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 season was even better, with all the episodes being outstanding. Season 2 took a darker turn, but once again all the episodes were great (even with "Trove" having one of 'Endeavour's' most far-fetched and over-complicated endings, great episode otherwise), with the weakest one "Sway" still being very good, "Neverland" especially was exceptional and a show high-point.
Season 3 is considered by fans as nowhere near as good as previously. Will admit that it is not as good as Seasons 1 and 2, which had more believable stories and didn't try to do too much but count me in as someone who has still enjoyed the episodes and has found a lot to like. "Coda" however is to me and many others the best of Season 3, and to me, despite enjoying "Ride", "Arcadia" and "Prey" (although the last one is very divisive), the season's only outstanding episodes.
Production values in "Coda" are spot on. It is exquisitely filmed, with some extremely creepy low shots and how everything is lit which enhances the atmosphere hugely, and there is something very nostalgic and charming about the atmospherically evoked 1960s period detail. Despite loving the music in "Prey", which added enormously to that episode's atmosphere, to me it isn't really the same without Barrington Pheloung. He makes a more than welcome return as composer here, and as have remarked many times having him be composer on 'Endeavour' as well as 'Morse' and 'Lewis' is a masterstroke of genius. His music is still hauntingly beautiful, and the 'Inspector Morse' theme is still immortal.
Writing, as has been said many times in my reviews for the previous 'Endeavour' episodes, is every bit as intelligent, entertaining and tense as the previous episodes and as the best of 'Morse', with some funny lines from Max. The story is gripping, with the personal life subplots giving off a mournful and poignant quality and the skilfully done dovetailing of both the murder and robbery. How wonderful to learn more about Morse's past too.
Once more we are treated to references that feel affectionate and nostalgic rather than clumsy or gimmicky. There are direct references to "Promised Land" and "Greeks Bearing Gifts", and who can't help think of Lonsdale College without thinking of "The Remorseful Day" for obvious reasons. As well as to 'Dirty Harry' and the case reminding one of 'Dog Day Afternoon'.
Morse and Thursday's father/son relationship, has grown more entertaining and heartfelt with each episode, it has a lot of warmth, is so well written within the story and is a large part of the series' appeal. 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 (apart from the slight disappointment of Bright being closer to what he was like before getting some development for the better in "Prey"), 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. Mark Heap is particularly excellent in support, and Sean Rigby is indeed coming into his own.
In summary, outstanding and Season 3's best episode bar none. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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 season was even better, with all the episodes being outstanding. Season 2 took a darker turn, but once again all the episodes were great (even with "Trove" having one of 'Endeavour's' most far-fetched and over-complicated endings, great episode otherwise), with the weakest one "Sway" still being very good, "Neverland" especially was exceptional and a show high-point.
Season 3 is considered by fans as nowhere near as good as previously. Will admit that it is not as good as Seasons 1 and 2, which had more believable stories and didn't try to do too much but count me in as someone who has still enjoyed the episodes and has found a lot to like. "Coda" however is to me and many others the best of Season 3, and to me, despite enjoying "Ride", "Arcadia" and "Prey" (although the last one is very divisive), the season's only outstanding episodes.
Production values in "Coda" are spot on. It is exquisitely filmed, with some extremely creepy low shots and how everything is lit which enhances the atmosphere hugely, and there is something very nostalgic and charming about the atmospherically evoked 1960s period detail. Despite loving the music in "Prey", which added enormously to that episode's atmosphere, to me it isn't really the same without Barrington Pheloung. He makes a more than welcome return as composer here, and as have remarked many times having him be composer on 'Endeavour' as well as 'Morse' and 'Lewis' is a masterstroke of genius. His music is still hauntingly beautiful, and the 'Inspector Morse' theme is still immortal.
Writing, as has been said many times in my reviews for the previous 'Endeavour' episodes, is every bit as intelligent, entertaining and tense as the previous episodes and as the best of 'Morse', with some funny lines from Max. The story is gripping, with the personal life subplots giving off a mournful and poignant quality and the skilfully done dovetailing of both the murder and robbery. How wonderful to learn more about Morse's past too.
Once more we are treated to references that feel affectionate and nostalgic rather than clumsy or gimmicky. There are direct references to "Promised Land" and "Greeks Bearing Gifts", and who can't help think of Lonsdale College without thinking of "The Remorseful Day" for obvious reasons. As well as to 'Dirty Harry' and the case reminding one of 'Dog Day Afternoon'.
Morse and Thursday's father/son relationship, has grown more entertaining and heartfelt with each episode, it has a lot of warmth, is so well written within the story and is a large part of the series' appeal. 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 (apart from the slight disappointment of Bright being closer to what he was like before getting some development for the better in "Prey"), 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. Mark Heap is particularly excellent in support, and Sean Rigby is indeed coming into his own.
In summary, outstanding and Season 3's best episode bar none. 10/10 Bethany Cox