Endeavour (TV Series) Muse (2018) User Reviews

Back with a bang.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 5 February 2018]

Endeavour returned to our screens, and about time too. Another exceptional episode, the usual brilliance from the team behind it. Morse, no longer the junior now has poor young DC George Fancy to berate and get frustrated with, I am now genuinely seeing the John Thaw character shine through like never before, the irritation we see John Thaw's Morse have with lesser mortals now visible.

Superb performances from the entire cast, Shaun Evans and Roger Allam never dip from the incredible standard they set from the Pilot episode. Charlotte Hope arguably stole the show, Eve's showdown with Morse was arguably the highlight scene from the episode.

The story was brilliant, the show's ability to surprise and intrigue never seems to falter. I think they took the killings to a whole new level for Endeavour, more graphic, more macabre then usual, historically the sixties was quite a violent era for crime. The killings in this one were nasty. I literally didn't see the outcome of this one coming! No pun intended.

Thank you ITV for returning this fabulous show with a six part series.

A word about the music

[Michael_Linder · 7/10 · 25 June 2018]

Sadly, there is no Barrington Pheloung soundtrack. He's credited with the "Endeavour" closng theme, of course, but Pheloung's incidental music has long been integral to the internal cohesiveness and acoustic brilliance of episodes in the complete Morse catalog. Given the importance of music in these series, his absence is as noticeable as the loss of a principal cast member and just as sorely missed.

Morse and his new sidekick must solve a string of brutal murders

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 6 February 2018]

As this 'Inspector Morse' prequel enters its fifth season change is afoot for the police in Oxford; the city police has been combined with the county force to make the new Thames Valley Constabulary and Sgt Morse is asked to work with a new young detective, DC George Fancy. There first case involves a former boxer who is found dead in his taxi; with three bullets in his chest and a large spike hammered into one ear. Inevitably there is soon a second murder; a college lecturer who had been involved in the sale of a Faberge egg is found, stabbed through both eyes. There is no obvious connection between the two men apart from the brutality of their deaths and the fact that both were last seen with a mysterious woman in a white coat. She is identified as Eve Thorne, an artists' model and part time prostitute who admits being with the men but denies being involved in their murders. As the case progresses there are further murders and a possible link to members of a university drinking club emerges.

This was a solid introduction to the fifth series with an intriguing central mystery. It also served to give some solid character development; for the first time we see Morse working with somebody under him and he quickly shows that he won't suffer fools gladly and is somewhat irascible. Shaun Evens and Roger Allam continue to really impress as Morse and Thursday and Lewis Peek is solid enough as Fancy, a character I expect to develop in upcoming stories. Of the guest stars Charlotte Hope stands out the most as Eve Thorne; a femme fatale who's scenes with the young Morse are priceless. There are a few flaws; most notably we have prostitutes going by the names of biblical temptresses and a victim whose head is found on a silver platter and another whose eyes are 'plucked out' and nobody thinks of the similarity with two biblical deaths... I can only imagine this was to help viewers who spotted it feel smug! As this minor detail stood out as a 'flaw' says a lot for the quality of the story. Overall I was impressed with this season opener; if the remaining episodes are this good I'll be very happy.

Excellent Beginning to the New Season

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 6 July 2018]

I agree with those who point out that this holds its own well with both Morse and Lewis. Here we have a complex case that centers on a Faberge egg that has disappeared. This valuable artifact has tentacles, however, and brings in a serial murderer who is killing people in colorful ways, which seem to be Biblical in nature. As a subplot, we have the love of Morse's life back as her father struggles to regain her trust.

Good, better, more better, best!

[Marc_Lowell · 10/10 · 6 February 2018]

Endeavour (TV series) was one of those great finds that I have never regretted watching from the pilot onwards. Each new season, each new episode, is eagerly awaited and now that season 5 is available on ITV starting with the first episode, Muse, which debuted on February 4, 2018, I look forward to seeing where each of these characters goes at the start of the "swinging 60s" in Britain. Nobody does murder and mayhem like the Brits; must be the class structure.

A seaon premiere that leaves an indelible impression

[hkfilmbuff · 9/10 · 3 November 2020]

Starting with Endeavour Morse being a dropout at Oxford, one of the themes of the series focuses on debunking the mystique of the arcane and hypocritical system and culture at this legendary institution. The barbaric debauchery of self-proclaimed educated elite depicted in this episode no doubt defies comprehension, and the payback was equally unimaginably ghastly. Charlotte Hope certainly stole the show. The protracted duel between Eve and Endeavour had enough poignancy and wattage to outshine the rest of this remarkable episode.

