Alma Cullen, based on a Colin Dexter idea

25^th January 1989

A high flying architect is found strangled in his car, and leads to a murky tale of love and betrayal.

Morse is tripping over himself to try to get somewhere with Dr Russell, so when his dance is interrupted "Sometimes I think my sergeant hates to see me enjoying myself. "

His meeting with high class hooker Camilla makes him very uncomfortable, both with her profession and talking about his approach to women "Too choosy .. too hesitant .. too lazy .. too busy "

He's quick to identify beer as 'pure food', to chide Lewis for watching evidence "Seen enough to know how Gifford liked his porn ?", and fails to commiserate with the wife of a suicidee who deludes herself with the idea it could have been an accident.

Lewis is on good form, though unhappy with his boss's limited food supplies at home.

On being asked what sort of man disconnects Frau from the Jungfrau on a postcard he quickly quips "The sort who gets strangled for his jokes, sir ?"

He remains unconvinced of a suspect's alibi "He doesn't look much like an ice skater does he? I can't see him in a sequinned cat suit"

He does return to form of providing a vital breakthrough on Gifford's diary.

After Lewis is knocked out by an intruder

Morse: "How are you feeling Lewis ?"

Lewis: " A bit groggy, but not bad. I really appreciate you coming down to the hospital"

Morse: "Well, it saves time doesn't it ? You get the OK, we can press on with the job. Anyway, you're a bit of a record breaker now – two cracked heads in how many weeks ?"

It's all a question of time – hours and minutes and days as well.

Its all bit parts for Who actors this time – we see Philip "Sgnt Calder" McGough, Ivor "Mogran" Roberts and Michael "Terrileptil" Melia. And I also get chance to big up someone I missed from the first ever Morse but who makes a welcome reappearance – Lee "Big chested Romana" Richards.

Michael Melia

Lee Richards

Ivor Roberts

Philip McGough

There's also John Bleasdale as one of the constables who played a Robot of Death, but I've no idea which one (PC or Robot)

Two excellent played roles stand out – Mel Martin always plays strong women, but perhaps most memorably as Ian Holm's wife in Len Deighton's Game, Set and Match series, and George Irving who was at one point the best thing in Casualty as surgeon Anton Meyer.

One of the rare occasions when Mr Dexter is absent from proceedings.

No book.

We're back to Morse's (literary) love – Wagner, specifically the opera Parsifal which he intends to impress Doctor Russell with, (and in which she reciprocates at the end of the story).

Parsifal was Wagner's final opera, and was based around stories of knights, the Holy Grail, wizards and the Spear of Destiny – the contents forming the basis for many an attack on his anti-semitism and support of the Nazis even though the Nazis banned it for being too pacifist.

Wagner also tried to arrange it so that it could only be legally performed at Bayreut (so as to be a family moneyspinner) but that was overturned .

Blimey – what an opening shot, and a very clear set up within the first few minutes for quite a clever story, although again more of a howdunnit than a whodunnit. The interplay between Morse and Dr Russell is excellent, in what turns out to be their final outing. Its also nice to see some real deductive reasoning going on for the first time in a few stories, as Morse and Lewis fight their way through a series of motives. And full marks to the production team for not pulling a fast one with Morse's plan to trap his suspects – watch and listen carefully to the scene again if you can and you'll see it played out properly in real time.

Finally, a few words about Amanda Hillwood's excellent performance as Dr Russell, a pretty limited part but which made it a three-handed act by the end. I'm not sure the 'will-they-won't they' could have lasted much more than one more series, and then she'd probably need killing off.