Endeavour (TV Series) Oracle (2020) User Reviews

A story about love. Loved it.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 10 February 2020]

A new decade, familiar crime. It's 1970 and the body of barmaid Molly Andrews is discovered strangled after the New year's celebrations.

Slightly more atmospheric than previous episodes, this had a very different feel, one I particularly liked. A cracking episode, an interesting dynamic, a case where Morse is missing at the very start, and arrives late to the party.

Glorious production values as we've come to expect over the years, the beginning in particular, fabulous, very cinematic, finally we see Morse lost in the magic of an opera. I am delighted to see that his moustache has gone, Evans outstanding as always. I thought Richard Harrington was also great as Dr Ferman.

The recent news that Series eight would be the last was devastating, but like all good things, it must end, for now though, he's back, and if this is anything to go by, we're in for another great Series. 9/10

Morse's first case in the '70s

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 10 February 2020]

As this episode opens the '70s have just begun and a woman is killed as she walks along a canal towpath. DI Thursday suspects her boyfriend but doesn't have the evidence to charge him. Morse is away having a romantic holiday in Venice. When he gets back he looks at the case and believes Thursday was mistaken. He finds a potential link to a university department investigating the possibility of ESP. One of the people there says one of their test subjects 'witnessed' the crime... is this possible and if so will the police believe her? Away from the case Morse attends a music event where a man befriends him.

This was a solid opening to the latest series. The central story was classic Morse with its connections to academics. This provides some interesting backbiting as male academics are sniffy about the one woman in their group being given an opportunity to present a science programme on television... some of their attitudes make Gene Hunt, of 'Life on Mars' fame, look like a women's-libber. The investigation provides a good number of suspects and further deaths to keep the viewer interested. In the background to the main story the man who befriends Morse is intriguing and hints at what might be a series long plot line. As expected the cast is on fine form; most obviously Shaun Evans, as Morse and as Roger Allam as Thursday but also from Anton Lesser as CS Bright and Sean Rigby as DS Strange. Overall a fine episode.

Excellent as usual

[Vindelander · 8/10 · 9 February 2020]

As a long time fan of the series I'm glad to see the high standard continuing and Shaun Evans' direction is working well.

The stories are, of course, formulaic but that's one of the attractions of this time warp series. Cast are like old friends now with Allam and Lesser bringing interesting back stories to the main plot.

Love it

Note on dates

[trixie30 · 8/10 · 20 August 2020]

Not a full review, but a few notes about those who've expressed dismay at the time line. Yes, the opening scenes are over the new year, but if you pay attention, there are several examples when the story jumps ahead to spring.

For example, the opening scenes in Oxford are bleak, dark, and grey. When Morse returns from Italy, he has a brief scene with Thursday and asks what he's missed. This scene is also slightly "grey."

There's a slight break and the next scene begins with a bright sky, green trees, and light, etc. Morse is sitting in the car, sun shining, women walking by in light dresses. Hm, are we still in winter, you wonder? Actually the newspaper is dated May 7, 1970.

I think this 4 month time jump also helps account for Thursday's underlying frustration and anger at having not been able to bring charges. We already know how upset and stressed he's been because of events from the previous season. Not finding a violent criminal would only add to that. Feeling as if Morse, who is more and more sure of himself, might eclipse him would also increase Thursday's gloom.

This is only my opinion, of course. But I wanted to correct the time line concerns.

Wonderful

[Veritas99 · 10/10 · 10 February 2020]

I missed " Morse" , and enjoyed the first episode from the new season. I'm glad that he shaved his moustache, last season we could see only a brush hanging below a pair of sad eyes:) Now we see an interesting dynamic, apparently Morse is stepping on Tuesday's toes...we shall see what will come out of it.

The beginning of a new era

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 12 February 2020]

Ever since 'Endeavour' first started, it struck me as a great series on its own and a worthy prequel series to one of my all-time favourites 'Inspector Morse'. It goes very well with that and with 'Lewis'. Seasons 1-3 was the period when 'Endeavour' was at its best, with all the episodes to me being very good to brilliant. Seasons 4 and 5 weren't as consistent and am aware that a few are divisive, but again high standard and for me none of the episodes were bad. Season 6 was solid if a little disappointing too, the only outstanding episode being "Deguello".

Season 7 starts off very well with "Oracle", which introduces a new decade for 'Endeavour' and signals the beginning of a new era. An era where it is clear that times have changed and also so have the characters and people. "Oracle" from personal view is not one of the best episodes of the series, but it is a more than worthy season opener in almost every day, the changed time period showing a good deal of promise and it was great to see star Shaun Evans back in the director's chair.

"Oracle" for one thing looks fantastic. All of 'Endeavour's' episodes are superbly made, so expectations were admittedly high on that front, and "Oracle" managed to be one of the best-looking episodes. It is exquisitely filmed throughout, with the first 10-15 minutes being enough to make one go wow, and the time period is brought to life quite vividly and handsomely in the locations/settings and costumes. The spectacularly vivid colour in the Venetian scenes contrast beautifully with a bleaker-looking Oxford.

The music is very atmospheric and fits beautifully, feeling at times like its own character without being too melodramatic. Also did not question any of the music placements or choices of music luckily, which was something that distracted me sometimes in Season 6, the wonderfully operatic beginning being the standout. This is Evans' second 'Endeavour' episode as director, after Season 6's "Apollo" (which was from a directing standpoint remarkably good), and he shows even more confidence here. Evident in the use of camera work and locations and how any tone shifts are cohesive and flow.

