Cherubim and Seraphim
Encyclopedia
"Cherubim and Seraphim" is an episode of the British
television detective mystery show Inspector Morse
dramatized on ITV
. It was first broadcast in 1992. Cherubim and Seraphim are both Biblical
words and their origin is described in Christian angelic hierarchy.
and acid house
culture. A teenager, Marilyn Garrett (Charlotte Chatton
), the daughter of Morse's half-sister Joyce (Sorcha Cusack
), is found dead, having taken an overdose. Morse takes leave to investigate the death, searching for a reason for Marilyn's suicide. Despite his love of opera
and classics Morse shows some interest in and empathy with the prevailing youth culture and its music, although it is utterly alien to him. On one occasion, when listening to some homemade acid house music, Morse becomes excited as he spots a sample of the Hallelujah Chorus on headphones but the backing track we hear repeated in this episode actually contains an extract from Allegri's Miserere.
Meanwhile, Morse's stepmother Gwen – the mother of Joyce – is being treated in a nursing home where a Doctor Desmond Collier (Jason Isaacs
), a pioneering chemist who has invented a new anti-aging drug, 'Seraphics', which work by expanding the blood vessels which leading to the brain, allowing blood to move more freely.
) is placed with another Inspector, the more methodical and soon to retire DCI Holroyd (John Junkin
). Lewis (who is studying for inspector) is in charge of the search for Jacko with Holroyd observing him. The teen is eventually found dead in a railway tunnel; another suicide.
Both Marilyn and Jacko are found to have ingested the same pill before their death, although it is not immediately recognizable to the pathologist. A friend of Marilyn's, Vicky Wilson (Liza Walker
), goes missing, which adds a degree of urgency to the investigation. Morse and Lewis learn more about rave
culture from a younger drugs squad officer and they manage to discover a periodical unofficial 'rave' event called CHERUB which Marilyn, Vicky and Jacko have been attending.
to the brain, it helps relieve some symptoms of ageing in the elderly but leaves young people, whose blood vessels do not need widening, with a feeling described by the pathologist as 'a feeling of extreme clear-headedness.' Vicky, when discovered, describes the effects of seraphics as being a feeling of 'seeing the whole world and loving everybody in the world', the comedown of which can cause such terrible depression
it is believed to have led to the two suicides.
The drug dealer is observed by Morse and Lewis – it is Dr. Collier, but he is killed in a car crash as he attempts to escape. Morse subsequently declares he hopes the 'killer' is in Hell
, to which Lewis responds, 'You don't believe in Hell, Sir.' Morse responds that he wishes he did, commenting on how awful it is to be fifteen. There is some reference to his teenage years and his uneasy relationship with his father.
For those who know their Morse and more particularly the geography (Oxford
) this programme was filmed somewhat off his 'beat' ! Most of the locations being found in Buckinghamshire
and Hertfordshire
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television detective mystery show Inspector Morse
Inspector Morse (TV series)
Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis. Dexter makes a cameo appearance in all but three of the episodes....
dramatized on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. It was first broadcast in 1992. Cherubim and Seraphim are both Biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
words and their origin is described in Christian angelic hierarchy.
Set-Up
The story involves a group of teenagers reveling in the contemporary raveRave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
and acid house
Acid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
culture. A teenager, Marilyn Garrett (Charlotte Chatton
Charlotte Chatton
Charlotte Chatton is an English actress. She is best known for playing as Emma in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman , Genevieve L'Merchant in the Sci-Fi/Action/Horror film Hellraiser: Bloodline, Madeleine Astor in Titanic , Peggy in Stand-ins , and as Jen Cross in Dakota Road .-Television:*Beyond Belief:...
), the daughter of Morse's half-sister Joyce (Sorcha Cusack
Sorcha Cusack
Sorcha Cusack Born in Dublin on 9 April 1949, She has made many film and television appearances including The Bill, Casualty , the 1973 BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre and the worldwide hit movie Snatch as the traveller mother of Mickey played by Brad Pitt...
), is found dead, having taken an overdose. Morse takes leave to investigate the death, searching for a reason for Marilyn's suicide. Despite his love of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and classics Morse shows some interest in and empathy with the prevailing youth culture and its music, although it is utterly alien to him. On one occasion, when listening to some homemade acid house music, Morse becomes excited as he spots a sample of the Hallelujah Chorus on headphones but the backing track we hear repeated in this episode actually contains an extract from Allegri's Miserere.
