The ITV crime drama 'Endeavour', a prequel to the beloved Inspector Morse series, has been hailed by fans as the 'best mystery series of all time'. Streaming for free on ITVX, the show has captivated audiences with its intricate plots and period setting.
Based on Colin Dexter's Bestselling Novels
The series is adapted from the 13-book Inspector Morse series by Oxford author Colin Dexter. Created by Russell Lewis, 'Endeavour' follows the early career of Detective Constable Endeavour Morse, later a Detective Sergeant with the Oxford City Police CID. Much of the series was filmed on location in Oxford, England.
'Endeavour' is the third television adaptation of Dexter's characters, following 'Inspector Morse' (1987–2000) starring John Thaw, and 'Inspector Lewis' (2006–2015). The show first aired in January 2012 and ran for nine seasons, totaling 36 episodes. The pilot episode attracted 8.2 million viewers, leading to a full series commission.
Colin Dexter's Cameos and Legacy
Colin Dexter made cameo appearances across all three series. He famously included a clause in his will prohibiting anyone else from playing the role of Morse after his death. Dexter stated, 'We never want to repeat what John has done. A lot of people connected with Morse didn’t want anyone coming along to say we will try and outdo dear old John. I said I’m not ever going to allow that, full stop.' Before his death, Dexter expressed that he did not want further television series beyond 'Endeavour' based on his novels.
Critical and Audience Acclaim
'Endeavour' holds a 90% critics' approval rating and a 92% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One critic described it as 'Very charming, in an understated-English kind of way. It also remains in keeping with the spirit of Morse, and is certainly superior to its sequel.' Another noted, 'Endeavour is wonderfully entertaining on its own, but what puts it over the top is its loving respect for John Thaw.'
Audiences have been equally enthusiastic. One fan said, 'Endeavour is The Best Mystery Series of all Time. The Morse prequel tops its venerable predecessors, Inspector Morse and Inspector Lewis.' Another viewer gave it '11 out of 10! A must watch if you’re a Morse fan.' On IMDB, a user wrote, 'In my opinion this is the best English series ever! Absolutely great story lines, great actors... The Pilot episode is just wonderful.'
Shaun Evans on Playing Morse
Shaun Evans, who took over the role at age 31, said in an interview with Digital Spy: 'I was aware of the character, but I'd hesitate to say that I was a fan. As soon as I got the call, I read the books and became a massive fan of them. As soon as I started reading the books, I was like, 'God, this is brilliant'. I started to wonder what kind of character they were going to make him as a youngster, who turned into this [familiar] character in his late fifties. I thought it could be really great.'
'Endeavour' is available to stream for free on ITVX.
