Hello Morsonians, Morsologists, Endeavourists, Lewislings and…well that’s me out of ideas for the moment. Welcome to part seven of a thirteen part series. For a link to the previous six parts scroll to the bottom of this post.

The first connection, as always, is the writer, Russell Lewis who wrote and devised the Endeavour series.

He has also written the following Lewis episodes;

Lewis (TV Series) (screenplay – 4 episodes, 2010 – 2012) (story – 1 episode, 2006)
– Fearful Symmetry (2012) … (screenplay)
– Old, Unhappy, Far Off Things (2011) … (screenplay)
– Falling Darkness (2010) … (screenplay)
– The Dead of Winter (2010) … (screenplay)
– Reputation (2006) … (story)

He also wrote the Morse episode, ‘The Way Through the Woods’.

CHARACTERS

Apart from Max DeBryn  and Jim Strange I could find no other characters who connect the Endeavour series to either Morse or Lewis.

Actors who appeared in the Endeavour Series 2, Episode 2 ‘Nocturne’ and/or Morse or Lewis.

There are three actors who make connections in the Morse universe.

Firstly we have Lucy Boynton. Lucy played Petra Briers in ‘Nocturne’ and Zoe Suskin in the Lewis episode ‘The Gift of Promise’ (Series 5, Episode 4).

Lucy Boynton as Petra Briers in ‘Nocturne’.

Lucy Boynton as Zoe Suskin in the Lewis episode, ‘The Gift of Promise.

Secondly, we have Diane Fletcher. Diane played Bronwen Symes in the Endeavour episode and Marion Brooke in the Morse episode, ‘Masonic Mysteries’. (There’s those pesky Masons popping up again).

Lastly, we have Lynn Farleigh who played Tabby Gardiner in the Endeavour episode and Jane Cotterel in the Morse episode, ‘The Daughter’s of Cain’. Lynn’s characters have an element of synchronicity about them. Lynn Farleigh’s character in the Morse episode was a curator at the Oxford Natural History Museum while her character in the Endeavour episode was first seen in the same Natural History Museum and was also where the murder victim, Adrian Weiss, was found. Spooky eh?

Connections between Endeavour episodes above and beyond the usual suspects are Greg Bennett who again turns up as a policeman in ‘Nocturne’.

Greg has appeared as a Police Constable in  – ‘Trove’ (2014), ‘Home’ (2013), ‘Rocket’ (2013), ‘Fugue’ (2013) and Girl (2013). He also appeared as a PC in the Lewis episodes – ‘The Indelible Stain’ (2012), ‘Generation of Vipers’ (2012) and ‘The Great and the Good’.

Another extra who has appeared in other Endeavour episodes is Stuart Matthews. In this episode he appears as a barman.

MUSIC

During the episode we hear Barrington Pheloung’s, ‘Song my mother taught me” which was also heard in the Lewis series but with the vocals of Janis Kelly. I can’t be sure which episode but it was either series one or two.. The piece can be found on the Lewis soundtrack CD.

MISCELLANEOUS

During the ‘Nocturne’ episode, Endeavour passes a poster of Diana Day who was a character in the previous episode ‘Trove’.

I can’t be sure what the graffiti ‘Tich Thomas’ refers to. It must be some kind of ‘in’ joke. The only reference for the year 1966 is ‘Tich’ of the group Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. But Tich’s real name is Ian Frederick Stephen Amey. If anyone knows what it means let me know via the comments section below.

During the episode Strange and Morse go along on a double date, though Morse was actually coerced into. The foursome are seen coming out of the cinema after having seen the Hammer Horror double bill, ‘Rasputin the Mad Monk’ and the Reptile.

Interestingly, from a Morse fan point of view, Richard Pasco starred in the Rasputin film. (I have circled his name in the above image.

Richard Pasco as Dr. Zargo in ‘Rasputin the Mad Monk.

Of course Richard Pasco starred in the Morse episode as William Bryce-Morgan in the Morse episode, ‘Dead on Time’, (Series 6, Episode 1).

Richard Pasco (Born: July 18, 1926 Died: Nov12, 2014) as William Bryce-Morgan In, ‘Dead on Time’.

Interestingly the Hammer Horror double bill was an actual true one shown in 1966. If you want to see the original theatrical trailer for the films see below.

A very interesting and intriguing element that appeared in the Endeavour episode is that we learned of Morse’s family crest and motto.

Argent, a battle-axe in gules between three pellets in sable.

The Morse motto is ‘In Deo non armis fido’. Which translates as “I trust in God, not in arms”.

The Masons make an appearance again even if it is only at the end of the episode. A ring that was worn by Blaize Hamilton, whose children and wife murdered in 1866, in a portrait and subsequently found in Terence Black’s belongings at his flat is stolen form Morse’s desk by an unknown hand. The stone is pulled back to reveal the set square and compass symbol of The Masonic Lodge.

TENUOUS CORNER

Are we comfortable? Then I will begin. During the ‘Nocturne’ episode as Endeavour and Strange are making their way to Slepe they pass a road-sign that has not only a sign for Slepe but also for Midwich.

As many people will know this episode, ‘Nocturne’ is partially about, or appears to be about creepy children most of whom are blond. The John Wyndham novel The Midwich Cuckoos is all about creepy blond children who turn out to be aliens. I’m sure this was a nice filmic joke by Russell Lewis but I wonder if he realised that there is a connection to the original Morse series.

A film adaption was made based on the book in 1960 called, ‘The Village of the Damned’. In that film starred one, Jenny Laird who played Mrs Keelan, who was Charlie Hillian’s housekeeper in the Morse episode, ‘Second Time Around’, (Series 5, Episode 1)

Jenny Laird (Born: Feb 13, 1912, Died: October 31, 2001) as Mrs Keelan.

Is that the only connection with the film? Of course not. Charlotte Mitchell also starred in the ‘Village of the Damned’ and also appeared in the Morse episode, ‘The Dead of Jericho’ (Series 1, Episode 1) as Mrs Staveley.

Charlotte Mitchell (Born: July 23, 1926 Died: May 2, 2012) as Mrs Staveley in the Dead of Jericho.

And is there a third connection…..of course …there isn’t. Don’t be greedy. 😉

WHERE’S COLIN?

Colin at 2m27s into the episode at the Natural History Museum.

So to those links to the other parts of this thirteen part series. Click on the part number and that will take you to that post and it will open in a new window so that you don’t have to leave this page.

Part one, Part two, Part three, Part four, Part five, Part six.

So folks, that’s all for this post. I hope you enjoyed it and I will see you at part eight. 🙂