This stands out for me as one of the best episodes in the Morse collection. Very much darker and more harrowing then the usual Morse stories, this one contains some very dark and sinister moments, and is without doubt the creepiest episode of Morse. So much subject matter, Domestic violence, Devil Worship, deceit, religion, and plain old good versus evil.
The story itself is wonderfully complex and intricate, as the episode moves along the plot is untangled in a hugely effective way. The principle characters are all fantastically realised, none more so then the lead villain John Peter Barrie, incredibly well performed by Keith Allen.
Some hugely powerful scenes, the emotional one between WPC Curtis and Esther Martin where she discusses her childhood memories of her brothers and the motorbike. The encounter between Barrie and Canon Appleton, the fear Richard Griffiths realistically portrayed was fantastic. The terrifying appearance at the ceremony, and of course the final showdown.
Superb characters, a fabulous story, all you can say is that 'they don't make 'um like this any more.' Brilliance 10/10