1960s popular culture reference

[grytte_pype_thynne · 8/10 · 6 February 2018]

After using references to the "Carry On" films in previous series (e.g. "Finisham Hospital"), we have now been treated to a "Round the Horne" reference in the form of the pub called "The Cordwangler's Arms", where Morse questions a stripper with the stage name of "Delilah". Cordwangles and cordwanglers feature prominently in the oeuvre of the folk singer "Rambling Syd Rumpo" (played by Kenneth Williams), who appeared most weeks on the radio show "Round the Horne" in the 1960s.

I was slightly less impressed than other reviewers with Charlotte Hope as the muse Eve. This is not to do with her portrayal of the role, which was excellent, but with a certain lack of clarity in her diction. She does not mumble, as is too often the fashion these days, but it seemed to me that her upper lip was strangely immobile when she spoke, which tended to muffle the consonants.

Full credit to Russell Lewis for coming up with with a storyline with such current relevance (Weinstein, Presidents' Club etc.), despite the fact that the episode was written and recorded well before these scandals became public. "You don't need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows" - but it helps.

A murderous muse

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 14 February 2018]

As said in my review for the entire show three 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.

The pilot was a very promising start if with an understandable finding its feet feel. Things got even better with the consistently outstanding first season, and the darker Season 2 was hardly inferior, with "Neverland" being an 'Endeavour' high point. Season 3 is considered by fans as nowhere near as good as previously. Will admit that it is not as good as Seasons 1 and 2, which had more believable stories and didn't try to do too much but count me in as someone who has still enjoyed the episodes and has found a lot to like, while finding "Coda" outstanding. Likewise with Season 4, with its weak point being the soap operatic Joan subplot in "Harvest".

"Muse" kicks off Season 5 and does so wonderfully. For an 'Endeavour' episode it is pretty graphic and more elaborate than the previous episodes, but that doesn't harm anything at all. The viewer does pick up on the biblical deaths similarity before the characters do, otherwise the story is hugely compelling with lots of shocks, twists and turns and very little feeling too obvious or convoluted.

Nothing can be faulted with the production values. It is exquisitely filmed and the idyllic and atmospheric setting was a very nice change from Oxford. There is something very nostalgic and charming about the atmospherically evoked 1960s period detail. Similarly, as always, the music is hauntingly beautiful with the way it's utilised never in question, the iconic 'Inspector Morse' theme will forever be immortal and it has always been a genius move to use it for 'Endeavour'.

Writing, as has been said many times in my reviews for the previous 'Endeavour' episodes, is every bit as intelligent, entertaining and tense as the previous episodes and as the best of 'Morse'.

As ever, Morse and Thursday's relationship was always one of the show's major high points, it always entertained and warmed the heart and with each episode it gets more so on both counts, with some moving and tense moments too.

Shaun Evans as ever 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. Charlotte Hope is particularly good in support.

In conclusion, terrific start to the latest season with huge promising potential. 9/10 Bethany Cox

My husband's an idiot! He's not a killer!

[phlbrq58 · 8/10 · 23 April 2020]

This was a particularly good ep. Seeing Morse challenged as a young man by attractive, available women is interesting and revealing. Next to Neverland,S2, this is my fave thru S5. The costumes, 70s milieu, gory murders make it a stand out. The resolution is more preposterous than usual but that's not a bad thing.

Just Another Tick In The Box

[susanhudek53 · 10/10 · 25 November 2018]

Finally Morse got his DS and new DC to order around. I'm not going to go into detail to this great start to Season 5, but as others have indicated, we really see the older Inspector Morse shining through. So excited about Season 6...another 6 episode season..

Disappointingly Graphic

[sulien_1 · 2/10 · 1 July 2018]

All of the Morse series have been consistently excellent and managed to portray the horrors of crime without being too graphic. However, this ended in the first episode of season 5 of Endeavor with a flashback scene which shows a woman being held down on a dining table and raped on screen. Badly done ITV and PBS, I expect that sort of dreck in shows like Criminal Minds and Game of Thrones, not Endeavour.

Mr. Endeavor is back

[phuketboy · 10/10 · 18 November 2018]

What a wonderful deductive story.

this puzzle detective drama is most wanted.

Back on track after disappointing S3&4

[phlbrq · 8/10 · 13 July 2020]

For me the underwritten Joan Thursday separation from her parents and Morse's promotion difficulties were a narrative drag.

Now that's behind us and seems the show moves forward with the elements we like from s1&2. S2 finale, Neverland, had burnt a bridge that a viewer had to wonder how Morse and Thursday could carry on with their colleagues. It's TV so we make allowances and put up with 8 sub par eps. At this writing I've seen thru s7 and the quality is consistently good to VG.