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. Then there was "Fugue", which to me is one of the best episodes of 'Endeavour', while "Rocket" and "Home" just as good.
Even with an appreciatively darker tone than the first season, Season 2 started very well with "Trove", which was also sadly let down by a far-fetched and over-complicated ending, while the even better "Nocturne" was one of the show's darkest, creepiest and moving. "Sway" is not quite as good, with a less memorable case than the previous two episodes, but it is still a very solid episode with very well done subplots.
The mystery itself certainly isn't bad, it is still interesting and compelling with enough to keep one guessing until the surprising final solution (also one that is better executed than the endings of the previous two episodes). Really liked the Hitchcockian-like feel at times. It's just that there were previous episodes with far more atmosphere, creepiness and emotional impact, especially "Nocturne" and "Fugue".
"Sway's" subplots are very well done and more memorable than the mystery itself. Particularly the old flame subplot with Thursday, which was very touchingly handled and it was interesting to see a more conflicted Thursday. The character of Thursday's wife brings further poignancy. Morse's subplot didn't detract from the episode at all, and don't worry Monica's race is completely incidental and doesn't distract that much, and was also handled sensitively, while the 60s references and such were dealt with taste.
Once again, the production values are spot on. The episode 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.
Writing, even for so early on, is every bit as intelligent, entertaining and tense as the previous episodes and as the best of 'Morse'. Nothing feels improbable, over-complicated or too obvious.
Relationship between Morse and Thursday, which is like a father/son sort of chemistry, is entertaining and heartfelt with so much warmth. 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, lead and supporting, with Morse displaying more recognisable character quirks with each episode and as aforementioned it is impossible not to love his relationship with Thursday.
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. All the acting is very good, with Cecile Paoli and Caroline O'Neill standouts.
In conclusion, very solid, just not one of my favourite episodes of 'Endeavour'. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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