Hello Endeavourists and welcome to my review of the FOURTH episode of the new sixth series, Degüello .
I hope this post finds you all well my fellow Endeavourists.
So boring bits out of the way first.
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SPOILERS AHEAD!
Endeavour Series six, Episode Four; ‘Degüello’.
Chronologically this is episode 27.
First broadcast 3rd March 2019.
Where’s Colin?
An eagle eyed subscriber noticed this second reference to Colin. It’s during the autopsy scene and is lying amongst the dead man’s things. It’s a matchbox.
Directed by Jamie Donoughue. (No connection to the Morse universe).
Written by Colin Dexter (characters), Russell Lewis (written and devised by). Russell has written all the Endeavour episodes. He also wrote;
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’.
SYNOPSIS
The death of a librarian at the Bodleian library has Morse and Thursday baffled. The discovery of another body that had buried alive brings the tam closer to who killed George Fancy. With mounting pressure on the team to fall in with the corrupt politicians and policemen or face being exposed or worse, Thursday, Morse, Strange and Bright have a difficult decision to make. Betray their moral compass and their oath as a policeman or face up to an uncertain future.
REVIEW.
(warning, this review will contain some spoilers)
Before you watch my video review I must apologise for my excoriating post that was mostly done in a pique of anger. Having been a Morse TV fan for over thirty years I was very angered by the poor ending to an episode I was rather enjoying. I believe it was a rather mundane, boring trite way to resolve so many loose ends. It would never have happened in the original Morse series or the Lewis series. And neither would all the gunplay. Anway, I hope you enjoy the video.
Strange wants to talk to Endeavour in private.
But leaves the door ajar. Why? So that the scene can contrive Thursday overhearing them.
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Look how far Jago, McGyffin and the thugs have to run for cover.
As they run Fred says, “Take ’em.” and pulls out his gun as does Morse, Jim and Bright. So, why not shoot them there and then. Why give them the chance to get to cover.
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Olive Reynolds is buried in a ton of masonry.
But yet doesn’t have a bruise, cut or any injury to her legs, arms or face???????
Episode Jag Rating – out of 10. (before the ending)
Episode Jag Rating – out of 10. (for the ending but not including Morse entering his new home)
Episode Jag Rating – out of 10. (For the end scene with Endeavour entering the house).
(I had a tear in my eye during the last scene).
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To read my review of PYLON episode Series 6, Episode 1, click HERE.
To read my review of APOLLO episode Series 6, Episode 2, click HERE.
To read my review of CONFECTION episode Series 6, Episode 3, click HERE.
MUSIC
Thursday sitting at home listening to some music; Mexicali Rose by Jim Reeves.
LITERARY REFERENCES.
‘Memoirs of a voluptuary’ is one of the books that will confirm foreign prejudice that British Public Schools are hotbeds of homosexual activity. It describes the sexual awakening of the narrator, Charlie Powerscourt, and his friends Bob Rutherford and Jimmy, the Duke of Surrey. The ingenuity of their efforts to achieve sexual release is astonishing, and interwoven with this curious story is some remarkable heterosexual narrative from a sophisticated French friend. ( I wonder if Russell Lewis read it in his pursuit of research)
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The Latin phrase circled in red is, ‘dulce domum’. It means either ‘Sweet Home’ or ‘Sweetly at home’. The phrase is used in Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind In The Willows’ in Chapter 5. It is the name of the chapter.
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George McGyffin is telling Strange that something has to be done about Morse. He says, “Let us not deal falsely, eh?” This is a quote from the bible, Leviticus 19:11: Ye shall not steal, and ye shall not deal falsely, and ye shall not lie one to another.
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When Thursday and Morse return to the police station after the shoot out, Thursday says, “Put the black spot on all of them.” The Black Spot is a literary device invented by Robert Louis Stevenson for his novel Treasure Island. In the book, pirates are presented with a “black spot” to officially pronounce a verdict of guilt or judgement.
ART
There was a lot of art on display at various places but it will take a while to identify. Hopefully in the near future I will be able to add this information to this post.
LOCATIONS
This scene is around the one minute mark.
This is Turl Street.
Turl Street has been used often in the original Morse, Lewis and Endeavour.
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Around the two minute mark we see the entrance to the Bodleian Library.
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Thank you to someone on Twitter who pointed out that this is Magdalene College Library. I did wonder why I never saw this room on any of my visits to the Bodleian and why I couldn’t find any pictures of it.
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Below is the quad of St Edmund Hall seen at around the 10 minute mark. St Edmund Hall is referred as Garstang College in the episode.
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00h13m55s
Endeavour and Thursday talk to the porter.
This is St Edmund Hall’s front quad.
Next up is Cranmer Tower Block.
This was filmed in Luton.
These flats are in Waulands Bank Drive, Luton.
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After the collapse of the tower block we see the police racing to the scene.
This is Holywell Street in Oxford. It has been used a few times in the Endeavour series. It was used in last week’s episode when we seen Thursday spotting Jago in a shop.
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The Thames Valley police station.
The location of the Thames Valley Police Station is, The St Cross Building, University of Oxford. It contains the English Faculty Library.
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Around the 33 minute after talking to Dr. Jasper Nicholson we see Morse and Thursday walking and talking.
This is Queen’s Lane. In the background you can see All Souls College. Queen’s Lane is where the thieves ran who eventually beat up Fred.
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At around the 41 minute mark Endeavour enters the ‘council building’ where the social work department is located.
This is Catte Street very close to the Radcliffe Camera.
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Bright walks toward New College lane for the supposed meeting with Assistant Chief Constable Bottoms. A teacher is discussing the bridge and the kids notice ‘the pelican man’ as Bright passes.
