computer, but I don't want to buy something I can only watch on my computer, or convert and watch on my ipod, like I had to do for Sparkhouse.

I actually found 4 or 5 episodes of Lynley on Netflix, and I really like the show. Found 15 episodes of Lewis and I've watched about 5 so far. I really like both shows, they are very different from each other, and so is Foyle... Haven't seen Dead of Winter, but that will be the next one I watch since you recommend it :)

I haven't noticed anything missing when I watch anything on PBS, or any difference between what's on PBS and what's on itunes or Netflix. Can you give me any examples of missing scenes, I've also seen all of Foyle's War series 1 which I bought from B&N, so if you can think of anything missing from that series or any particular parts between those 3 shows let me know.

[–] TravisTheSky 13 years ago

I never noticed the missing content either, because it wasn't there!!

With one exception: You can see my thread on this same board about the Lynley episode "For the sake of Elena." In the full version, the victim was enganged to be married, but that whole subplot and the character of the fiance were deleted from the American version. I saw that episode for the first time about a decade ago. In 2011, I finally learned that the victim was engaged.

When I wised up and started searching for the authentic Region 2 versions, I found missing scenes in EVERY show that aired on "Mystery!". In most episodes there are many extra little moments: More sentences in each paragraph, more music and lingering pan shots of scenery, more detailed explanations making it clear what happened, more meaningful looks between characters.

Someone over on the Inspector Lewis board took the time to watch PBS's edited version and the real thing, and typed out long explanations of exactly what is missing. The most obvious cut I saw was an entire minor character removed from 'Falling Darkness,' the Halloween episode.
'Expiation' was probably the most complicated, confusing episode of Lewis. A few years ago, I saw it on PBS. It left my head spinnging. I gave up and moved on to other shows. Later I saw the full episode online. I understood every minute of the complex plot. I realised that it made sense! It was a good story, NOT a confusing mess.

You should be alright buying the Region 1 version of Inspector Lewis if the discs were made this year or in 2010. Recently, PBS specifically advertised that it was selling the "Original UK Version" of the show. Look for that language on the packaging.

I never got into Foyle, so I don't know what was cut. I HAVE seen American fans complain about the edits. You might want to ask on that forum.

-Good Luck! I want everyone to know about the nasty PBS edits, AND the availability of great British shows online.

[–] NEPatsFan83 13 years ago

Thanks a bunch. Most recent BBC show I bought was Downton Abbey, got that from B&N and it says UK version.. I watched a couple eps on PBS & iTunes and then the dvd once I bought it and everything was the same, but I will be looking out for UK version on the products when I do purchase

[–] greenegg 8 years ago

I know it's three years after this thread initially appeared, but I wanted to add my two cents about how much I value my region-free DVD player. I purchased my first one twelve years ago, and I've never regretted it. I now have two that I use every day. Ordering UK DVDs is so easy, and in some cases, cheaper. Aside from a wider selection of favorite UK series, I have noticed most of the UK versions are more complete than many American versions. I know PBS made a number of cuts from I, Claudius, among other series.

As for the original issue, I love both these series. I'm not big upon comparing series. I either like or dislike something without much need to compare them. If something gives me enjoyment on any level, that's all I need. Technically, I'll probably give a bit of an edge to Lewis, only for its connection to the Inspector Morse and Endeavour series, both of which I adore. I'm a huge Foyle's War fan, as well.

Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops! 

[–] goodsmartman 12 years ago

You have to ask?
Lewis by a landslide.

[–] Greenteeth 12 years ago

Lynley is one of my favorite TV series (I'm in the states). I was really disappointed when it was cancelled. I also really like Lewis. I find it hard to compare the two shows other than the fact that they are both crime dramas. What is similar is that both shows are driven by the relationships- relationships that are very intense at times- between the two main characters in each. It amuses me to go to You Tube and see Lynley and Havers portrayed in a romantic light. The show is not like that at all. The early Lynley episodes really point up the fundamental differences bewteen Lynley and Havers. Sometimes those differences can be almost explosive.

