O Morse! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The show has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
Endeavour is near, the code I hear, the people all exulting,
While Thaw eyes the steady keel, Shaun’s steady vessel is new and daring.
My apologies to Walt Whitman.
For some unknown reason I thought of Walt Whitman’s poem, O Captain! My Captain! yesterday while reading Andrea Wulf’s excellent book, The Invention of Nature. I’m assuming there must have been a word association that my unconscious mind had connected. Anyway, I put the book down and decided to paraphrase the first verse, (the only part of the poem I can recite from memory) the result of which you can see above.
Onwards and upwards. Here we are at the antepenultimate episode of the third Endeavour series where we lose a member of the detecting team but gain a new constable.
As always let’s start with the man who made the Endeavour series possible,
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 James Strange and Max DeBryn there was only one other character who had appeared in another series; Marion Brooke.
Elisabeth Hopper as Marion Brooke
Marion Brooke is a character whose name many, many Morse fans will recognize as she appeared in a Morse episode that is consistently placed in people’s top five favourite episodes; Masonic Mysteries, (Series 4, Episode 4).
Diane Fletcher as Marion Brooke in the Morse episode, Masonic Mysteries.
The young Marion works for Amnox and when we meet her in the Morse episode she still does. Amnox is of course a not so subtle nod to the charity organization OXFAM. Oxfam was originally founded at 17 Broad Street in Oxford, Oxfordshire, in 1942 as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief by a group of Quakers, (there’s those Quakers again) social activists, and Oxford academics; this is now Oxfam Great Britain, still based in Oxford.
Diane Fletcher who played the older Marion turned up in the Endeavour episode, Nocturne, (Series 2, Episode 2)
Diane Fletcher as Miss Bronwen Symes in the Endeavour episode, Nocturne.
Actors who appeared in the Endeavour Series 3, Episode 2 ‘Arcadia’ and/or Morse or Lewis.
First up we have the excellent Richard Dillane.
Richard Dillane as Leo Richardson in the episode, Arcadia.
Richard not only played an unlikeable character in the Endeavour episode but also played another one in the Lewis episode, Whom the Gods Would Destroy, (Series 1, Episode 1).
Richard Dillane as Theodore Platt in the Lewis episode, Whom the Gods Would Destroy.
Richard has also turned up in some of my favourite shows over the years, Cold Feet, Waking the Dead, Dr. Who and the excellent Wolf Hall.
Secondly, we have Joanna Roth who played Prudence Maddox in the Endeavour episode.
Joanna Roth as Prudence Maddox.
Joanna also turned up in the Lewis episode, Falling Darkness, (Series 4, Episode 4).
Joanna Roth as Christine Hawkins in the Lewis episode Falling Darkness.
There are three othe actors who have turned up in this episode and also Lewis. However, they are all extras so are difficult to pinpoint within an episode.
The first of these extras is Martin Mayger who was easier to locate as he has a picture on IMDB and has a rather distinctive face.
Martin Mayger is the man wearing the hat on the right.
Martin has appeared in no less than three Lewis episodes;
The Ramblin’ Boy (Series 7, Episode 2) as a university lecturer and a passerby.
The Indelible Stain (Series 6, Episode 4) as a passerby.
The Soul of Genius (Series 6, Episode 1) as a gardener.
Another extra who has appeared in two Lewis episodes is Charlotte Mellish. In the Endeavour episode she was a character called Annie but I couldn’t pinpoint her. In Lewis she appeared in;
What Lies Tangled (Series 9, Episode 3) as an Oxford student and a cafe waitress.
Magnum Opus (Series 9, Episode 2) as the same as above.
The last extra who also appeared in a Lewis episode is Janette Sharp. In the Endeavour episode she was a shop customer and in the Lewis episode What Lies Tangled she was a Police Officer.
If any of the above extras should read this please feel free to send in a photo and I will gladly add it to this post.
WHERE’S COLIN?
Colin sitting on the bench chatting up a woman again.
MUSIC
At 18 minutes and 47 seconds we hear a section of the opera La Wally by Alfredo Catalani, to a libretto by Luigi Illica as Endeavour settles in to his new flat. He listens to what is probably it’s best known aria, Ebben? Ne andro lontana.
At one hour and 26 minutes Endeavour is in his flat composing a letter to DS Peter Jakes. On the record player he is playing Chopin’s Nocturne No.1, op 27.