This is of course the Hertford walkway otherwise known as the Bridge of Sighs. It may seem rather a superfluous location to mention but I have to think that someone new to the Morse universe and Oxford may read this.
Bright is now in New College Lane.
PUB LOCATIONS
This looks very much like the pub that was used in the previous episode, Confection. That pub was thought to be The Red Lion in Penn. I still believe this is a film set and not a real pub.
Actors who appeared in the Endeavour Series 6, Episode 3 ‘CONFECTION’ and/or Morse or Lewis.
Ian Burfield appeared in the Lewis episode, ‘And the Moonbeams Kissed the Sea’.
He played Jefferies and his sister was Susan Chapman who was played by Caroline O’Neill who plays Fred’s wife, Winifred.
Alexander Hanson who played Councillor Clive Burkitt
also appeared in the Lewis episode Generation of Vipers as journalist, Francis Mitchell.
CONNECTIONS OTHER THAN ACTORS TO THE LEWIS AND ORIGINAL MORSE SERIES
At about 45 minutes Morse is talking to Professor Ernest Burrowes about Hollis Binks. Ernest mentions that he and Hollis did the Santiago de Compostela together. This is a very famous walk and pilgrimage in Europe. Coincidentally that walk was what Hathaway had planned to do but never reached his destination. He mentions this in Series 8, Episode 1, Entry Wounds.
As mentioned above Caroline O’Neill played Susan Chapman to the character Jefferies who played her brother. Jefferies was played by Ian Burfield who as I said above appeared in the Lewis episode ‘And the Moonbeams Kissed the Sea’. Now another connection with that Lewis episode and this episode is that it also had a murder, a body in the Bodleian.
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The above scene has a connection with the Lewis series. The scene above is almost a perfect match for a scene in the Lewis episode The Lions of Nemea, (series 8, episode 3)
Watch out for Colin Dexter in the background in the hat.
Both scenes filmed at St Edmund Hall, Oxford.
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Burrows mentions undertaking the Compostella walk in Spain. St James of Compostella is one of the artworks in my review of Fat Chance. Hathaway in the Lewis episode Entry Wounds, also mentions walking the The Camino de Santiago the “Pilgrimage of Compostela”; Galician: O Camiño de Santiago), known in English as the Way of St. James
Miscellaneous
Is it just me or did the narrator at the beginning of the episode sound like Roger Allam? It was him wasn’t it?
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The house that will eventually become his home for the rest of his life. Only £3140. I wonder what the equivalent price would be for today.
The above will become the house below, eventually.
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I’m assuming that Deborah Teagarden is based on Aurora Teagarden a fictional character created by author Charlaine Harris. She is the protagonist of a series of eleven crime novels written from 1990 to 2017. In 2014, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries began broadcasting adaptations of the novels as an original film series entitled The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.
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When Jim Strange walks into the room where the dead junkie is lying, Ronnie Box says, “- Christ, what’s this? You pair should get on Opportunity Knocks. “Me and my bloody shadow.”
Opportunity Knocks was a talent show from that was on British television in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and then the 1980s.
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The young librarian is named Lucy Paroo. There is a character in the musical The Music Man named Marion Paroo and her occupation is…librarian.
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When Thursday and Morse are at Paige’s flat they look at a map of the Gower.
Gower or the Gower Peninsula is in South Wales. It projects westwards into the Bristol Channel and is the most westerly part of the historic county of Glamorgan.
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On the map above there is an inscription, Anemoi. Morse translates it from the Greek to mean Wind gods. THE ANEMOI were the gods of the four winds–namely Boreas the North-Wind, Zephryos (Zephyrus) the West, Notos (Notus) the South, and Euros (Eurus) the East. Each of these was associated with a season–Boreas was the cold breath of winter, Zephyros the god of spring breezes, and Notos the god of summer rain-storms.
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When Morse and Thursday first interview Dr. Richardson they question him about the book he was reading in the library, ‘Memoirs Of A Voluptuary’. Thursday replies, “I’m more of a Holly Martins man myself.” The name , Holly Martins is a reference to a character in the wonderful film, The Third Man’ that starred Orson Welles and Joseph Cotton. Holly Matrins is a writer in the film. The film has a famous theme tune.
The film includes one of the greatest scenes in film history. The scene also includes great dialogue written by the genius Orson Welles.
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At around the 26 minute mark, Bright has gone home after the collapse of the building. His wife awakes and asks for Dulcie. Dulcie was the Bright’s daughter who died in India.
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At around the 30 minute mark Morse is talking to the porter about Professor Burrowes. The porter says, “You wouldn’t think to look at him now, sir, but, erm he was quite a card in his day. but I suppose life takes it out of the best of us. Dismay.”. Morse says, “How’s that?” The porter replies, ” Same as most men, I suppose, sir. Some girl he had hopes of.” Mmmmmm portentous observation.
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The above scene is set in St Edmund Hall and the following words, from Isaiah 12:3, are carved on the well-head: “HAVRIETIS AQVAS IN GAVDIO DE FONTIBVS SALVATORIS” (“With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation”). Read more by clicking HERE.
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On the wall of what was the squat and soon to become Morse’s house we can see a Latin phrase on the wall. The phrase is ‘Dulce Domum” which literally translated means ‘Sweetly at home’ or simply ‘sweet home’.
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In the dead man’s belongings was a glass case which contained the maker Dinkley’s Opticians.
Dinkley is the surname of Velma from the Scooby Do cartoons.
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Hollis Binks lived in Gardiner Road.
There is no Gardiner Road in Oxford but there is a Gardiner Street.
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This is a rather tenuous link but here goes.
