Having recently been, and just finished being, on a roll reviewing all the episodes of 'Lewis', which generally was very enjoyable before having some disappointments later on, it occurred to me to do the same for 'Inspector Morse's' (one of my favourites for over a decade, and all the episodes were also reviewed in my first year on IMDb eight years ago) prequel series 'Endeavour'.
As said in my review for the entire show two years ago, 'Endeavour' is not just a more than worthy prequel series to one of my favourite detective dramas of all time and goes very well with it, but it is a great series on its own as well. It maintains everything that makes 'Inspector Morse' so good, while also containing enough to make it its own, and in my mind 'Inspector Morse', 'Lewis' and 'Endeavour' go perfectly well together.
"Pilot" (aka "Endeavour") is generally a great start for the series. Did say two years ago that it was more a good start than a great one but the episode has been re-watched since and has fared better. Yes there is a finding-its-feet feel (particularly in some of the characterisation which got richer later), which is perfectly natural as most shows have that to begin with and then get better (the case with 'Endeavour') and maybe the final solution was slightly over-complicated.
On the other hand, "Pilot" (aka "Endeavour") looks great. It is exquisitely photographed and there is something very nostalgic and charming about the atmospherically evoked 1960s period detail. It was also a genius move to keep Barrington Pheloung on board, with his hauntingly beautiful scoring and immortal Inspector Morse theme, while the classical music and operatic excerpts are delightful to hear and fit perfectly.
Writing, even for so early on, is every bit as intelligent, entertaining and tense. The story has tension, a good deal going on without being over-stuffed or convoluted and surprising poignancy, such as with Abigail Thaw. Very little is improbable or too obvious. Morse and Thursday's father/son relationship, while even stronger later being more entertaining and heartfelt, has a lot of warmth, is so well written within the story and is a large part of the series' appeal and there is some good suspense.
The pacing is restrained, but that allows the atmosphere to come through, and pretty much all the same it excels in that aspect. The characters are interesting, though Morse's obvious characteristics became more obvious admittedly in later episodes and maybe his accent may take some getting used to when used to the more erudite and articulated one of the older Morse.
Shaun Evans does some powerful, charismatic work as younger Morse, showing enough loyalty to John Thaw's iconic Morse while making the character his own too. Roger Allam is also superb, his rapport with Evans always compels and entertains but Thursday is quite a sympathetic character, as well as loyal and firm, and Allam does a lot special with a role that could have been less interesting possibly in lesser hands. All the acting is very good (such as Patrick Malahide, Abigail Thaw and a Max that would make Peter Woodthorpe from 'Morse' proud, plus a cameo from Colin Dexter), as is the controlled direction, but it's the performances of Evans and Allam that will always be remembered most vividly.
In conclusion, great start even with a finding-its-feet feel. 9/10 Bethany Cox
As said in my review for the entire show two years ago, 'Endeavour' is not just a more than worthy prequel series to one of my favourite detective dramas of all time and goes very well with it, but it is a great series on its own as well. It maintains everything that makes 'Inspector Morse' so good, while also containing enough to make it its own, and in my mind 'Inspector Morse', 'Lewis' and 'Endeavour' go perfectly well together.
"Pilot" (aka "Endeavour") is generally a great start for the series. Did say two years ago that it was more a good start than a great one but the episode has been re-watched since and has fared better. Yes there is a finding-its-feet feel (particularly in some of the characterisation which got richer later), which is perfectly natural as most shows have that to begin with and then get better (the case with 'Endeavour') and maybe the final solution was slightly over-complicated.
On the other hand, "Pilot" (aka "Endeavour") looks great. It is exquisitely photographed and there is something very nostalgic and charming about the atmospherically evoked 1960s period detail. It was also a genius move to keep Barrington Pheloung on board, with his hauntingly beautiful scoring and immortal Inspector Morse theme, while the classical music and operatic excerpts are delightful to hear and fit perfectly.
Writing, even for so early on, is every bit as intelligent, entertaining and tense. The story has tension, a good deal going on without being over-stuffed or convoluted and surprising poignancy, such as with Abigail Thaw. Very little is improbable or too obvious. Morse and Thursday's father/son relationship, while even stronger later being more entertaining and heartfelt, has a lot of warmth, is so well written within the story and is a large part of the series' appeal and there is some good suspense.
The pacing is restrained, but that allows the atmosphere to come through, and pretty much all the same it excels in that aspect. The characters are interesting, though Morse's obvious characteristics became more obvious admittedly in later episodes and maybe his accent may take some getting used to when used to the more erudite and articulated one of the older Morse.
Shaun Evans does some powerful, charismatic work as younger Morse, showing enough loyalty to John Thaw's iconic Morse while making the character his own too. Roger Allam is also superb, his rapport with Evans always compels and entertains but Thursday is quite a sympathetic character, as well as loyal and firm, and Allam does a lot special with a role that could have been less interesting possibly in lesser hands. All the acting is very good (such as Patrick Malahide, Abigail Thaw and a Max that would make Peter Woodthorpe from 'Morse' proud, plus a cameo from Colin Dexter), as is the controlled direction, but it's the performances of Evans and Allam that will always be remembered most vividly.
In conclusion, great start even with a finding-its-feet feel. 9/10 Bethany Cox