MISCELLANEOUS
At 19 minutes we get to see Endeavour’s mother for, i believe, the very first time. Endeavour opens an envelope with his mother’s death certificate and a photograph of her and Endeavour as a young boy.
From the certificate we can see that his mother died on 17th May 1950 at home in bed.
A very poignant moment in the episode. I’m assuming he retrieved the envelope after his father died.
One of the main events of the episode was the appearance of a new police officer in the shape of WPC Shirley Trewlove played by Dakota Blue Richards.
I’m still not sure if this character was brought in for the right reasons i.e. as simply an attractive young female amongst a bunch of men to try and attract a younger male audience. Maybe it’s the cynic in me speaking. But maybe she is to be a love interest for Endeavour or is it that she has a resemblance to Susan/Wendy, Endeavour’s one and only true love?
This was the Susan/Wendy we saw in the pilot episode of Endeavour. Of course we can’t see her face but from behind she could pass for Wendy/Susan. Maybe in series 4 Trewlove will let her hair down, literally and possibly figuratively, and Endeavour will see her from behind and think he is looking at Susan/Wendy. Well that’s my imagination exhausted.
At the end of the episode we see DS Peter Jakes opening an envelope which contains a gift from Endeavour, Premium Bonds.
I’m not sure that in the USA these would be legal as many states have strict gaming and lottery laws which mean that it may not be possible or practical to hold Premium Bonds while in the US.
In this episode Endeavour gets all Dirty Harry, (Clint Eastwood film). A blackmailer demands money and Morse is the officer who will ‘make the drop’. His first task is to wait for a call at a telephone box for further instructions. Those instructions send Endeavour to another telephone box. These scenes are reminiscent of scenes in the film Dirty Harry where the blackmailer has Harry wait at a phone box for further instructions. Not only is the scenario the same but Endeavour is even dressed like Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry.
Shaun Evans is Dirty Harry. (Jakes better look out because most of Harry’s colleagues get killed)
Clint Eastwood is Endeavour Morse. Well Professor do you feel lucky?
LITERARY REFERENCES
In the Endeavour episode the character Gideon Finn who runs the commune says to Fred Thursday, “consider the lilies of the field”. This is a quote from the bible. The full quote is;
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin“.
Matthew 6:26
At the end of the episode Endeavour and Thursday return to the commune to find the building and surrounding area empty, the people having fled. Thursday wonders what they will do, go back to the nine to five? Endeavour quotes from Paradise Lost by Milton,
“The world was all before them, where to choose
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide:
They hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow,
Through Eden took their solitary way.”
———————
So we come to the end of this post. Again, thank you for all your support and will do my best to continue to entertain as best as I can. I have a few fun blog post post ideas i’m tinkering with for when this series of Endeavour posts are finished.
Love
Chris
Excelled yourself this time…things that only half form in my mind as I watch, get the full treatment from you.Top of the Class.!! So much to look for next time I watch it now……for instance, only on second viewing did I realise it was Marion Brooke from Masonic Mysteries……
Thanks Sue, i’m glad you enjoyed it. Of course, when you realise it is Marion you get to thinking, oh poor Marion if only you knew what your future held. Then again, better she doesn’t know.
You probably noticed this in this episode of Endeavour and just a small point, but it was mentioned that the landlady of the artist who died in the fire was called Mrs Crevatte. Surely a nod to the Tony Hancock film The Rebel where he played an artist who had a landlady of the same name. Nice touch that!
Oh well spotted Barrie. I am a fan of Hancock but I haven’t watched it for many, many years. I love the film The Rebel and of course when you mentioned Mrs Crevatte and the film I thought ‘OF COURSE’. Thanks for commenting Barrie.
Excellent again Chris¡¡¡ every time you achieve a better high spirit and make all of us so astonished ; you’re so full of every detail, smile, gesture, sound, outfit, anyway: Amazing. I believe Endeavour Producers mignt conatc you and have you as an adviser or assistant specialist; really amazing¡¡¡ Congrats¡¡
I didn’t spot Marion, well done Chris! But what a great piece of casting, they look so alike.
When Arcadia was first broadcast a couple of us had a bit of a debate on the Facebook group about how much the Premium Bonds would have been worth (and we thought there were four £5 bonds.) We couldn’t pin down how much Morse would have been earning at the time, but agreed that represented at least a week’s wages, and was a very generous gift. Hope that helps non-UK viewers.
Thanks Maria. I can live in hope regarding the Endeavour producers but they will have more knowledgeable people than me.