There is a Sherlock Holmes story called The Maple White Terror: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure. Of course we have Dr. Watson, Sherlock’s ‘sidekick’. However the afore mentioned novel is not Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but by one Sean Phillips. I’m assuming the copyright has elapsed in regard to the character, Sherlock Holmes.
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Again maybe something about nothing.
Chitton is a region in India. A connection to Bright. I know very tenuous.
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Councillor Clive Burkitt’s secretary is known as…
Miss Lansbury. This is of course a reference to Angela Lansbury who plays Jessica Fletcher in the TV series Murder She Wrote. I would love to think this reference is there for my benefit as I have compared some of Russell Lewis’s episodes as not unlike Murder She Wrote. But, of course it isn’t. (Murder She Wrote will be mentioned again in my video review)
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Morse explains to Thursday all that he was told by Deborah Teagarden. He relates the story of Professor Burrowes hiking on the continent before the war digging for fossils. He met and fell in love with Deborah Baumgarten who was Jewish. She perished, along with her family, at a labour camp called Mittelbau-Dora.
Mittlebau-Dora was a real concentration camp located near Nordhausen in Thuringia, Germany. It was a subcamp of Buchenwald concentration camp. T read more about the camp click HERE
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When Dr Nicholson is explaining to Morse and Thursday why he destroyed Emil Baumgarten’;s notebooks he says that every day he recites the Mourner’s Kaddish for Emil Baumgarten. This prayer is recited as part of Jewish mourning rituals. It is written in Aramaic, not Hebrew (except for the last line, Oseh Shalom, a Hebrew prayer for peace). Even though this prayer is associated with death and mourning, it does not actually mention death.
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Councillor Burkitt tells Fred that he has the cheque that he gave Charlie and that Scotland Yard are looking for him in connection with a, “long firm fraud“. A long firm fraud (also known as a consumer credit fraud) is a fraud that uses a trading company set up for fraudulent purposes; the basic operation is to run the company as an apparently legitimate business by buying goods and paying suppliers promptly to secure a good credit record.
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When Morse eventually relates to Thursday the finding of Hollis Binks body in the basement of the tower block and his belief that Hollis Binks had find out about the Councillor and McGyffin’s scam in regard to the concrete used to build Cranmer House, Thursday says to Morse, “Say you’re right people like that it only goes one way. What are you saying? It’s a hiding to nothing. You want another Blenheim Vale? You’ve gotta let it drop.
Blenheim Vale was the children’s home that Endeavour and Thursday investigated in the episode Neverland, series 2, episode 4. If you haven’t seen that episode stop reading now as I have to mention how the episode ends to relate it to Thursday comment …………………………………………………………………………………… In Neverland Thursday was shot by Clive Deare and Endeavour was imprisoned.
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The only music in this episode (sadly no classical music) is sung by Jim Reeves. Interestingly, Jim Reeves was playing in the club in episode ‘Icarus’ when Morse, Thursday et al discovered the shoot out and George Fancy’s body.
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BW Records was a real music label.
During the 1960’s and 1970’s the Wayne County, Ohio area, in addition to the surrounding counties like Ashland, Richland and Stark, had many rock bands that performed at a wide variety of venues throughout the region, and beyond, and several bands also produced records. One source of producing and distributing records from local bands and performers was BW Records, a local record label founded by Quentin ‘Reed’ Welty of Wooster, OH.
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Interesting little touch here in the scene when Strange is taking down George Fancy’s picture from the incident wall.
On Jim’s pinkie finger is a Masonic ring. We the viewer are to think that symbolic ring and all it symbolises is more important than George Fancy and that’s why he is taking his picture down.
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I’m assuming that the letter Fred left for Win was tantamount to a suicide note.
Fred didn’t believe he was going to return from the stand off with Jago, McGyffin and the rest. He probably told Win how much he loved her and his regret at the way he treated her. Win’s reaction after picking up the note suggests that she to thinks it is a suicide note.
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Endeavour mentioned that the Memoirs Of A Voluptuary were part of the Phi Collection. The Phi Collection is factual and is part of the Bodleian Library. To read more about the Phi Collection then click https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/news/2018/nov-06
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Jago, when passing the envelope with money in it, says to Thursday, “It’s just baksheesh for a blind eye turned.” Baksheesh is a word used in Asia meaning a small sum of money given as alms, a tip, or a bribe.
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When Endeavour is talking to Dorothea Frazil about the collapse of the tower block she says, “When they tore down the Oxpens slums, it was meant to be a fresh start.” Oxpens was that part of Oxford between Oxpens Road and Queen Street. It was crowded, busy and sometimes dangerous quarter of St Ebbes. Once the “beating heart of Oxford”, the entire neighbourhood was demolished to make way for the shopping mall. It was known as the “slums of Oxford” Families lived in insect-infested houses that had been condemned decades before. There was a pub on every corner, and the streets bustled with traders: greengrocers, butchers, furniture makers, fish and chip shops – even an ice cream parlour.
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I did wonder why we had this scene in the first episode, Pylon, before we see Ronnie Box getting in to his car. I guessed it had an element of prognostication but never guessed in respect of a tower block collapsing.
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The collapse of Cranmer House in this episode is of course a reference to Ronan Point, a tower block that collapsed in 1968. To read more about that event click HERE.
Is it a direct reference to the Grenfell disaster, I don’t think so.
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Alison, one of my subscribers made an interesting point in the comments section. She wrote, “As a music lover I’d like to add one more point. Whenever Endeavour moved in the past, he took both his suitcase and his record player. At the end of Degüello he moves into his hew home with just his suitcase. Of course we know he always maintained his love of music, but I’m hoping this wasn’t symbolic of a lack of classical music in the next series.”
