Endeavour (TV Series) Rocket (2013) User Reviews

Murder in a missile factory

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 28 April 2013]

When a man is found murdered at a missile factory near Oxford things are rather awkward; at the time he was killed the place was crawling with police due to a visit by Princess Margaret and a Jordanian prince. Initially suspicion is cast on a worker for had been suspended after an accident but investigations into the dead man suggest a much older motive. The victim had been working there under an assumed name having returned to the country after being away for twelve years following the disappearance of his girlfriend twelve years earlier on Coronation Day. It turns out the girl had last been seen close to the house of the factory owners; Morse suspects that one of the family may have been involved although Chief Supt Bright would clearly prefer it that the case was wrapped up without any of the family being implicated as that could jeopardise a major arms sale. In a side story Morse gets involved with one of the work's secretaries; a girl he knew when he was up at Oxford a few years previously.

This, the third episode of the new series, has a solid story and some good character development for Morse; it was nice to see him have some romance even if we knew it wouldn't come to anything… Shaun Evens did a fine job looking somewhat awkward in these scenes. The mystery contained a few twists which should have kept most viewers guessing right until the end. The regular cast did a fine job as did guest stars that included Martin Jarvis as the factory manager. With DC Morse cracking every case it can't be too long before he gets promoted… it wouldn't do for the most junior member of the CID to crack every case!

Dysfunctional Family Indeed

[Girlyq · 7/10 · 22 May 2022]

I've seen both Morse and Lewis more than once. I had chosen not to watch Endeavour until now. I have enjoyed it very much so far, particularly the pilot episode.

Early in this episode Nora says "the lights turned green for me when I asked them to." My mind immediately went to The Lion in Winter and Katharine Hepburn's line (as Eleanore) saying that the Channel went flat for her when she asked it to. A quick look at the character names showed Henry, Richard, Johnny and Alice Vexin. It appears Russell Lewis shares my love of the film.

I can say I enjoyed the episode but not as much as I hoped or as much as the episodes preceding it. The acting by the main cast was as usual quite good. I also thought Jenny Seagrove was excellent. The story itself was the problem for me.

Still looking forward to watching the remaining episodes.

A wonderful episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 14 October 2019]

Rocket is a terrific episode from Endeavour's fantastic first full series. It's a story which sees Thursday and Morse solve a murder at a munitions factory, a factory where accidents seem to happen frequently. I enjoyed the side story of the Royal visit, that added a different dimension to the episode.

The story was very good, complex and intriguing. Morse is still learning how place, still not popular with his Sergeant, or indeed the Chief Superintendent. There is also the privileged family caught up in the murder, who have a vital role in selling arms, as well as The Royal visit, plenty of political eggshells here.

If you're observant, you could crack this one, something doesn't feel right, and proves to be a vital clue.

Some terrific performances, Craig Parkinson, Jack Roth, Martin Jarvis, as well as a stunning performance from Jenny Seagrove who is regal, cold and commanding.

The production values are impeccable as always, I loved the cini film videos, and as for the music, that was sensational, opening to Va Pensiero was a wonderful choice.

Brilliant. 9/10

Wonderful side-game: Easter egg hunt

[redhairedlad · 10/10 · 21 July 2013]

With "Inspector Lewis" ending, it is a joy to have "Endeavor" to fill the void. Evans is wonderful as DC Morse, but it is Roger Allam as DI Thursday that steals each of their mutual scenes and gives the show soul and heart.

I wondered how many viewers caught the delicious Easter egg hunt of references to Henry II and, especially, "The Lion In Winter". Early on, the estranged wife makes an entrance and her former husband, Henry, says, "Did the the lights all turn green for you?" Two of his sons are Johnny and Richard. The estranged wife lives at Chinon Court, and secretary — a major character is named Alice Vexen.

I wonder if any others in the "Endeavor" series have such games.

Morse investigates murder and mayhem at a British factory

[blanche-2 · 1 September 2013]

When the police are put on security for Princess Margaret's visit to a munitions plant, they find not only a princess, but a murder, in "Endeavor: Rocket," an episode of the Endeavor series.

