The British detective drama Endeavour, streaming free on ITVX, has been hailed by fans as a 'true 10-star series' and an 'absolute masterpiece'. Viewers have called it the 'last television show worth watching'. The series serves as a prequel to the iconic Inspector Morse franchise.
A Prequel to a Classic
Endeavour follows a young Endeavour Morse, played by Shaun Evans, as he begins his career as a detective constable and later advances to detective sergeant in the Oxford City Police CID. The show spans from 1965 to 1972, with a pilot airing in January 2012 and the first series launching in 2013. It ran for nine series until 2023, maintaining an 11-year presence on ITV.
The series was created and written by English television writer Russell Lewis, who penned all 36 episodes. Lewis reimagined characters originally conceived by crime novelist Colin Dexter, whose Inspector Morse books underpin all three Morse series.
Critical and Audience Acclaim
Endeavour boasts a 90% critics' approval rating and a 92% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes across all nine series. One critic wrote: 'If you love English mysteries, and love the old Inspector Morse, you will love young inspector Morse more.' Another reviewer stated: 'Given another opportunity to wallow, tastefully, in nostalgia for its predecessor, the new show doesn't miss a beat.' A third simply called it 'a treat for the faithful'.
Fans have been equally effusive. One viewer said: '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.' Another wrote on IMDB: '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.'
Cast and Storyline
The series stars Shaun Evans alongside Roger Allam, Anton Lesser, Jack Laskey, Sean Rigby, James Bradshaw, Abigail Thaw, and Caroline O'Neill. The official synopsis reads: '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.'
One IMDB review noted: '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.' Another fan declared: 'About as good as television gets - a true 10 star series. It doesn't matter how many times one watches the episodes either.'
Endeavour is available to stream for free on ITVX.