Very interesting point Alison. I can only assume that Russell or the production team forgot to add that prop into the scene. Russel Lewis remarked that the record player was not necessary as the scene itself was reverential enough.
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Clare, one of my subscribers made a great connection to the scene where Bright is saved from the thugs by the children.
Indiana Jones is saved in much the same way by children in the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
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A huge thank you to Jeremy who passed on this interesting piece of information in regard to the three tower blocks shown near the beginning of the episode.
The three names of the tower blocks are Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley. These three names a reference to the Oxford Martyrs’. The Oxford Martyrs were Protestants tried for heresy in 1555 and burnt at the stake in Oxford, England, for their religious beliefs and teachings, during the Marian persecution in England. To read more about the Oxford Martyrs click HERE.
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John Crawford noticed the following. Being a Hitchcock fan I should have noticed this. “my immediate thought on hearing the villain’s name McGyffin was the “MacGuffin”, apparently a showbiz term for the thing chased after or motivating the plot. According to Wikipedia, Alfred Hitchcock popularized the term, explaining that the MacGuffin is “the thing that the spies are after but the audience don’t care”. Someone else defined it as “any justification for the external conflictual premises of a work”.
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Thanks to John and Cheryl who noticed the following; “At 45 minutes Burrows mentions The Happy Wanderers Club to Endeavour. This is a reference to a popular song from the 1950s of German origin called The Happy Wanderer famous for the words ” Valderie, valdera” etc. Burrows mentions undertaking the Compostella walk in Spain. St James of Compostella is one of the artworks you draw our attention to in your review of Fat Chance.”
John and Cheryl also commented, “At 1 hour 1 minute Endeavour informs Miss Teagarden that he does not read German. I will say more of Morse’s linguistic skills when contacting you about Who Killed Harry Field but in that episode he had no difficulty speaking German and in The Settling Of The Sun he informs Kurt Friedman that he was stationed in Cologne at Marienplatz which at the very least implies he had an opportunity to learn some German.”
FRED THURSDAY’S WORDS OF WISDOM.
When Ronnie takes Fred to meet McGyffin and the councillor, Fred wonders who is in charge. McGyffin tells Ronnie to wait in the car. Fred says, “Is he working you with his foot, or what?”
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When entering Osbert Page’s flat Thursday remarks, “Well either Osbert Page was the untidiest librarian – to ever draw breath – Or somebody’s beaten us to it.”
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As part of the same conversation as above Fred says, “Now you’re just a villain.
Same as this two-bob shitehawk.”
REGINALD BRIGHT’S WORDS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE.
“A moment’s courage or a lifetime of regret? That’s always been the choice.”
MAX DEBRYN’S WITTICISMS
Nothing this week.
THE MURDERED, THEIR MURDERER/S AND THEIR METHODS.
The first victim, Osbert Page.
Stabbed with an wood chisel and died from massive haemorrhage. Killed by one of McGyffin’s thugs.
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Junkie killed by the heroin laced with Quinine.
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Shot twice. Buried alive. Hollis Binks. ( is his surname to Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars?). Killed by one of McGyffin’s thugs.
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Jago shot by Ronnie Box
BRITISH COLLOQUIALISMS TRANSLATED.
When Morse meets Joan and Viv he asks Joan, “How you getting on at Cranmer house? Joan answers, “We’ve got people scattered all over town. Bed and breakfast, Sally Army.” The ‘Sally Ann’ is shorthand for The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Protestant Christian church and an international charitable organisation.
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Fred says to Ronnie, “What’ve you got me into, you cowson?” Cowson (London slang, chiefly South London) Term of mild to medium abuse for a person or a situation.
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Fred declares that Councillor Burkitt has turned Queen’s Evidence. For the benefit of your American followers you might consider explaining that this is where a co-accused has agreed to give testimony on behalf of the Prosecution in a Criminal Trial for a reduced sentence or immunity from prosecution.
CAST
Faith Omole as Olive Reynolds
Anton Lesser as Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright
Carol Royle as Mrs. Bright
Roger Allam as DI Fred Thursday
Laura Donoughue as Deborah Teagarden
Michael Jenn as Osbert Page
Shaun Evans as DS Endeavour Morse
Sean Rigby as DS Jim Strange
Caroline O’Neill as Win Thursday
James Bradshaw as Dr. Max DeBryn
Precious Mustapha as Lucy Paroo
Aidan McArdle as Dr. Jasper Nicholson
Paul Jesson as Professor Ernest Burrowes
Ian Saynor as Mr. Jenkins
Alexander Hanson as Councillor Clive Burkitt
Zaris-Angel Hator as Sandra Reynolds
Richard Riddell as DS Alan Jago
Abigail Thaw as Dorothea Frazil
Sara Vickers as Joan Thursday
Simon Harrison as DCI Ronnie Box
Alison Newman as Viv Wall
Colin Tierney as Assistant Chief Constable Bottoms
Ian Burfield as George McGyffin
McGyffin might be a take off of Mcguffin, which was a term Hitchcock favoured. Great review, Kit.
Being a huge Hitchcock fan I did consider that but I didn’t think his character aligned to the definition of a Macguffin: plot device in the form of some goal, desired object, or another motivator that the protagonist pursues, often with little or no narrative explanation.
I can’t find any link to the Phi collection on this page. I looked it up, it’s clearly an English thing. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/oxford-obscene-book-collection. “Houston, an Oxford graduate student who published a 2015 history of the Phi collection in the Bodleian Library Record. In 1882, head librarian E.W.B. Nicholson set out to make things more orderly, by schematizing some 7,000 different classifications. One stood out among the traditional numbers and letters used in the classification system: a lone Greek symbol chosen, most likely, as a pun on “Fie!” (As in, “Fie on you for such prurient proclivities!”).”. Now I know why they named the character who was looking at them was named Nicholson. A little joke. Didn’t anyone laugh when they saw a math professor, a regular at the library, reading naughty books. It’s like Oxford had their own version of Playboy, a more educational version.
