History YMMV / InspectorLynley

* RetroactiveRecognition: ''Tons'' of current stars started out as minor characters on this show, including Creator/HenryCavill (Superman in ''Film/ManOfSteel''), Creator/RichardArmitage (Thorin in ''Film/TheHobbit''), Creator/JamesMcAvoy (Professor Charles Xavier in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''), and Creator/MatthewGoode (''Series/A DiscoveryOfWitches'') as Lynley's younger brother. Catherine Russell, meanwhile, would go on to break into the British TV mainstream as Serena Campbell on ''Series/HolbyCity''.

* RetroactiveRecognition: ''Tons'' of current stars started out as minor characters on this show, including Creator/HenryCavill (Superman in ''Film/ManOfSteel''), Creator/RichardArmitage (Thorin in ''Film/TheHobbit''), Creator/JamesMcAvoy (Professor Charles Xavier in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''), and Creator/MatthewGoode (''Series/A Discovery of Witches'') as Lynley's younger brother. Catherine Russell, meanwhile, would go on to break into the British TV mainstream as Serena Campbell on ''Series/HolbyCity''.

* RetroactiveRecognition: ''Tons'' of current stars started out as minor characters on this show, including Creator/HenryCavill (Superman in ''Film/ManOfSteel''), Creator/RichardArmitage (Thorin in ''Film/TheHobbit''), and Creator/JamesMcAvoy (Professor Charles Xavier in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''). Catherine Russell, meanwhile, would go on to break into the British TV mainstream as Serena Campbell on ''Series/HolbyCity''.

* JerkassWoobie: Barbara in the pilot, "[[Recap/InspectorLynleyS00E01AGreatDeliverance A Great Deliverance]]". Viewers spend most of that episode both wanting to cuddle her because she's had such a crappy life and smack her for being bitchy -- at the same time. This does persist into the first series, but has largely been replaced with JerkassFacade (plus plain old {{Woobie}}) by mid-series 2.

* RetroactiveRecognition: ''Tons'' of current stars started out as minor characters on this show, including Creator/HenryCavill (Superman in ''Film/ManOfSteel''), Creator/RichardArmitage (Thorin in ''Film/TheHobbit''), and Creator/JamesMcAvoy ([[Characters/XMenFilmSeriesProfessorCharlesXavier Professor Charles Xavier]] in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''). Catherine Russell, meanwhile, would go on to break into the British TV mainstream as Serena Campbell on ''Series/HolbyCity''.

** Honeysuckle Weeks and James D'Arcy appeared as a married couple in "[[Recap/InspectorLynleyS06E02KnowThineEnemy Know Thine Enemy]]". [[spoiler: PlayedStraight, since they were the BigBadDuumvirate]].

* RetroactiveRecognition: ''Tons'' of current stars started out as minor characters on this show, including Creator/HenryCavill (Superman in ''Film/ManOfSteel''), Creator/RichardArmitage (Thorin in ''Film/TheHobbit''), and Creator/JamesMcAvoy ([[XMenFilmSeries/ProfessorCharlesFrancisXavier Professor Charles Xavier]] in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''). Catherine Russell, meanwhile, would go on to break into the British TV mainstream as Serena Campbell on ''Series/HolbyCity''.

** Idris Elba and James [=McAvoy=] were guest stars on the same episode, "[[Recap/InspectorLynleyS01E02PaymentInBlood Payment in Blood.]]"[[spoiler: {{Averted}} as neither one was the killer, and one became the third victim]].

* RetroactiveRecognition: ''Tons'' of current stars started out as minor characters on this show, including Henry Cavill (Superman in ''Film/ManOfSteel''), Richard Armitage (Thorin in ''Film/TheHobbit''), and James [=McAvoy=] (Professor X in ''Film/XMenFirstClass''). Catherine Russell, meanwhile, would go on to break into the British TV mainstream as Serena Campbell on ''Series/HolbyCity''.

* TheScrappy: Lesley Vickerage's Helen, who is by and large considered a whiny, selfish milquetoast. Catherine Russell's incarnation of the character is generally considered likeable enough[[note]]the chief complaint being "she isn't Emma"[[/note]], but virtually everyone wants Emma Fielding (from the pilot) back.

* RelationshipWritingFumble: If the writers wanted viewers to believe Havers and Lynley aren't falling head-over-heels in love throughout the course of the show, they ''really'' shouldn't have had them call each other [[spoiler:their reason to get up in the morning]], or given them the infamous CryIntoChest at the end of "[[Recap/InspectorLynleyS04E01InDivineProportion In Divine Proportion]]" that looks like nothing so much as a man comforting his traumatized lover. Many, ''many'' fans have pointed out that Lynley has much better chemistry - and a much healthier relationship - with Barbara than he ever did with [[SatelliteLoveInterest Helen]].
* RetroactiveRecognition: ''Tons'' of current stars started out as minor characters on this show, including Henry Cavill (Superman in ''Film/ManOfSteel''), Richard Armitage (Thorin in ''Film/TheHobbit''), and James [=McAvoy=] (Professor X in ''Film/XMenFirstClass'').
* TheScrappy: Lesley Vickerage's Helen, who is by and large considered a whiny, selfish milquetoast. Catherine Russell's incarnation of the character is generally considered bland but likeable enough, but virtually everyone wants Emma Fielding (from the pilot) back.

