Lovejoy “The Judas Pair” #1.5 (1986) (TV)

“Only a man with the quirks of a collector would kill for a pair of bloody guns.” 17 October 2019

Lovejoy is asked to look into the murder of a man shot through the eye during the robbery of his antique flintlock dueling pistols.  Lovejoy puts his (and Lady Jane’s) life on the line to find the pistols and uncover a murderer.  

The Judas Pair is a solid episode that finds Lovejoy in more danger than usual.   Lovejoy often talks about greed when it comes to antiques and, in this episode, we see that greed manifest itself in murder.  Lovejoy’s not only shot at, but also trapped in a burning house by a desperate murderer. I’ll credit the writing and directing in The Judas Pair for presenting a number of credible suspects that add to the mystery.  While I’m not exactly sure how Lovejoy figures everything out, especially the secret of the pistols, it’s a fun watch. And there’s quite a bit of tension built up in that final showdown with the murderer.  

In most cases, I never really know how accurate the show is when it comes to history and antiques.  Is The Judas Pair a real thing? Did a gunsmith really make a pistol for the King like the one presented here?  I don’t know, but it certainly makes for interesting and entertaining television.  

Finally, I must mention Anthony Valentine in the role of Michael Seymour.  Of all the guest stars in the first five episodes, he’s the standout. It’s a shame he only came back to do one more episode.  I would have loved to see him join Lovejoy in a semi-regular recurring role.    

7/10