Great review.
I was going to say there was so a gunfight in Lewis and then I remembered it was George Gently and Kevin Whately was a bad guy. Good cop turned bad even.
There was standoff in Morse. The episode in Australia.
And there the similarity ends.
Thanks Chris,lots of information adds to enjoyment of watching Endeavour!!! If you google Deguello theres a movie clip with pronunciation. Thanks again
Thanks very much, Chris.
Much to discuss and I will likely be back and forth. I hope that isn’t a problem.
First, I want to say how impressive it is to see ‘Endeavour’ try so hard. While the lettering in the banner to the ‘Oxford Mail’ seems a bit oversized, the look is spot on, isn’t it?
I’m not very convinced about ‘concrete cancer’ manifesting itself in a serious way within a year. It’s not really important to research, but what was proposed to have occurred at Cranmer House was an alkali–silica reaction that really doesn’t have much to do with salt. I suppose the important thing is that it is caused by an incorrect mixture of concrete’s ingredients.
Any chance of your describing Rag Week?
I didn’t realise until just now about the connection between the Anemoi and Four Winds Aggregate.
I also did not know about a sensitivity in calling a physicist and scientist. Is this something like calling a surgeon Doctor and not mister?
physicist a scientist*
Mister*
I’m glad you decided to write a longer review. 🙂
I did think the shootout was perhaps a little melodramatic & clumsily handled for Morse. However, given the longer story arcs started in series five, there was always going to be a denouement. It’s been a while since I watched the original Morse & I can’t really remember whether there were any long-running stories of greater magnitude than, for example, Lewis’s sergeant’s exam, but perhaps the writers over-reached themselves a bit. Rather more normal service seems to have been resumed now, so fingers crossed for series seven next year.
The shoddy construction of the flats & the associated corruption rather reminded me of a similar plot-line in “Our Friends in the North” & the real-life scandal in the North East on which that was based. I did wonder whether the Endeavour plot was an allusion to Grenfell, but as others have said, Cranmer seems more likely.
I thought that Bright’s Pelican advert, which had dogged him throughout the current series, coming back to save him in the form of the autograph-seeking children was rather a nice touch.
I though Hollis’s body was in a remarkable state of preservation for having been encased in concrete for a year.
At least now that Morse has his own place he should have the opportunity to play some more classical music, for those who have been missing that. I did wonder whether his having to live in Police accommodation had curtailed his listening – I seem to remember his neighbour not being overly keen in one of the earlier episodes in this series.
Much to agree with here, or to at least “yes, but…” to.
1. Re: the building collapse. When I read a preview of the episode, I first thought the whole apartment block would collapse very much like the Twin Towers did, and thought I didn’t think anybody was intending, or even would take away, an association with that, I did think such a total collapse would be very unrealistic and over-the-top. As a result, I was actually glad to see that it was only a partial collapse, essentially one corner, and only the upper floors. That kind of thing does, unfortunately, seem to happen a lot, worldwide, for one reason or another.
2. Re: Bright and the pelican/traffic detail. My heart also warmed a bit at Bright being rescued by child fans. I also noticed a few times, across this series, that though Bright was disappointed to have been remanded to traffic, he still treated his command seriously and, in return, seemed to get a certain loyalty from his officers. When he showed up at the collapsed tower, he immediately took over and sent his traffic cops in to the rescue, and I’m sure they were thrilled to get a chance to do something serious. So when we heard the sirens in the final showdown, even before he said anything, I thought, “It’s Traffic to the rescue!”
3. “I though Hollis’s body was in a remarkable state of preservation for having been encased in concrete for a year.” But wouldn’t being encased in concrete be the very thing that would preserve it? Kind of along the lines of the bodies at Pompei?
4. I’ve wondered if the lack of classical music has been a way of showing Morse being out of sync with himself, along the lines of the mustache. He’s been…off…all series, as has Thursday. Everybody has been unsettled by their new roles, and I wonder if the lack of music is a way of making us unsettled, too.
I’m not a pathologist, but even encased in concrete I would have expected there to be decomposition such that rescuers would have noticed, rather than needing the clue of the tied hands.
re. Pompei – the bodies are actually casts made by the excavators by pouring plaster into the “mould” made around the body by the lava, ash, etc. ie each cast contain the victim’s bones, but the soft tissue is long gone.
Mexicali Rose was not the song played. I read it was an original work made for the episode recording artist not credited. Lyrics not Mexicali Rose.
The bodies at Pompeii were not preserved – just cavities where the bodies were; the bones, no flesh. The body-shaped cavities were filled in with plaster.
So glad you were able to calm down enough to see straight about this episode, Chris! I like your distinction between the quality of the ending and the quality of the rest of the episode. I was rather perplexed with your first post because I thought the episode, as a whole, was pretty good, but now that I know it was the ending that made you so mad almost *because* the rest of the episode was so good, it makes a lot more sense.