I wouldn’t have spotted Marion, well done Chris! But what an excellent bit of casting, they look so alike. When Arcadia was first broadcast we had a bit of a debate on the Facebook group about how much the Premium Bonds would have been worth then (and we guessed there were 4 x £5 bonds.) We couldn’t pin down how much Morse would have been earning at the time, but it was agreed they probably represented at least a week’s wage, and would have a very generous gift. Hope this helps non-UK viewers.
When telling the story of Richardsons supermarket, miss Frazil mentions my hometown, Mons ( battle, WW1) !!!
The bonds were such a sweet gesture. I felt so happy for the Jakes character. He’d had such a terrible childhood and a new life in a new country seems like such a great thing for him. He’ll be part of his wife’s family. I think Trewlove (what a name!) is a wonderful addition. She thinks like Endeavour does. I’m hoping no romance, but just a good collegial exchange of ideas and mutual admiration. And wasn’t Bright just so lovely in his welcome to her?!
What was the message included in Morse’s gift to DS Jakes ?
Hi Marilou. The message read, “Dear Peter, For the child. Morse”.
Hello Chris
Really enjoy your blog especially as I’m currently laid up recovering from an knee operation and have spent the time working my way through a boxed set of Endeavour.
I noticed in Arcadia that Leo Richardson tells Ivor Maddox, “You’re a manager, so manage it”. This is almost a direct take from the pilot of Lewis when Rex Griffon confronted with the fact that he’s concealed a body says “I’m a manager, so I managed the situation”.
Don’t know why but it’s one of those lines of dialogue that just stuck so I recognised it second time around and had a little chuckle to myself.
Anyhow keep up the good work, really added to my enjoyment being able to refer to your web site and make connections as I worked my way through the series.
Kind regards
Hi Edward and welcome to my blog. Sorry to read about your knee surgery. I assume that means you will be laid up for some time. It is strange the way certain pieces of dialogue do stick in the memory and that happens to me quite frequently. (though this is probably due to the numerous times I have watched Morse, Lewis and Endeavour.
I’m new at your blog. I’m loving it! I found Endeavor, Morse and Lewis a few years back. I have watched all Lewis and Endeavor and just now I’m binge watching Morse (loving it!). So glad to have found this little spot on the net where I can share my love for these excellent shows. I just read Paradise Lost and I totally missed that reference…you are certainly good at spotting these! Thanks! Looking forward to more E/M/L.
Hi Karl. Always great to meet another convert to the Morse universe. Thank you for your kind comment. I hope you find lots of interesting posts on my blog.
Wow a real series boff,
I’ve got ADHD so I associate in my mind faces and places
My wife has just been to Oxford on holiday from South Africa and sent me a picture of The Bodleian Library
A day later it appears in Endeavour
So I got a sense of the photo from the scene that was filmed
I have a habit of looking at the scene around the actors
There is a lot of attention to detail in this series
And you make it pop out from the story!
Doubt it will ever come to SA so I’m glad we have the Internet
Thanx for all your research
Hi paul. Thanks for your lovely comment and I hope you find much more to like on my blog.
We’re wondering if North American tv cut out a scene that explained why young Morse shows no recognition at all when he sees the nurse, Monica Hicks (played by Shvorne Marks), who used to be his girlfriend. She’s is two scenes with him in “Arcadia” and he doesn’t even nod in her direction. We are puzzled! Was this ever explained, either in this episode or elsewhere? Thanks, Chris!
Hi Diane. No, it’s never explained and was something that also annoyed me. Their relationship ends without any actual explanation. Monica does turn up again in series 4 in one episode but no explanation is forthcoming. Monica does say that Endeavour should treat his next girlfriend better.
Yes it’s an interesting thing with Monica and you always wonder whether something was carelessly cut in the edit, to the writer’s frustration. But RL seems to have a fair bit of control so might be immune to that particular curse. On the other hand, we have had years of Morse being rejected by women he moons over. It’s an interesting and psychologically satisfying development to see that he might actually be quite scared of commitment. After all, we can see he often chooses women who are unsuitable or unattainable. What does that allow him to do? Never commit. Good to see more complexity, and for me very convincing. Dx
I too was left wondering what happened with Morse’s relationship with nurse Monica Hicks. In the second series Morse talked of leaving the police, moving abroad with Monica and perhaps becoming a teacher. It felt like he was ‘thinking aloud and was speaking of what MIGHT happen. After the trauma Morse experiences in Neverland (seeing Thursday getting shot and his imprisonment) Morse withdraws completely from everyone and everything and is seen living in isolation by a lake (suffering from PTSD?).
