Hello everyone and welcome to a new post. This particular post is a little different in that it will be a short essay on how and when I believe the Endeavour series will end.
I was discussing with two friends, Henry and Graham, about the subject of when Endeavour will come to an end. Henry wondered, “Can these series run in to the 70’s? I wonder if Mr. Dexter had any reservations on stopping Endeavour getting close to his first book.”
Graham answered Henry’s question “The time line of the books is completely different from the time line of the various TV series; lets not forget that Morse meets Lewis in the books in the mid 1970’s but in the TV time line it is not until 1987.”
Henry also noted that, ” It’s impossible for the current Mores to become a DCI within five years. Also Endeavour needs to meet DCI McNutt to learn the craft of detection as mentioned in the books and show. Of course continuation of the series will all depend on UK viewership. Time will tell. Again thanks.”
All this discussion got me thinking on the subject of how and when the Endeavour TV series will end. As for when the show will finish I believe, as I have done so for a long time, that there will only be 33 episodes. The original Morse series and the Lewis series both had 33 episodes. Kevin Whately who played Lewis insisted that the series end at 33 episodes so as not to supersede the original series and overshadow the memory of John Thaw.
My belief has always been that the series will finish in 1970. I believe that after this series there will be only six more episodes making the total 33. So either a series 7 with 6 episodes. Or a 7th and 8th series with 3 episodes each.
I think Russell Lewis the creator and writer of the Endeavour series will, like Kevin Whately, not want to supplant the Lewis or the original Morse series.
Personally and from an abstract point of view I would be annoyed if the Endeavour series went beyond 33 episodes. I also believe another reason the series will not go much further is because Shaun Evans will want to spread his acting and directorial wings further. One has to remember that if the series goes to a seventh or eight series that will mean Shaun Evans and Roger Allam will have been working on the series for around seven years. For many actors that is a long time on one series as one character. I think Shaun Evans will want to move on to other roles while he is still relatively young. Or he will want to direct films. He has been taking an interest in directing for a reason and it’s not just to direct the odd episode of Endeavour or Casualty.
For those who watched the original Morse show when it first aired and maybe for those who have watched it recently the character of Desmond McNutt looms large and his character is a huge part of the lore around Morse. McNutt appeared in the episode Masonic Mysteries (one of my and the majority of the fans of the original series favourite episodes).
Of course Thursday mentions McNutt while sitting in the pub with Morse in the episode Neverland, Series 2, episode 4.
My opinion regarding McNutt, is that he will appear in the final scene of the final episode. The scene will go along the lines of this; Thursday retires. We have an emotional scene between Thursday and Morse. Thursday leaves the police station leaving Morse looking forlornly toward Thursday’s retreating back as he leaves through the detective’s office door. Or the scene is set somewhere on the streets of Oxford and Thursday walks off leaving Morse wondering if will ever get a better mentor than Thursday.
Morse walks/drives back to the police station. He arrives and there is word of a new DCI arriving at the police station. Morse sits at his desk considering his career as a police officer. The door of the office opens. Chief Superintendent Bright enters with another man. Morse and all the police officers stand up. Bright says, “Gentlemen, I would like to introduce DCI Desmond McNutt. The camera cuts to Morse looking at McNutt. McNutt looks at Morse. There is a look between them of recognition even though they have never met. The camera stays on Morse who gives an almost imperceptible nod of the head and smile. Fade out to the Inspector Morse theme.
What do you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.