User Reviews

This time around, Chief Superintendent Innocent (Rebecca Front) attempts to figure Detective Inspector Robert Lewis (Kevin Whately) and Detective Sergeant James Hathaway's (Laurence Fox) reasoning behind continuing the murder investigation once a dying suspect confesses to two homicides, while Doctor Laura Hobson (Clare Holman) conducts autopsies in a rather full examination room.

In the back-story, Steven Mullan (Danny Midwinter) has spent three years in prison, after crippling a teenage Jessica Rattenbury (Ophelia Lovibond) in a vehicular accident. Now wheelchair-bound, the once aspiring ballerina spends her time on her parents' Oxford estate except to appear at social function or to participate in Saint Margaret's swimming club.

Upon his release, Steven Mullan becomes the roommate of Alex Hadley (Dougal Irvine), who has been seeing Madeleine Cotton (Kellie Shirley) behind her husband's back, as Marc Cotton (Tim Treloar) operates a solarium tanning salon and, along with Madeleine, employs Steven Mullan, who also drives a truck for the city's landscaping department (which means that he's probably had his driver's license reinstated).

As a result, Alex suggests to Steven that they switch identities in order to protect Madeleine from Marc's fierce temper, and also so that Steven may start over with a clean slate.

Jessica Rattenbury's family, meanwhile, consists of her father, Tom Rattenbury (Julian Wadham), a "celebrity atheist" and son of a parish priest, who carries his Saint Christopher's medal while traveling, and seeks forgiveness and redemption; Cecile Rattenbury (Jenny Seagrove), the stern mother, who has little patience with Jessica's slacking from her therapeutic exercises; Daniel Rattenbury (Ben Aldridge), the loving but distant brother, who has recently become engaged to Hope Ransome (Zoe Boyle), who has also been involved with Manfred Canter (Michael Simkins), an Oxford Instructor in Italian Art and Renaissance, who has been an old college friend of Tom, and who has also had a past with Cecile.

The press continuously hounds Hope and Manfred to try to get the goods on them, which does not sit well with Daniel, who suspects that the gossips may be correct.

Frances Wheeler (Susan Tracy), art gallery curator, has in her collection a long horizontal painting of a forest, illustrating many figures among its trees, entitled "Vanishing Point," replicas of which are available in postcard form, one of which someone has sent unsigned to a victim.

Fiona McKendrick (Catherine Walker) has been working with the Oxford Police Department for three years and now decides to leave the force, she inviting her comrades Robert and James to her going away party, but while she and Robert get on well, she and James experience tension, which Robert maintains stems from James' unrequited romantic notions toward Fiona.

While everyone's busy socializing one Wednesday evening, a body is discovered in an Oxford apartment, an apparent victim who surprises a burglar. But Doctor Laura Hobson's autopsy report shows that the victim has been slain by drowning.

Detective Inspector Robert Lewis and Detective Sergeant James Hathaway make the rounds, questioning the Rattenburys and the Cottons and everyone in their circles, leading to an Oxford University debate forum, starring Tom Rattenbury and Manfred Canter, and a reception, at which Daniel Rattenbury douses Manfred Canter with a drink to protect the honor of Hope Ransome, whom Robert Lewis once again rescues, after rescuing her from a flock of reporters and photographers downtown earlier.

Another social event to follow marks the occasion of the 21st birthday celebration of Jessica Rattenbury, during which she wheels herself into a maze of evergreen shrubbery, where the second body is discovered, the victim of a stabbing. (The emotional stability of Jessica lies in question as to why she would subject herself to potential danger.)

But soon, a third fatality occurs as the result of an automobile's colliding with a truck near the location of Jessica's accident, the victim discovered with a note confessing to the other crimes. (So now, the Detective team must decide whether this action constitutes an accident, a suicide or a murder because they do not quite lap up the notion that this is the one whodunit.)

Well, Detective Inspector Robert Lewis and Detective Sergeant James Hathaway decide to continue to investigate the matters more thoroughly, as three females plan to exodus Oxford once and for all, while Lewis and Hathaway suspect that matters aren't as clear-cut as they may appear, and as James Hathaway scurries to Saint Margaret's swimming club by night to attempt to prevent a fourth fatality, by kicking in the glass door pane, and thrusting himself within.

The cast is rounded out by Simon Shackleton as Canter's Lawyer, Alan Bond-Ballard as Reporter, and Simon John Wilson as Policeman.

(Extra points for quality acting by several principles, including the regulars, plus haunting performances by Jenny Seagrove, Julian Wadham, Michael Simkins and Ben Aldridge.)

After two excellent episodes, Series three takes a little bit of a dip with The Point of Vanishing, it's by no means a bad episode, but after the sheer quality of the two previous offerings, this one's just a little off the pace.

I felt the story was a little off the pace, a clever concept, but the execution was perhaps a little muddled, at times I couldn't follow the story, the motives for some of the killings seemed confused. Even after a few viewings, it still doesn't seem to all fall into place.

There are definitely good points, Julian Wadham and Jenny Seagrove are both excellent in it, I also really enjoyed the performance of the ill fated Steven Mullan, Danny Midwinter was very good.

Were they trying to echo a scene from Inspector Morse, where Lewis received a disappointment about not getting a promotion? We see Hathaway's sullen face fall to new lows as he hears of a colleague's promotion. I loved Laurence Fox in this series, I just wish they'd given him some happy times now and then.