I think I may be the only one less than overjoyed at Morse buying the house. The logistics of how it was written in this episode–actually, across this whole series–actually makes more sense than just about any other scenario than I could come up with for how Morse, even as a more senior officer, could be able to afford such a fine piece of real estate, but at the same time, don’t fit with the character at all. Let me explain: At the beginning of the last series, Morse said that sharing a house with Strange meant he would be able to save enough money to be able to buy a flat within a year; living in what was essentially a dorm this year would, I assume, mean he could save even more money, so buying a run-down house ruined by squatters, with a price further knocked down because of its bad reputation and associations, might well be in his means, especially now that he has, from the sound of it, gotten something of a promotion. But think about how nicely decorated that house was in “Inspector Morse,” and think about how much work it would have taken to get it to that state from the ruin it was when Endeavour bought it! And ask yourself: Is Endeavour/Morse really the enthusiastic DIY type? Or does he have the money to pay skilled workers to fix it up for him? I really have a hard time picturing him sanding and waxing the woodwork, say, or picking out paint swatches and choosing between the curtains an interior decorator has presented to him. Now, if the house was already in good shape when it was on the market, he has the taste to appreciate it and be attracted to it for that reason, but that’s not what we see.
Anyway….
Chris, even looking through two computer monitors and my TV screen, I can’t decipher what you’ve circled in your “Where’s Colin?” image. Can you help me out?
it says ” DEXTER WAS HERE”
I had to watch again to catch that.
Thank you, I have really enjoyed reading your fantastic coverage.
morse moved to house that 2 dead people at last,he’s so brave.
sigh bridge seems appear every episode
Morse was never into that emmocialal “claptrap”, so this wouldn’t have clouded his view of a good deal on a decent house in the Oxford area.
I still feel that this was a very poor episode in a relatively lackluster series overall. Here are some reasons:
1 I still don’t understand why it was important to the plot to have Max kidnapped? This was surely unnecessary and completely melodramatic
2 the gunfight scene was so bad I was laughing out loud
3 the scene in the police station after the gunfight scene was also just horrible. These men were just through an incident that would have had anyone disturbed. They exposed corruption at the highest level that resulted in mass murder (tower, Librarian, Nero, Ames, Fancy, various drug addicts, the surveyor, and maybe more), they were in a gunfight for their lives, Max was kidnapped and beaten up, and they have a chummy chat and giggle?
4 the whole story line of the bad concrete causing the tower to fall and the slick politician was unbelievably predictable. I mean who didn’t see that coming?
5 No classical music, just can’t understand why?
Endeavour fans hate when you or I criticize the program for being less than what it could be. I suspect many of them are simply infatuated with Sean or Roger or others, but as a whole I would give score this series a 5 out of ten.
“I still don’t understand why it was important to the plot to have Max kidnapped? This was surely unnecessary and completely melodramatic.”
Because hearing him attacked (I don’t think Endeavour could tell at that point that he was kidnapped, exactly) was the best way to lure him to the worksite. Jago, et al, knew that if Endeavour heard his friend in danger, he would rush down to the morgue, and if he found him gone (and, I bet, the presence of blood), he would work things out from there. If they just called him up with some pretext to come to the quarry (that’s what it was, wasn’t it?) he’d figure out a way not to.
Max had rung Morse up to let him know he’d figured out the muddy footprints and its tie to the quarry, which Morse had also discerned when he got a glimpse at the bootprint on his car door. Hearing Max abducted was what lured Morse there, upon phoning for backup from the new “cavalry.”
BTW, I was delighted that James Bradshaw got more to do this season, including his visit at his home w/Morse in “Pylon,” and his touching conversation with Bright at his club. Max is indispensable to “Endeavour.”
I think with the potential for a limited time frame to explain Morse in the future, made them rush to fill in gaps. Eg. the ear tugging and pushing his hair aside. That was so forced, it had not happened before and there was no reason to add it in now. The drinking would have been over the course of years, the classical music to soothe the restless soul, or the fill in the holes in his bachelor life. As for Max, that was stupid. They would have just shot Morse and tried to cover it up. I understand a lot of the slower thinking comes from a time period of clashing views. You have on the one hand the people who survived the great war, and their hopeful almost naive thinking that things like this just don’t happen, people should follow rules, respect elders, etc.. Verses the view of the new generation of Vietnam survivors who believe they were cheated and rules are made for fools to follow. This sort of explains why they “didn’t see it coming” about the building. No one even noticed the clue about the building con. The image on the letterhead of the optometrist, is the same image of The Great Gatsby, and the underlying hint of how things operate for the wealthy vs the common man. The rules never apply to the rich, and Morse was always on the outside looking in. Morse didn’t want to follow the cronyism, but loved Oxford for enlightening the masses regardless of background. His mother was a religious zealot, Oxford was religious only when it had to do with knowledge, not practice. He was always fighting the powers that be on their own turf. He was extremely intelligent, able to quote academics, and yet so dumb with obvious clues. He stumbled and made mistakes.
Sorry to nitpick, but the Great War was WWI; Thursday and Bright were WWII veterans. I do think you’re right about the Vietnam vets’ attitudes towards life in general being very different. I don’t know about the U.K., but here in the U.S. they were drafted very much against their will, did what they had to do to survive, and then were called “baby killers” if they got back alive, whereas WWII veterans were heroes.
excellent Video Chris and nice to see you agreed with my comment a few days ago about Quarry workers footprints. All I can add is the comment about no shootouts in ‘Morse’. In the episode ‘The way through the woods’, there is a bloodbath of a denouement in the end which wasn’t in the Colin Dexter story. I am sure you have David Bishop’s excellent book ‘The complete Inspector Morse’ where he slays that ending and guess who wrote the screenplay…Mr Lewis no less!
Terry, you must not be an American watching American TV or movies if you think the ending in Way Through The Woods (one of my favorite episodes) was a bloodbath! 🙂 That’s why I love the Morse, Endeavour shows, very little violence and more empathy for the guilty and the victims. They are cerebral without the carnage. They don’t like killing even when it’s necessary.
I thought it was a cross between Tombstone and The Big Country.
Chris – love your review and all the great connections.
