Masterpiece Mystery Inspector Lewis Preview: Allegory of Love Airs Sunday

The second season of the Inspector Lewis mysteries continues with ‘Allegory of Love’ Sunday, October 4th, 2009, 9:00 pm - 10:30 pm ET on PBS. Here is a brief description from the Masterpiece Mystery website. Austen fans will recognize two actors who formerly portrayed Pride and Prejudice characters Charles Bingley and George Wickham!

Young and handsome Oxford writer Dorian Crane (Tom Mison – Charles Bingley in Lost in Austen) is following in the noted fantasy footsteps of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien with his newest book. The day after Crane's book launch party, reality shatters the celebratory mood when a young Czech barmaid is found dead by the river, savagely murdered with an antique Persian mirror. Some of the grisly circumstances seem to have been lifted from Crane's fiction. But the celebrated author claims no knowledge of the crime, instead fawning over his bride-to-be and muse Alice Wishart. At the murder scene, Lewis and Hathaway find a one-word note scrawled in blood that references a place in Iraq. As a result, Lewis and Hathaway get pulled into the world of Oxford's literary elite, only to find that it harbors resentment and jealousy and at its center, holds terrible secrets beyond all imagination.

Watch a preview of the Masterpiece Mystery season
Read the full synopsis (spoilers ahead)
Read the full cast and crew listing

Last week’s episode ‘The Great and the Good’ had clues to Inspector Lewis’ wife’s mysterious death. You can catch up with the season and watch it online through Sunday, October 4th, 2009, ET.

This is NOW my favorite series in the Masterpiece Mystery lineup this season from PBS. It is smart, reflective, and features excellent casting. I hope you enjoy it also. I am totally hooked.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

Mr. Bingley. Perpetual sidekick. Always in a good mood, kind, rich, and good looking. So why are we not as enamored of Mr. Bingley as of Mr. Darcy? Do we really prefer the dark and brooding Mr. Darcy over gentle and attentive Mr. Bingley? This week we ask you to decide which actor played Mr. Bingley best. Who, in your mind, was Mr. Darcy's best foil in a movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice? We direct you to only the three latest cinematic Mr. Bingleys, as he is hard enough to remember as it is.

Your Favorite Mr. Bingley

Crispin Bonham-Carter, Pride and Prejudice 1995

A director and distant cousin of Helena Bonham-Carter, Crispin played a polite Mr. Bingley who was always patient with Mrs. Bennet while not taking his eyes off Jane. The BBC said of Crispin's Bingley: "Mr Bingley is that wonderful combination of both nice, handsome and rich." Nice, yes. But also a bit boring. Would you agree? Crispin's acting career has been steady and consistent since his turn as Mr. Darcy's side kick.

Simon Woods, Pride and Prejudice, 2005

Simon's Mr. Bingley was an eager adoring puppy to Matthew Macfadyen's Mr. Darcy. Simon's next big role was as young Dr. Harrison in Cranford, showing that he does have leading man material. About his role as Bingley, Simon said: "Basically, his aim is to get married and, once married, to buy an estate and become a proper landed gentleman." Ho hum. One also assumes that Bingley must beget children. Let's hope his politeness ends at the bedroom door.

Tom Mison, Lost in Austen

Tom Mison's Mr. Bingley presents a twist in the Mr. Bingley oeuvre. His Bingley becomes a blubbering, crying fool for losing Jane to Mr. Collins and he actually turns on Mr. Darcy and blames him for his misstep! Tom turns in a comic performance that fits right in with the zany script, for in the end he does get his Jane. She must divorce Mr. Collins in order to be with her man, and thus the two set off for the COLONIES to avoid scandal. Such fun.

pollcode.com free polls

Favorite Mr. Bingley

Crispin Bonham-Carter Simon Woods Tom Mison

The Hunks of Lost in Austen

Elliot Cowan as Mr. Darcy

Elliot Cowan (left) as Ptolemy with Colin Farrell as Alexander. In a wet shirt or a leather skirt, Elliot cuts a fine figure of a man. Here's an interview with him and a professional listing.

Tom Riley as George Wickham practically steals the show, especially in Episode Three.

He is rather new to the business, having acted relatively a few years. Here's an interview he did in 2007 and an article about him from 2005.

Tom Mison as Mr. Bingley.

Mr. Mison in modern garb. Yum. Find out more about him on his web site.

Er, well, three out of four isn't bad. Guy Henry as Mr. Collins is creepy. But he looks kinda cool and suauve with Anna Maxwell Martin at the opening of Betrayal, 2007. Here's his biography.

Oh, ok. You asked for it: one more pix of Mr. Darcy wet.

Jane Austen's World reviews of Lost in Austen:

• Episode Four
  
• Episode Three
• Episode Two
• Episode One

Austen Prose reviews:

• Episode Three
• Episode Two
• Episode One
  

Guardian UK Blog: Lost in Austen: Click here

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World