The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (TV Series) The Seed of Cunning (2005) User Reviews

Good but Didn't Stick the Landing

[AJ_Blanc · 8/10 · 22 June 2022]

Seed of Cunning was one of the best episodes so far IMHO, until the contrived ending where Lynley suddenly became dumb. The plot was interesting and more suspenseful than usual, and Tom and Barbara were working well together, instead of arguing every step of the way like they have been for the past five or so episodes.

Having said that, I was taken completely out of the story at the end because they're searching for a document that they KNOW is dangerous and trying to be covered up, yet Lynley leaves it in the easiest to find place he possibly could; his car. There's a moment where he goes to put it in his desk and decides against it, so it's assumed he tries to find a better hiding place. Nope, he just takes their only real piece of evidence with him to meet the only remaining witness.

So there's no resolution here, and no backup plans even occur to him; such as approaching the opposition and describing what they found like another reviewer pointed out. The ending of the next episode is also strange, so perhaps it's the beginning of a pattern...

Interesting segment of the Inspector Lynley Mysteries...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 28 August 2007]

Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small do their detective work in a nice episode, well scripted and developing a clever story with a good amount of suspense as the action moves to The House of Lords after a man's dead body is found floating in the Thames. Aptly titled: The Seed of Cunning, it's well worth a watch.

Several interesting and highly suspicious suspects keep the detectives in the dark until the last twenty minutes when plot developments happen at a fast pace. Turns out that three of the people at The House of Lords are responsible for the death of a doorman that has something to do with the smuggling of documents involving a government deal to award America a contract on a business deal over the U.K.

Crisp direction, photographed with visual style in grand settings, indoor and out, with the posh look of a Grade A movie.

Lynley investigates at the House of Lords

[blanche-2 · 7 September 2012]

Nathanial Parker and Sharon Small star in a fourth season episode of the Inspector Lynley series, "The Seed of Cunning," from 2005. After a doorkeeper is found floating in the Thames with his hands tied behind his back, DI Lynley and partner Havers start questioning people. Turns out the victim had problems with gambling, but before any conclusion can be drawn, there's another murder.

Suspects abound here, and the problem eventually centers around a committee due to make a determination about missile defense to buy, the American or the European, and an old school chum of Lynley's is head of the committee.

As usual, the detectives' personal situations mix with the professional. I've watched these out of order, so imagine my surprise when I found out that at this point, Lynley has married Helen (I always thought he could do better) but they are separated and he can't find her. Havers is meeting men through a dating service.

Very good episode in a wonderful series. A hunky leading man always helps, but the scripts truly are good.

You can't fight City Hall...or the House of Lords

[safenoe · 9/10 · 7 September 2016]

Another impressive Inspector Lynley episode. For those wanting a neat ending, then you may be disappointed, because the theme of this is that unfortunately justice cannot always be achieved when you're up against the "establishment" or powerful business interests. In fact Lynley and Havers find it futile to get to the bottom of the corrupt barrel, with lives being endangered, and mysterious spies snooping on them as they investigate the murders of a House of Lords doorman and a clerk. This episode is an interesting commentary of the support staff of political bodies, and the behind-the-scenes role they play to keep the machinery of government moving.

The ending was a major twist and viewers may be left wondering, is that it?

Lynley's feelings for Havers grows as she goes out on some dates. Lynley also ponders calling up a House of Lords deputy counsel for a drink, but we shall see.

There are references to Helen but still no sighting of her since her last appearance in the season 3 finale.

A murder whose investigation takes Lynley and Havers to the House of Lords

[joyteach1 · 10/10 · 18 September 2005]

This is my favourite of the four episodes shown on the BBC in the UK 2005.

Well-produced, with interesting indoor and outdoor locations and an excellent script.

SPOILER AHEAD : Mark Greig's script leaves us wondering what else was behind the crime, which was only partially solved, and whether we shall be seeing any more of the characters and whether the other wrongdoers will ever be caught and punished.

This was extremely cleverly done.

As usual, we see movement and changes in the lives of the main characters. Barbara has moved house without telling us. We need an eagle eye to see that she now lives somewhere else.Lynley hears news of Helen and displays mixed feelings.

A classic mystery.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 15 June 2021]

A man is found floating down The Thames, just outside Westminster, the investigation leads Lynley and Havers to The House of Lords, where they naturally face friction.

It's a cracking episode, it has a different flavour to the usual story, this one is a touch more high brow, the killings are shrouded in mystery, lots of cloak and dagger, it has an espionage feel, it's very different.

Claudia Blakeley and Sharon Small would play sisters some year in an episode of Marple, The Blue Geranium. Great acting in general, John Standing has a real touch of class, Tony Haygarth is great.

It looks incredible, genuinely the most visual episode of the show, the scenes of glorious Westminster look fabulous.

I can't get my head around Featherstonehough.

Loved it, 9/10.

A glaring weakness (WITH SPOILER)

[mberliner1 · 5/10 · 29 April 2020]

This is indeed an excellent series, with compelling characters (except for the original Helen), superb acting and usually very good plots. This episode does, however, have a glaring weakness, one that I don't think can be attributed to Elizabeth George, because the credits imply that she was responsible only the characters. SPOILER: At the end, Tommy is defeated by the cynical, ruthless politicians who bribe and murder to further their goal of giving a contract to an American company. Tommy had the condemning evidence against them, but it was stolen, and he gives up. But the now-destroyed evidence (an audited budget that showed the cost to be much higher than claimed) could easily have been reproduced: all Tommy needed to do was contact the Opposition, tell them what he saw and urge them to have another audit conducted. The scandal would've been perfect for the Opposition. My guess as to why the writer didn't take that rather obvious option is that he was happy with a cynical ending, especially since the main villain was the stereotypically evil American businessman (all of whom would happily murder just to get a few more dollars).

Not IF you want a happy ending

[davyd-02237 · 3/10 · 7 May 2021]

I write as someone who once whilst in working life received a letter from downing street (not written by a Prime Minister-but the other half!) which read along the lines of "you stupid yorkshireman you really dont have a clue who you are dealing with" - this whilst chasing money for the company I worked for!....Here we have a murder investigation without a happy ending involving corruption within the house of Lords where people are murdered in cold blood and the killer(s) get away with it. Lynley proves how poor a detective he is in this by managing to lose all his evidence and cannot prove anyone guilty. If thats your idea of entertainment - please watch, but it isnt mind. Perhaps, if those in the House of Lords are corrupt it may well be better that we dont know, given we are now in 2021 and dishonesty in politics is more prevalent that in previous times.