As I mentioned earlier it was the ending that did it for me – it almost borders on the infamous Dallas scene where Bobby Ewing came out of the shower and the whole last season was just Pam’s dream – it was like “re-set” we are all back to series 5 positions – and worse it was in what the last 5 minutes.
I also think the editing out of the scene with Joan and Morse (for relationship finality or not) that was on all the posters and definitely an advertising hook was not in the episode was very bad editing – unless they decided on another flashback in series 7 (I truly will give up!)
Someone either here or in your FB page said that maybe they really didn’t think that they would do another series and this was their “end” but I feel that Russell and co are pretty sure of another series each year but if that was true and they really thought it was the end I have seen finales of series that have been amazing and don’t resort to everyone back in positions (think Sopranos and many other great finales)
Thanks again Chris, will go back over your review again!
Overall I don’t think it has been a great season, with far too much concentration on slipping in fun ‘easter eggs’ at the expense of the actual plots, which tended to be derivative and predictable. And the concluding gunfight and its consequences, which would actually have rocked the entire nation with their implications, were dealt with in an almost throwaway manner. Still, the performances made up for a lot, and the overall production values are as good as ever, so I do look forward to the next season, though hopefully it will take into consideration some of the criticisms of this one.
So true Chris – the acting and production are wonderful. I miss just having a good stand alone mystery like in the first few series and in morse and Lewis. Oh and the classical music which seems to have evaporated!
The title is from The Alamo and the classic Western Rio Bravo starring John Wayne. I was cheering in that shootout showdown! Strange, Bright, Thursday and Morse -yeah!
the ‘El Deguello was a mexican bugle call for no surrender (slit throats/beheading) The music called that in the ‘Alamo’ and ‘Rio Bravo’ was composed by the films score composer Dimitri Tiomkin
El Deguello meaning (slit throat) was sounded on the morning March 6, 1836 it was the signal for troops under Generalissmo Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana to begin the final assault on the Alamo compound.Dimitri Tiomkin used the bugle call as the basis for the similarly titled pieces in the‘Alamo’ and ‘Rio Bravo.’ The bugle call was a signal that no quarter was to be given to the rebels within Alamo compound.
I’m not sure if anybody has pointed this out but the character of Lucy Paroo shares her surname with the character of Marian Paroo who’s from the Broadway musical “The Music Man.” Marian is a librarian so it’s a neat coincidence
Hi. I mentioned that connection in my review. I think it’s in the miscellaneous section.
Another great review Chris and moving between different locations. In general terms for me this series has been poor. Pylon was an ok start, but really went down hill. Deguello was a much stronger entry, though I too found the wrap up far too convenient, quick and some things out of the blue i.e. Fred and Win potential divorce.
I still haven’t found what the addition of Mrs Bright has brought to the overall storylines. I did enjoy that the pelican man scene brought full circle that a video that Bright was probably enthusiastic about doing originally because it would have been life saving and then was the bane of his life, ended up saving his life.
I would prefer if Joan needed to exit. Nothing against Sara Vickers, I just feel that the Joan character has run its course and is a distraction. I would rather see longer or more scenes with Dorothea Frazil, but as I wrote on the Pylon review comments, I don’t know whether Abigail Thaw wasn’t available for much filming, so her scenes were reduced from previous series.
I have been very disappointed with the music in the series, and I hope that we see Morse back in a choir and also having classical music take the part of background and incidental music.
Last night I rewatched the episode and was struck by how similar it was to the way the original Morse series approached the season’s finales. What do I mean?
Right from Series 1 of Endeavour, it’s clear the writers/producers decided the final episode would be more character focused where the murder mystery wasn’t the be all and end all of the production. Series 1 had Morse and his family and the death of his father. Series 2 had Fred’s shooting and the devastating revelation about Jakes’ childhood. Series 3 had Joan’s departure and the impact on Morse and Fred. Series 4 had Morse’s promotion but was also heavily marked by the appearance of Sheila Hancock. And they really went for it in Series 5 with Fancy’s death and the closing of the station.
Wasn’t a similar template set with Morse, certainly from Series 4. Masonic Mysteries, Promised Land and Cherabim all featured very moving and personal explorations in the relationship between Morse and Lewis and none of the stories were straightforward whodunnits.
I guess the big difference is that the ensemble cast in Endeavour is much larger than in Morse. So if you take the decision to include the development of the characters’ personal lives, a larger ensemble of back stories is bound to intrude into the basic plot. I don’t see that as a bad thing though.
Incidentally, I was reading a series of interviews with Russell Lewis and was shocked by how many scenes exploring the character’s lives end up on the cutting room floor. It’s happened to most of them but it seems Dorothea has suffered most in the final edit. I think it demonstrates that when push comes to shove, the directors usually decide to let the plot drive the final production.
“I was reading a series of interviews with Russell Lewis and was shocked by how many scenes exploring the character’s lives end up on the cutting room floor.”
That’s interesting, because I’ve definitely gotten the feeling since “Pylon” that they cut out almost the entire Endeavour/Joan relationship. I don’t mean they decided early on not to pursue it–I mean they filmed it, and then decided to edit it out. There was a flashback scene in “Pylon” where Joan is apparently arguing with an overly-possessive Endeavour about her social work classes, saying they were important to her, evidently more important than whatever it was he wanted her to do with him at the moment. That, and another scene between them where he called her work “whatever this game is that you’re playing” (or something like that), indicated he just didn’t take her or what she wanted seriously, which would be the death knell for any relationship. The flashback indicated they had given it a try in the eight months between “Icarus” and Pylon” and it hadn’t worked out for this very reason. I kept waiting to see more flashbacks to flesh this out, but…nothing. They did seem more familiar with each other in the “present-day” scenes together, but in terms of references to why that was, again…nothing.
