Ep 2. The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn

Inspector Morse is a British detective drama television series that follows the investigations of the titular character, a senior inspector with the Thames Valley Police in Oxford. The show is based on the novels by Colin Dexter and stars John Thaw as the iconic detective. Season 1 episode 2, entitled "The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn," follows Morse and his partner, Sergeant Lewis, as they investigate the murder of a deaf member of an Oxford examination board.

The episode begins with a bang, quite literally, as a bomb goes off at the offices of the Oxford Examination Syndicate. Nicholas Quinn, a deaf member of the board, is killed in the explosion, leading Morse and Lewis to launch an investigation into who might have wanted him dead. Quinn, who relied heavily on his hearing aid, was known to be a meticulous and detail-oriented employee. However, his colleagues were not exactly fond of him, and there was a general feeling that he was something of a difficult character to work with.

As Morse and Lewis begin to dig into Quinn's life, they discover that he was part of a secret club of deaf men who were determined to take over the board. Unsure if this group had anything to do with Quinn's death, the detectives begin to interview various members, each of whom seem to have something to hide. Meanwhile, a parallel investigation by the police’s Anti-Terrorism Unit tries to solve the mystery of the bomb.

The sleuths interview one of Quinn's co-workers, Mrs. Crisp, who is initially reluctant to speak with them. After some gentle prodding, she reveals that Quinn had an illicit affair with one of her colleagues. She also mentions that the deaf club members would gather occasionally in secret to discuss an undetermined problem related to the exams. Morse seems convinced that the deaf club and the secret could be tied to Quinn's death, so he sets his sights on the club's president, Dr. Bartlett.

Throughout the episode, Morse and Lewis encounter several roadblocks in their investigation, including having a valuable piece of evidence stolen from their possession. They eventually come to learn that the syndicate's real problems center on the exams that have long-standing credibility issues- the faulty questions go unnoticed because of lack of proper communication between the members. As the episode progresses, the stakes get increasingly higher. The more they learn about Quinn and the syndicate, the more evidence they gather that someone is out to stop them from cracking the case.

In the end, Morse and Lewis are able to successfully unravel the mystery of Quinn's death, and the answer isn't a simple one. They find out that all the events had been set in motion to change the wording of an exam to benefit a particular client's financial interest. The client was willing to go to shocking lengths to ensure success and had no qualms about murdering someone who could potentially ruin their plans.

"The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn" is a well-written, captivating episode that showcases Thaw's skills as Morse. The character's idiosyncrasies, often bordering on arrogance, make for some humorous moments in what is an otherwise serious investigation. The backdrop of Oxford is gorgeous, and the cinematography makes the city as much a character as any of the human players. The pace of the episode is measured, allowing the audience to take in the details of the investigation, but never dragging on too long. Fans of classic detective dramas will find "The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn" to be a satisfying addition to the genre.