The British detective drama Endeavour, now streaming free on ITVX, is being hailed by viewers as an 'outstanding masterpiece' and 'the last television show worth watching', making it a must-see for fans of cerebral thrillers like Sherlock and Luther.
A Prequel to a Beloved Classic
Endeavour serves as a prequel to the enormously popular Inspector Morse series, which aired from 1987 to 2000 starring John Thaw. A follow-up series, Lewis, ran from 2006 to 2015. The prequel follows a young Endeavour Morse, played by Shaun Evans, at the start of his career as a detective constable, later rising to detective sergeant with the Oxford City Police CID.
The series spans nine seasons, set between 1965 and 1972. A pilot episode first aired on ITV in January 2012, followed by series one in 2013, and the show enjoyed an 11-year run until 2023.
Creative Team Behind the Series
Endeavour was created and written by English television writer Russell Lewis, who wrote all 36 episodes across its nine-season run. Lewis adapted characters originally created by crime novelist Colin Dexter, the author of the Inspector Morse book series, which serves as the foundation for all three Morse productions.
The official synopsis states: 'Set from 1965 into the 1970s, the show follows Endeavour Morse in his early years as a police constable. Working alongside his senior partner DI Fred Thursday, Morse engages in a number of investigations around Oxford.'
Cast and Critical Acclaim
Starring Shaun Evans in the title role alongside Roger Allam, Anton Lesser, Jack Laskey, Sean Rigby, James Bradshaw, Abigail Thaw, and Caroline O'Neill, the mystery crime drama has audiences completely hooked.
The show boasts a 90% critics' approval rating and a 92% audience approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. One critic said: 'If you love English mysteries, and love the old Inspector Morse, you will love young inspector Morse more.' Another added: 'Given another opportunity to wallow, tastefully, in nostalgia for its predecessor, the new show doesn't miss a beat.'
Viewer Reactions
Audiences are equally captivated. One viewer wrote: 'Simply equal to any television ever produced. A must-see for anyone who likes a good mystery, great writing, and superb characters. Best TV series in decades, certainly better than anything the formulaic American shows can offer.'
An IMDB review states: 'The last TV show worth watching. With the decline of good TV shows, I will say that Endeavour continues to be the best show I've seen in quite some time. The characters, cast and plots are perfect. As of today, Endeavour is the only TV show that I spare time to watch.'
Another fan posted: 'I had only watched a few of the original "Morse" series episodes, so was not sure what to expect when "Endeavour" appeared. What I found was a visually stunning and wonderfully crafted period piece, with an exceptionally engaging cast and story lines that were wonderfully convoluted and absolutely entertaining. Endeavour has earned a place in my all-time favourites of television.'
One viewer concluded: 'About as good as television gets - a true 10 star series. It doesn't matter how many times one watches the episodes either. I've seen the lot several times and find it as engaging on the most recent viewing as on the first.'