[–] newatt-2 11 years ago

Lynley has some very weak episodes in seasons 2 and 3 - I have been watching sequentially from a boxed region 2 set and I almost gave up on the series because of the stereotyping of characters' responses and etc. However, eventually it turned around and became fun to watch again.

I've never seen an episode of Lewis that was as weak as those weak episodes of Lynley were. Hathaway is more interesting than Havers (and I like Havers plenty). There are fewer "go to" memes in Lewis, e.g. the people being questioned by the police are not ALWAYS hostile and rude nor is Lewis ALWAYS on a case where he has a conflict of interest that he should be declaring in order to abandon the case. Also Lewis has more humour in it (although it took Lewis a little while to find its feet on the humour front).

I am sorry that Lynley was cancelled, but I am even sorrier that Lewis is being cancelled.

[–] Moscoso1967 11 years ago

I totally agree with you!
I'm sorry that both shows were cancelled and in my opinion too Lewis is even better than Lynley because a) Hathaway is more interesting than Havers (although she's good) and b) Lewis has more humour in it (which is a good way to ensure that an episode is entertaining and doesn't get to melodramatic - that's something I can't stand and was the main reason which spoilt the otherwise good "Cracker" for me).

But my favourite detective series of the 21st century so far is "Inspector George Gently" which has two interesting lead characters, humour, and takles some very grave subjects without ever getting whimsical.

[–] cam8122-152-725851 11 years ago

I talked to Netflix and was told to make my wish known to see Inspector Linley episodes again, on
their Facebook page.

[–] jjstauffer-1 11 years ago

For me it is "Lewis" hands down, no contest. I'm a big fan of the "Morse" TV series and books too, and "Lewis" is a great continuation of that.

I really liked the early "Lynley" series, but then for a while I couldn't watch it so I tried the books. The early books were good, and I really liked Lynley and Havers. But then the books started getting longer and longer, and George really seemed to delight in torturing her two main characters. When I heard what happened to Helen (I hadn't got to that book yet) I stopped reading and haven't looked back. I've seen a few episodes since then but that's it.

[–] somethingclever1 11 years ago

It's Lewis for me as well. I often found the Linley character a bit of a whiny douche. Also it was easy to identify the main villain pretty early on in many of the Linley episodes (this was especially true towards the end of the series). Not so much with Lewis.

[–] maryjean1164 10 years ago

I have to say that I liked the Lynley series more, I think because I liked the characters more. Lewis is a good series, but I just didn't like the characters as much. I began reading the Elizabeth George novels, and liked those, as well.

[–] fanaticita 10 years ago

Lewis absolutely! While I like Lynley a lot, in fact, I'm starting the series again on dvd, but I can't stand Helen. Lewis and Hathaway are fantastic, and I wish that Hathaway had his own spin off show.

But as to the plots. ..I think Lewis is better written with more interesting plots. I'm a GB detective junkie and have seen just about all of the shows available in the US.. . . Lynley, Morse, Lewis, George Gently, The Last Detective, all of the Robson Green shows, Cracker, Endeavour (the young Morse), Prime Suspect, etc.. . . . .those were the best.

[–] bookme120 10 years ago

Lewis is better. Lynley is gets annoying, especially during the first three seasons or so when the inspector is so mean and whiny. It really should be the Sergeant Havers show since she always gets the job done despite being treated so badly. It's worth watching any way. I'm a HUGE fan of Lewis. I love Hathaway. Hopefully there will be an Inspector Hathaway show someday. ") My current favorite is Vera.

[–] somethingclever1 8 years ago

Yeah Vera is really good. She's not the kind of police that would ever be put on television in the US, but she's a great character.

[–] lawson14 8 years ago

After watching both episodes of Season 1, I was able to tune into Morse just to get the awful taste of this show out of my head. It was lovely to see Morse and Lewis.