When I met Shvorne I told her how sad I felt over the way she was ‘dropped’ by Morse and his lack of recognition when he meets her again. Her response that when they met “He was rude!”. I agreed with her!
Morse is a complex character whose mother died when he was still young, his father was cold and remote and he did not have a good relation with his step mother. I would say that his attachment style is fearful-avoidant. Wiki says:
A fearful-avoidant attachment style is demonstrated by those possessing an unstable fluctuating/confused view of self and others. (Remember how surprised Morse was when Strange says ‘You’re not so bad’?)
People with losses in childhood and adolescence may often develop this type of attachment and tend to agree with the following statements: “I am somewhat uncomfortable getting close to others. I want emotionally close relationships, but I find it difficult to completely trust others, or to depend on them. I sometimes worry that I will be hurt if I allow myself to become too close to other people.” They tend to feel uncomfortable with emotional closeness, and the mixed feelings are combined with sometimes unconscious, negative views about themselves and their attachments. They commonly view themselves as unworthy of responsiveness from their attachments, and they don’t trust the intentions of their attachments. Similar to the dismissive-avoidant attachment style, people with a fearful-avoidant attachment style seek less intimacy from attachments and frequently suppress and deny their feelings. Because of this, they are much less comfortable expressing affection.
At the end of ‘The Remorseful Day’ Morse’s last words are “Thank Lewis for me.” How sad that Morse could not have told Lewis that himself or had a ‘good ending’ with Nurse Monica. It’s horrible when relationships end with no explanation – but that’s life! Sometimes we don’t get to know and that’s frustrating.
This post may be moved to a better place, if the Editor chooses…Anyone else noting the (vague, but still) similarity in the evening scene with Endeavour and Mrs Richardson at the Richardson Villa, with the iconic scene in the 1967 (!) film ‘The Graduate’, starring Dustin Hoffman – and of course Anne Bancroft as ‘Mrs Robinson'(!!)…
I’ve started watching the early episodes of Endeavour, again. Perhaps to take the bad taste of the absurd series seven from my gob. On to “Arcadia.”
Sheldon – so have I as they are being re-shown on Free to Air here. What a difference in ……..it is like watching a different series !
the more I read the recent interviews that PBS have run to coincide with S7 the more I despair (or have written off) S8.
S6 interviews inferred that Shaun had great influence over the series but recent interviews confirmed that the whole ‘operatic’ and Violetta storyline was pretty much his idea and he is actively ‘working’ on S8 – I wish he would stick to just acting as Endeavour rather than ‘creating’ – given he has never watched Inspector Morse not sure creating should be left to him.
Are you not on the Inspector Morse/Lewis/Endeavour FB site? I left the group last year when any remotely negative critique of the series by members was nastily shut down and the sum total of commentary seemed to be ‘isn’t Shaun hot’ – I recently took a look to see what S7 view was – interestingly even one of the admins of the site thought that S7 was rubbish.
Maria – I am on Christopher’s Morse/Lewis/Endeavour FB site. I *was* on the other one, but the admin kicked me off for some reason.
Sheldon – I Thought I used to see your name there – seems that even a little gentle wit in respect of the “isn’t Shaun hot” brigade can warrant expulsion…..from my quick visit recently you are not missing anything, at least in respect of Endeavour – the Inspector Morse fans still on there seem to bring some good content/critiques. (And I do think Shaun handsome but I guess I want more from my beloved detective show than eye candy)
Hello Chris, thank you for this great resource! I was just watching this episode and I got a bee in my bonnet to try to track down the make and model of Morse’s suitcase record player (which is quite new-looking, considering how broke he is). I’ve failed so far. Would you happen to have any idea? Cheers–
Does anyone know what building was used for the commune please?
I’m enjoying these commentaries. I see I was not the only one who noticed there were considerable similarities between Mrs. Richardson and Mrs. Robinson from The Graduate which came out in 1967.
I also believe you’ve slightly misremembered the context of the Milton quote–or perhaps it’s ambiguously placed. I thought Morse was referring to Peter and Hope as the parallel Adam and Eve–THEY are certainly “hand in hand” as a couple more than the dispersing commune members.
One final (probably) thought: the name TAD had in the commune was Ayesha–the name of the youngest, and likely extremely young, wife of Mohammed. Did she choose it, I wonder, or did the lecherous Gideon?