Detective Sergeant James Hathaway
Encyclopedia
James Hathaway is the Detective Sergeant working under Inspector Lewis
in the ITV
detective series Lewis (known as Inspector Lewis in the United States). He is played by Laurence Fox
.
, Lewis' old boss from his days as a Detective Sergeant, is cerebral. Unlike Morse, Hathaway is a Cambridge
graduate, trained in Theology
, and rather successful athlete, as his nickname 'Atta-way Hathaway' (revealed by a rival coach at Oxford) would attest, being a rowing
star while at Cambridge. He subsequently trained for the priesthood in Oxford. In the episode "Old School Ties" we are told by an ex-schoolmate of Hathaway's that he had been Head Boy of his school and nicknamed 'W.C.' - short for 'Wolfgang Christ' - because he "didn't know whether he wanted to be Mozart or Jesus".
Hathaway is highly knowledgeable and often shows it. He joined the police after abandoning the priesthood, and sometimes expresses scepticism about religion – when Lewis states thankfully "There is a god", Hathaway replies "If I was sure of that ... I wouldn't have joined the police force" (in the episode "And the Moonbeams Kiss the Sea").
When he first appears, Hathaway is sergeant to DI Charles Knox, whom Lewis knew when Knox was a sergeant. Knox is shown taking a breathalyser test and Hathaway states to Lewis that Knox will be put on immediate suspension for it. Hathaway is later reassigned to Lewis.
In the third episode of the second series ("Life Born of Fire") his guilt at sharing the homophobic attitudes of some of his fellow trainees
is revealed when he discovers that a suicide he is investigating is a former friend, Will McEwan, who broke off his friendship with him when Hathaway urged him to reject his homosexuality.
In "Life Born of Fire" he refuses to answer Lewis's direct question as to whether or not he is gay, though at the end of the episode in a conversation with Zoe Kenneth he both implies that he has had homosexual feelings and that he wants to have sexual intercourse with her (admitting that "it's been a while"). Hathaway berates Lewis for drawing a "neat dividing line" between heterosexuals who "read Loaded
and eat Yorkie bars" and homosexuals who like fashion and musicals. At the end of the episode Hathaway is seen holding a copy of Loaded and a Yorkie bar. In "The Dead of Winter", Hathaway appears to become romantically involved with a woman from his early teenage years (by going out on a date and then leaving her flat the next morning) who may or may not be suspect in a murder investigation. Lewis suspends him from the investigation fearing Hathaway crossed an ethical line. At the end of the episode Hathaway turns in his badge and tries to resign from the Police. Lewis refuses his resignation, and instead tells him: "Between the two of us we make one good Inspector. I of course, am the brains".
In the first episode of series 3 there is slight reference to Hathaway's childhood. When his father is mentioned he becomes rather irritable and changes the subject rather quickly. In the first episode of series 4 it is mentioned that Hathaway's father was the groundskeeper at the estate of a lord and that Hathaway used to play with the other children who lived at the estate.
In the same episode Lewis and Hathaway deal with a difficult case involving a complex family relationship. The eventual outcome is difficult for Hathaway to digest, leading to conjecture that he may himself have some experience in the subject matter.This links back to "Life born of Fire", where John Jo a former friend of Hathaway's asserts his friend is not happy with his life. Something in Hathaway is always questioning his desires with his duties.
In the last episode of series 5 Hathaway informs Lewis that he was talent spotted for MI5 in university, this is neither confirmed or denied by the end.
Inspector Lewis
Robert "Robbie" Lewis is a fictional character in the Inspector Morse crime novels by Colin Dexter. The "sidekick" to Morse, Lewis is a Detective Sergeant in the Thames Valley Police, and appears in all 13 Morse novels. In the television adaptation, Inspector Morse, he is played by Kevin Whately...
in the 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...
detective series Lewis (known as Inspector Lewis in the United States). He is played by Laurence Fox
Laurence Fox
Laurence Fox is an English actor best known for his leading role as Detective Sergeant James Hathaway in the British TV drama series Lewis...