Endeavor, is, of course, Inspector Morse as a young man, just starting out, with only his supervisor (Roger Allam) on his side. The rest of them resent his intelligence and capability of crime-solving.

Princess Margaret is there for the unveiling of a new missile, supposedly being sold to the Middle East, which is also represented. The murdered man is named Malleson, a new and not very well-liked employee.

Turns out, the victim was involved in a murder that took place some years ago, which seems to also involve the family that owns the business. There is a suspect, but when he winds up murdered too, there's a problem.

There's also a little hint of romance for Morse, with an old school friend working at the plant. We find out that Morse had a past love that he may still be hung up on.

Because of the fact that a Royal was visiting on the day of the murder, the family is affluent, and Morse's big boss, Bright, is afraid of being blamed for any problems, he wants to close down the case. But Morse won't hear of it. "Aren't we supposed to uphold the Queen's Peace?" he asks. Justice is what is most important. "Not every question gets an answer," his supervisor tells him. But Morse won't accept it.

Great story - these are all excellent scripts. Shaun Evans is wonderful though as far as I'm concerned he's no young Morse. I have to separate the John Thaw character from this man. Nevertheless, this is a highly recommended series.

Morse at the munitions plant

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 3 July 2017]

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.

Was very impressed by the pilot episode, even with a very understandable slight finding-its-feet feel (that is true of a lot of shows, exceptions like 'Morse' itself, 'A Touch of Frost' and 'Midsomer Murders', which started off great and were remarkably well established, are fairly few. The first episode of the first season "Girl" was a very welcome return, a fine episode in its own right and was even better. Morse's personality is more established with more obvious recognisable personality quirks and generally things feel more settled.

It must have been very difficult following on, and living up to, from one of the show's best episodes "Fugue", but "Rocket" manages to do brilliantly and is just as good.

"Rocket's" production values can't be faulted. 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, and while the use of music isn't as ingenious as it was in "Fugue" it's hugely effective still.

Writing, even for so early on, is every bit as intelligent, entertaining and tense as the previous episodes and as the best of 'Morse'. The story has tension, ), a good deal going on and little feels improbable or too obvious while being suitably complicated. 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. How great to see a younger Max and Strange well before he became superintendent.

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.

Shaun Evans again 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 from Sean Rigby, Anton Lesser and Martin Jarvis standing out of the guest supporting cast.

Overall, another brilliant episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Bulldogs Never Give Up

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 23 January 2018]

Endeavour Morse is a modern Sherlock. In this one, he again bucks the administration to sort out a current murder and one that took place twelve years in the past. They have a connection to a family group who produce armaments, including a surface to air missile that will be worth a fortune. The problem is their dysfunction. As awful as they are, they present an easy target early on. Morse has the doggedness to search the past, even though his incompetent chief inspector wants to wrap cases up. Obviously he is under stress, but his world would be a lot easier if he put trust in his people. I'm new to this series, but I can't imagine they can sustain this guy through five seasons.

Very Clever

[MickJelfs · 10/10 · 6 March 2021]

A great detective murder mystery that pays homage to the classic 1959 British comedy movie "I'm All Right Jack".

Never changing times

[ygwerin1 · 8/10 · 17 May 2022]

This episode takes place in an armaments factory Missiles that is in the midst of, endeavouring to secure an important arms contract with an Arabian nation.

A contract that is deemed essential to not only the company itself, but also the British Government desperately seeking to boost its arms industry, hence the deemed necessity of a royal visit.

Highlighted here is many attitudes sadly indicative of the period in which the episode is set, but for me the really saddest aspects are those that still persist unto today. Which in one way or anther is every single one of them, these are Royal sycophancy, zenophobia, racism, male chauvinism, class distinction.

An abiding interest of mine in Endeavour is in the character development both of the eponymous Morse but also of Strange, here Endeavour is the budding sleuthe, with Strange the beat Bobby thankful to Morse, for any opportunity at trying his hand at detecting.