Further benefits are an intelligently written and always intriguing script, that particularly excels in the interesting character dynamics (that between Morse and Thursday being more terse), and a compelling mystery that didn't to me suffer from incoherence or over-obviousness. One that also had a lot of atmosphere, with a suspenseful opening murder and the supernatural horror aspect being both frightening and affectionate. The characters are well written and one doesn't feel frustrated at how things have changed with them as they move into a new era. The character development for Thursday is striking in particular, here more brittle and weary than before, and it is hard to not feel for Bright (his development was one of the high points of the previous season). The rest of the characters are a colourful lot, though with a few exceptions consisting of a nest of vipers. The biggest viper of all being the openly misogynistic Ferman, which may make some feel uncomfortable (myself included) but it very much existed back then in academia and still is now sadly.

Can't fault the performances, with Evans as committed and charismatic as ever and Anton Lesser has some affecting moments. Richard Harrington is easily hissable as Ferman without being too cartoonish. Roger Allam, a big part as to why 'Endeavour' works as well as it does, stood out most to me though, capturing Thursday's weariness and frustration beautifully whether when saying something or unspoken.

If there was anything that didn't quite work for me, it was the denouement which may have been surprising but for me was also somewhat perfunctory and needed more time to properly feel explored. And the big reveal at the garden party strains credulity, again a shock but it is a "what the heck" and out of left field moment. At least the very end grabs the attention and makes one eager to see how the next episode carries out.

On the whole, a more than promising start to the new season and highly recommended. 8/10

NO OTHER POLICE DRAMA COMES EVEN CLOSE IMHO

[agrademechanic · 10/10 · 7 August 2021]

I've always been 100% impressed by the brilliant directing/acting of Shaun Evans and brilliant acting of Roger Allam and the exemplary acting of ALL the actors in all the Endeavour Series, but for me, the episode ORACLE of 9/821 just raised the bar another 100 miles !

I was in tears for Anton Lesser losing such a beautiful & dedicated wife, which surprised me as he always "annoys me" with the condescending way he talks to Morse and Thursday.

The plot and storyline to Oracle is 100/100.

Cudos and congratulations to Writer and Playwright and ALL involved, in the most touching episode I've seen yet.

Signed Bernie Valentini, Melbourne , Australia.

Ludo

[jcd-25100 · 9/10 · 11 August 2020]

I do wonder about Ludo's interest in knowing Endeavor. He may suspect or know that his wife has "met" Endeavor? In all my days I have never encountered a guy so interested in knowing me. I guess I'll find out over the next two weeks.

Morse Meets ESP

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 10 August 2020]

When a young woman dies, pushed off a footbridge on New Year's Eve, Thursday is called to investigate. Morse has been on holiday in Venice where he has had a tryst with a sultry Italian woman. Our attention moves back and forth from the investigation to a research lab, dealing with ESP and other paranormal sciences. The men who run the lab are sexist and an attractive young graduate student receives the brunt of their chauvinism. Thursday continues expressing his pain from the work he does--dead and mutilated bodies and the worst of humanity. For some time, he has seen Morse as a threat to his position in the police, even though they are partners. Other than being a bit slow moving at times, this is an excellent offering of this series.

Disjointed

[joe_blake · 6/10 · 25 May 2020]

This seasons episodes have been sat on our recorder for months so I just saw the first one last night.

This story was set around the turn of the year. So the last thing you would expect to see when they visit a relative of the deceased, is a toddler sat on a blanket in the garden. This is quickly followed up by a scene with an open air concert with ladies in off the shoulder frocks. From this obvious mistake the whole episode felt very disjointed. I hope episodes 2 and 3 are better.

Endevour at its best

[cherrylstormygale · 9/10 · 17 February 2020]

We thoroughly enjoyed last nights episode of Endevour ,the story line was as good as ever .Just one criticism the incidental music was very off putting ,perhaps tone it down a bit ,we stopped watching Lewis for the same reason ,it spoils an otherwise compelling experience

Is this the end of Endeavour?

[fredpolvere · 3/10 · 12 August 2020]

I am not sure what episode the other reviewers watched??? This was so contrived as to be laughable. ESP - no place in this series. The mystery woman - GIVE ME A BREAK! Morse's snide looks at Thursday.- so out of character. If this is a harbinger of the series? If so, I will pass on the remaining episodes.

Sky tv cable ?

[raytalbot-11041 · 9/10 · 12 February 2020]

Morse talks to Frazil you can see the thick black sky cable on the side of the house in a L shape, tv cable not like it in 1960s/70s See my photo

TV

[franny-madry · 10/10 · 17 February 2020]

Excellent TV viewing bringing Morse back to life in the new decade of 1970. Just a shame the 1916 cottage by the canal has a digital TV areal in full view. That's TV for you as brilliant as it is

Jumped the shark

[morandb · 3/10 · 13 August 2020]

There is negligible plot here. It attempts to create interest by quickly jumping between many threads of the story, but it doesn't work here. All I got was that it was a tremendous waste of time, with artsy technique trying to obscure that the plot was minuscule and obvious.

Convoluted and boring

[lahpez · 2/10 · 5 December 2020]

No spoilers here - there is nothing to spoil.

I enjoy the original series with John Thaw. Even if some of the earlier episodes are so slow, I fall asleep if I watch them too late in the evening, I also enjoy Lewis, and until now, Morse. But this episode, which just premiered on Danish TV, no. It's not even sleep-inducingly boring. It is infuriatingly boring! It is somehow overstylized, overdressed, self-important. The acting is unusually stiff. Whatever little incoherent plot there may be is totally obscured by overdone dillettante theatricals. The episode is trying too hard to be clever, intelligent and "artsy", and fails because of it. Also, in these times, we do not need more "serious" detective stories flirting with silly supernatural ideas. Frankly I don't know how this episode deals with it, and worse, I don't care.