.
Biography
Hathaway, like Inspector MorseInspector Morse
Inspector Morse is a fictional character in the eponymous series of detective novels by British author Colin Dexter, as well as the 33-episode 1987–2000 television adaptation of the same name, in which the character was portrayed by John Thaw. Morse is a senior CID officer with the Thames Valley...
, Lewis' old boss from his days as a Detective Sergeant, is cerebral. Unlike Morse, Hathaway is a Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
graduate, trained in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, and rather successful athlete, as his nickname 'Atta-way Hathaway' (revealed by a rival coach at Oxford) would attest, being a rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
star while at Cambridge. He subsequently trained for the priesthood in Oxford. In the episode "Old School Ties" we are told by an ex-schoolmate of Hathaway's that he had been Head Boy of his school and nicknamed 'W.C.' - short for 'Wolfgang Christ' - because he "didn't know whether he wanted to be Mozart or Jesus".
Hathaway is highly knowledgeable and often shows it. He joined the police after abandoning the priesthood, and sometimes expresses scepticism about religion – when Lewis states thankfully "There is a god", Hathaway replies "If I was sure of that ... I wouldn't have joined the police force" (in the episode "And the Moonbeams Kiss the Sea").
When he first appears, Hathaway is sergeant to DI Charles Knox, whom Lewis knew when Knox was a sergeant. Knox is shown taking a breathalyser test and Hathaway states to Lewis that Knox will be put on immediate suspension for it. Hathaway is later reassigned to Lewis.
In the third episode of the second series ("Life Born of Fire") his guilt at sharing the homophobic attitudes of some of his fellow trainees
Homosexuality and Christianity
Christian denominations hold a variety of views on the issues of sexual orientation and homosexuality, ranging from outright condemnation to complete acceptance. In accordance with the traditional values of Abrahamic religions, most Christian denominations welcome people attracted to the same sex,...
is revealed when he discovers that a suicide he is investigating is a former friend, Will McEwan, who broke off his friendship with him when Hathaway urged him to reject his homosexuality.
In "Life Born of Fire" he refuses to answer Lewis's direct question as to whether or not he is gay, though at the end of the episode in a conversation with Zoe Kenneth he both implies that he has had homosexual feelings and that he wants to have sexual intercourse with her (admitting that "it's been a while"). Hathaway berates Lewis for drawing a "neat dividing line" between heterosexuals who "read Loaded
Loaded (magazine)
Loaded, first published in 1994, is a British magazine for men that is considered to be the "original lads' mag". Its motto is "For men who should know better".-History:...
and eat Yorkie bars" and homosexuals who like fashion and musicals. At the end of the episode Hathaway is seen holding a copy of Loaded and a Yorkie bar. In "The Dead of Winter", Hathaway appears to become romantically involved with a woman from his early teenage years (by going out on a date and then leaving her flat the next morning) who may or may not be suspect in a murder investigation. Lewis suspends him from the investigation fearing Hathaway crossed an ethical line. At the end of the episode Hathaway turns in his badge and tries to resign from the Police. Lewis refuses his resignation, and instead tells him: "Between the two of us we make one good Inspector. I of course, am the brains".
In the first episode of series 3 there is slight reference to Hathaway's childhood. When his father is mentioned he becomes rather irritable and changes the subject rather quickly. In the first episode of series 4 it is mentioned that Hathaway's father was the groundskeeper at the estate of a lord and that Hathaway used to play with the other children who lived at the estate.
In the same episode Lewis and Hathaway deal with a difficult case involving a complex family relationship. The eventual outcome is difficult for Hathaway to digest, leading to conjecture that he may himself have some experience in the subject matter.This links back to "Life born of Fire", where John Jo a former friend of Hathaway's asserts his friend is not happy with his life. Something in Hathaway is always questioning his desires with his duties.
In the last episode of series 5 Hathaway informs Lewis that he was talent spotted for MI5 in university, this is neither confirmed or denied by the end.
External links
- Mystery! Info on Hathaway information from PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....