* RelationshipWritingFumble: If the writers wanted viewers to believe Havers and Lynley aren't falling head-over-heels in love throughout the course of the show, they ''really'' shouldn't have had them call each other [[spoiler:their reason to get up in the morning]], or given them the infamous CryIntoChest at the end of "[[Recap/InspectorLynleyS04E01InDivineProportion In Divine Proportion]]" that looks nothing so much like a man comforting his traumatized lover. Many, ''many'' fans have pointed out that Lynley has much better chemistry - and a much healthier relationship - with Barbara than he ever did with [[SatelliteLoveInterest Helen]].

* FanPreferredCouple: Lynley and Havers, naturally. The fandom outliers are those who ''don't'' ship it! The most notable, however, has to be [[Creator/NathanielParker the star of the show himself]], who declared outright that he wanted to see the show end with [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Lynley and Havers holding hands and walking into the sunset]].

* FanPreferredCouple: Lynley and Havers, naturally. The fandom outliers are those who ''don't'' ship it! The most notable, however, has to be [[NathanielParker the star of the show himself]], who declared outright that he wanted to see the show end with [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Lynley and Havers holding hands and walking into the sunset]].

* RetroactiveRecognition: ''Tons'' of current stars started out as minor characters on this show, including Henry Cavill (Superman in ''Film/ManOfSteel''), Richard Armitage (Thorin in ''Film/TheHobbit''), and James [=McAvoy=] (Professor X in XMenFirstClass).

* RetroactiveRecognition: ''Tons'' of current stars started out as minor characters on this show, including Henry Cavill (Superman in ''Film/ManOfSteel''), Richard Armitage (Thorin in ''Film/TheHobbit'', and James [=McAvoy=] (Professor X in XMenFirstClass).

* JerkassWoobie: Barbara in the pilot, "A Great Deliverance". Viewers spend most of that episode both wanting to cuddle her because she's had such a crappy life and smack her for being bitchy - at the same time. This does persist into the first series, but has largely been replaced with JerkassFacade (plus plain old {{Woobie}}) by mid-series 2.
* NarrowedItDownToTheGuyIRecognize: Idris Elba and James [=McAvoy=] were guest stars on the same episode, "Payment in Blood." [[spoiler: Averted as neither one was the killer, and one became the third victim.]]
* RelationshipWritingFumble: If the writers wanted viewers to believe Havers and Lynley aren't falling head-over-heels in love throughout the course of the show, they ''really'' shouldn't have had them call each other [[spoiler:their reason to get up in the morning]], or given them the infamous CryIntoChest at the end of "In Divine Proportion" that looks nothing so much like a man comforting his traumatized lover. Many, ''many'' fans have pointed out that Lynley has much better chemistry - and a much healthier relationship - with Barbara than he ever did with [[SatelliteLoveInterest Helen]].

* SatelliteLoveInterest: Helen, who has very little purpose other than to be Lynley's love interest.

* {{Woobie}}: Both the lead characters, in spades. When it's not one of them being tortured, it's the other. See BreakTheCutie and BreakTheHaughty on the main page for the laundry list.

* {{Woobie}}: Both the lead characters, in spades. When it's not one of them being tortured, it's the other.

* {{Woobie}}: Both the lead characters, in spades.

* RelationshipWritingFumble: If the writers wanted viewers to believe Havers and Lynley aren't falling head-over-heels in love throughout the course of the show, they ''really'' shouldn't have had them call each other [[spoiler:their reason to get up in the morning]], or given them the infamous CryIntoChest at the end of "In Divine Proportion" that looks nothing so much like a man comforting his traumatized lover. Many, ''many'' fans have pointed out that Lynley has much better chemistry - and a much healthier relationship - with Barbara than he ever did with [[ShallowLoveInterest Helen]].
* ShallowLoveInterest: Helen, who has very little purpose other than to be Lynley's love interest.

* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: Lynley and Havers get quite accomplished at giving viewers these by the end of the series. See the page for details.

* RelationshipWritingFumble: If the writers wanted viewers to believe Havers and Lynley aren't falling head-over-heels in love throughout the course of the show, they ''really'' shouldn't have had them call each other [[spoiler:their reason to get up in the morning]], or given them the infamous CryIntoChest at the end of "In Divine Proportion" that looks nothing so much like a man comforting his traumatized lover. Many, ''many'' fans have pointed out that Lynley has much better chemistry - and a much healthier relationship - with Barbara than he ever did with [[DesignatedLoveInterest Helen]].

* FanPreferredCouple: Lynley and Havers, naturally.

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: "In the Guise of Death."
-->'''Lynley:''' ''Think'', Havers. What is Cornwall famous for?
-->'''Barbara:''' Pasties?
-->'''Lynley:''' Yeah, well, apart from that.
-->'''Barbara:''' Smoked fish.
-->'''Lynley:''' Forget the food!
-->'''Barbara:''' Well I wish I could, but we came out here without breakfast, remember?

* NarrowedItDownToTheGuyIRecognize: Idris Elba and James [=McAvoy=] were guest stars on the same episode, "Payment in Blood." [[spoiler: Averted as neither one was the killer, and one became the third victim.]]