A good watch, the series is just much better in general. 7/10

This is a complex episode. There are two issues in play here. The main one involves a man who is a recognized atheist who flies in the face of the religious community. I have to take issue with the portrayal of this man as less then the "faithful." Hathaway, who has an inflexible acceptance of the church, belittles the man. It turns out that someone at some point, ran into this man's daughter, leaving her without the use of her legs. But it's much more complicated as there are evil forces at work. Also, this episode gets us into Lewis's psyche and his search for his wife's killer. I thought this was a well constructed episode but I get tired of the diminishing of those who don't just buckle under to the clergy.

A man is murdered and identified as Steven Mullan. Years earlier Mullan, in a fit of religious zealotry, tried to run down a renowned atheist, Tom Rattenbury, only to cripple his young daughter and leave her in a wheelchair. Suspicion immediately falls on Rattenbury and, to a lesser extent, his son and wife but their alibis check out. Then there's a twist in the identity of the victim.

An intriguing mystery that lifts a notch because of the engagement factor. The best episodes, like S2 E1 - And The Moonbeams Kiss The Sea, have an emotional aspect to them too and this is one of those. The connection between the crippled woman and her assailant is palpable, adds to the intrigue and makes the revelation even the more impactful.

On the emotional front there's also Hathaway having to say farewell to The Love That Couldn't Be. It's a bit clumsily done but does add a decent, refreshing sub-plot.

First off, Kevin Whately was given a more natural toupee. The previous episode's toupee was very distracting how ridiculous it looked.

The story had a classic British detective mystery feel to it. It had every overused writer's tool but the kitchen sink. Changed identity, crash victim, religious zealot, atheist, angry brother, on and on. But all worked well woven together for a story that was very satisfying.

Stunning British actress redhead Zoe Boyle as Hope Ransome was enjoyable trying hard to have a believable American accent. Ben Aldridge as angry brother Daniel Rattenbury mad at the world shtick grew tiresome.

The ending two villains though a tad predictable was played out well. Not abrupt like the previous episode. Lewis' interest in Hathaway's love life seemed forced and shoehorned in.

Hearing about 'Lewis' for the first time when it first started, there was a big touch of excitement seeing as 'Inspector Morse' was and still is one of my favourites but also a little intrepidation, wondering whether the series would be as good. The good news is, like the prequel series 'Endeavour', 'Lewis' is every bit as good as 'Inspector Morse' and stands very well on its own two feet as a detective mystery and show in general.

As said a number of times already, 'Lewis' started off very promising with the pilot and Season 1. It was with Season 2 where 'Lewis' hit its stride with things generally feeling more settled. Season 3 started off disappointingly with "Allegory of Love", which to me wasn't that bad but compared to the high calibre of the best episodes it could have been much better. "The Quality of Mercy" was a superior effort and saw the show back on track. "The Point of Vanishing" was a return to relative disappointment, it is a long way from bad and its numerous strengths are very good but it really isn't one of the best 'Lewis' episodes.

The story, while intriguing often and with some very interesting twists and turns, is too convoluted. Even for 'Lewis', which is no stranger before or since of plot convolution. Some of it could have been much better explained instead of confusing the viewer. The ending was similarly unsatisfying, it was hard to follow, not particularly cohesive and the murderer's motives could have been much clearer, can't even remember that for the first murder.

Zoe Boyle has been impressive in some of her other work, but here she seems rather bland and her accent ranged from unconvincing to distractingly bad (it actually sounded more natural in the 'Poirot' episode "Appointment with Death" which is nowhere near as bad an episode as often made out, it's unrecognisable to the book but has a lot of good things on its own merits which are always ignored by the detractors who mainly sorely comment on the adaptation's unfaithfulness and nothing else).

On the other hand, the acting is fine, anchored by Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox. Whately is again very good and carries the episode with aplomb, advantaged by that Lewis is much more developed and as said he has more development. Clare Holman adds a lot. Fox is a breath of fresh air in a great contrasting role that reminds one of a more intelligent Lewis in his younger days and his sparkling sparring chemistry with Whately is a big part of the episode's, and show's, appeal. Innocent has more to do and is more commanding, her character not as problematic as in the pilot and Season 1. Ophelia Lovibond and Jenny Seagrove are excellent in support.

Production values are of very high quality. It's beautifully shot (some of the best of the show at this point), and Oxford not only looks exquisite but is like a supporting character in itself. Barrington Pheloung returns as composer, and does a first-rate job. The theme tune, while not as iconic or quite as clever as Morse's, is very pleasant to listen to, the episode is charmingly and hauntingly scored and the use of pre-existing music is very well-incorporated.

There is some fun and thought-provoking writing, especially between Lewis and Hathaway. Jessica's fate at the end is pretty tense and you care about what happens to her.

Overall, a little disappointing but hardly a stinker. 7/10 Bethany Cox

This was a good episode in the series, which has been getting more and more into its stride.

The partnership of Whately and Fox is still not that entertaining (mainly because of Fox's colourless character), but that did not stop this story from being absorbing.

As ever, the plot was convoluted and not very easy to follow. If the phone rings during the programme, you can forget understanding the rest of the story, however brief the call. You must also time any trips to the kitchen or bathroom to the lengthened commercial breaks that ITV so thoughtfully provides nowadays.

The explanation at the end was not great. Come back, Poirot - gather everyone in the library and spell it out, please.

In our family we are still not sure who committed the second murder!

There are 3 perspectives left, right and straight ahead unless you are dealing in solid geometry ... at any rate, the vanishing perspective is straight ahead or spot on in brit speak ... i find it curious that the series tries to compete with oxford academia rather than putting the dons in their own confinement ... more stuffiness than can be absorbed ... leave it to clare for the light heart contributions