Meanwhile, Morse's stepmother Gwen – the mother of Joyce – is being treated in a nursing home where a Doctor Desmond Collier (Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs is an English actor born in Liverpool, who is best known for his performance as the villain Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, the brutal Colonel William Tavington in The Patriot and as lifelong criminal Michael Caffee in the internationally broadcast American television series...
), a pioneering chemist who has invented a new anti-aging drug, 'Seraphics', which work by expanding the blood vessels which leading to the brain, allowing blood to move more freely.
Investigation
A second teenager, Jacko Lever, is reported missing. As Morse is on holiday, his Detective Sergeant Lewis (Kevin WhatelyKevin Whately
Kevin Whately is an English actor.Whately is known for his starring role as Neville Hope in the British television comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, his role as Dr Jack Kerruish in the drama series Peak Practice, and as Robert "Robbie" Lewis in the crime dramas Inspector Morse and...
) is placed with another Inspector, the more methodical and soon to retire DCI Holroyd (John Junkin
John Junkin
John Francis Junkin was an English radio, television and film performer and scriptwriter.In 1960 Junkin joined Joan Littlewood's Stratford East Theatre Workshop, and played the lead in the original production of Sparrows Can't Sing...
). Lewis (who is studying for inspector) is in charge of the search for Jacko with Holroyd observing him. The teen is eventually found dead in a railway tunnel; another suicide.
Both Marilyn and Jacko are found to have ingested the same pill before their death, although it is not immediately recognizable to the pathologist. A friend of Marilyn's, Vicky Wilson (Liza Walker
Liza Walker
Liza Walker is an English actress. She is the former girlfriend of 1990s pop star Chesney Hawkes.-Filmography:*El Sueno Del Mono Loco, 1990*Buddy's Song, 1990*Teenage Health Freak, 1991 TV Series*Century, 1993...
), goes missing, which adds a degree of urgency to the investigation. Morse and Lewis learn more about rave
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
culture from a younger drugs squad officer and they manage to discover a periodical unofficial 'rave' event called CHERUB which Marilyn, Vicky and Jacko have been attending.
Conclusion
Morse and Lewis observe, concealed, a rave at a leased stately home. Morse is somewhat disappointed to see no alcohol being drunk. They do discover, however, that a new experimental drug is being used. The drug in question is currently in testing; there is some controversy about the long-term effects on young people, and whether such considerations are relevant as the medicine is intended for the elderly. As the medicine increases blood flow, and therefore the supply of oxygenOxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
to the brain, it helps relieve some symptoms of ageing in the elderly but leaves young people, whose blood vessels do not need widening, with a feeling described by the pathologist as 'a feeling of extreme clear-headedness.' Vicky, when discovered, describes the effects of seraphics as being a feeling of 'seeing the whole world and loving everybody in the world', the comedown of which can cause such terrible depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
it is believed to have led to the two suicides.
The drug dealer is observed by Morse and Lewis – it is Dr. Collier, but he is killed in a car crash as he attempts to escape. Morse subsequently declares he hopes the 'killer' is in Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, to which Lewis responds, 'You don't believe in Hell, Sir.' Morse responds that he wishes he did, commenting on how awful it is to be fifteen. There is some reference to his teenage years and his uneasy relationship with his father.
Locations
- Hansworth Park House. Gwens nursing home.
- Mentmore TowersMentmore TowersMentmore Towers is a 19th century English country house in the village of Mentmore in Buckinghamshire. The house was designed by Joseph Paxton and his son-in-law, George Henry Stokes, in the revival Elizabethan and Jacobean style of the late 16th century called Jacobethan, for the banker and...
. The final rave at the stately home. - PitstonePitstonePitstone is a village and civil parish within the Aylesbury Vale district of Buckinghamshire, England. It is located at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, about seven miles east of Aylesbury and six miles south of Leighton Buzzard...
cement works (now closed / demolished). A rave, a meet-up and the death of a young black man while running along the railway line. - Rickmansworth Masonic school for Girls.
- Ye Olde greene Manne public house, Batchworth Heath. Drinking scene and discussion between Morse and Lewis.
For those who know their Morse and more particularly the geography (Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
) this programme was filmed somewhat off his 'beat' ! Most of the locations being found in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
and Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.