That makes sense – there were a whole lot of photos of filming scenes with Morse in uniform in front of Joan’s flat yet (and someone correct me if I am wrong as I only saw Pylon via you tube as my streaming service failed) none of that appeared in the episode and I was surprised by that.
After reading these comments, I wonder what ‘Endeavour’ would look like if were not wrapped in just a few 90-minute packages each season. Not that it would ever become a soap opera, but we could see more of the various characters’ development and certainly more realistic policing. Would departing from the ‘formula’ be too disconcerting for everyone? I don’t think my suggestion, if it is that, would add much to the costs if, indeed, so much ends up on the cutting room floor.
Here I am thinking out loud again. See how good it is you all don’t live with me?
“let us not deal falsely eh” rang a bell for me…
it’s a slight variation on Dylan’s 1967 song “All along the watchtower”, the lyric of which was “let us not talk falsely…”
thank you! I’d been racking my brains trying to remember where I knew that line from.
Thanks very much for another thoroughly well researched and thoughtful review. As you of course observed, in this episode, Alexander Hanson played the slimy Councillor Clive Burkitt. Furthermore, he was also in the excellent Lewis episode “Generation of Vipers,” where he played the married journalist “Francis Mitchell.” If I remember rightly in that Lewis episode, he had been on an online date with the murder victim Professor Miranda Thornton, and thus became one of many suspects in that investigation.
Thanks James, I will add that to my post.
Hi Chris –
I am a long-term reader, first-time poster and I wanted to thank you for all of the work you do on your wonderful site. It has helped me greatly in my appreciation of all things Morse, Lewis and Endeavour!
I think I noticed another reference in Deguello – the logo on top of the Dinkley Opticians letterhead (as seen on the letter to Hollis Binks) reminded me a great deal of the billboard featuring the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg that looked over the valley of ashes in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”
Thanks again!
Sorry, I saw this too late when I mentioned it.
Silly question, I suppose, but does ‘Endeavour’ run in Britain without adverts as it does in the U.S.?
Unfortunately we have to endure 30 minutes of adverts. Though I do record it then once the show has been running for an hour I then watch it so I can zap through all the adverts.
Good thinking. I cheat by watching episodes on some dodgy Web site that could be sponsored by God knows whom. (No trouble so far. Touch wood.)
Chris, I have another question for you, one that I hope you’ll consider over a period of time before responding. Do you not see that the ‘gunfight’ in the last episode—and other aspects of ‘Endeavour’—are rather operatic. When I look at the show in this way, I am more comfortable with what the writer is attempting. After all, I don’t think any of us are looking for the standard police procedural by watching the young Morse.
It has taken me a couple of months to get around to this post – I wonder if anyone will see it!!
Because I enjoy opera I get lots of good-natured flak from some of my friends who seem to think that opera should be a reflection of reality as we commonly experience it. But that’s simply not what it’s about. Opera is many things, and one aspect is the conveying of intense emotion unencumbered by references to extraneous realities. So we don’t berate the characters surrounding a dying hero for singing their hearts out rather than calling for an ambulance. We accept this as a way for us to share their grief and despair, and at such moments the expression of that emotion is all that matters. We are denied this opportunity in everyday life, where the experiences of grief, love, joy etc are rarely unadulterated.
This takes me to the many comments about scenes in Endeavour that are inconsistent with real world scenarios. Like opera, a TV show isn’t everyday life, and we already accept this in many ways. Presenting a complex drama to be viewed on a small two-dimensional screen over a short timeframe has major challenges that need to be considered. So we understand the impact of actors making artificially constructed exits and entrances. We accept their carefully studied gestures. We don’t mind the way they are placed in a scene, even if it bears no resemblance to where they would stand in a real-life situation. A technique used in much great literature and drama is to use symbol and reference to speak directly to the audience without the need for lengthy explanation or dialogue. All this is carefully designed to make the viewer’s experience as meaningful as possible, but it is not the way it would happen in reality.
So I understand the comment that the final shootout in Episode 4 could be seen as ‘operatic’. It was carefully staged, and I feel it may have been referencing a situation in a western, or some genre I’m not familiar with. But having watched many operas I could accept all of this without seeing it in itself as a failing, either here or in most of the other carefully staged scenes. Sorry for being so long-winded, but what I’m trying to say is that in my view criticising a dramatic scene for not bearing a close resemblance to reality often misses the point.
Jago, when passing the envelope with money in it, says to Thursday, “It’s just baksheesh for a blind eye turned.” — Baksheesh is a word used in Asia meaning a small sum of money given as alms, a tip, or a bribe. — Baksheesh is mentioned in The Jewel In The Crown, when Barbie Batchelor (the great Peggy Ashcroft) is talking with a young Arab boy who wants to carry her suitcase.
Hi Mary. I did mention all that in my review apart from the Jewel in the Crown part.
Also, “Baaksheeh” figures largely in Mark Twain’s hilarious travelogue “Innocents Abroad.”
So happy about the 10 Jags ! Even with all your knowledge & your criticisms you came through really liking it in spite of your self and your knowledge prevails– Of course I saw it on the u-tube (which we are not supposed to do) but there is a lady that does produce a really good viewing I subscribe to. When it comes to the US in June on Masterpiece I will be watching really good- no CC on YouTube- I miss so much -Thank You for your wonderful dedicated review .You know the ones that were criticizing you on line do not realize your knowledge- and how deep it runs- rest easy now- you have done your job ;o)
Hi Chris – sorry you cop that stuff online (which I have been seeing) – I never understand those reactions but it is why now I am not a member of any the public FB pages (I do visit yours) nor any Twitter groups. I respect everyone’s opinion however those who actually review something and put up well thought out viewpoints and can comment good and bad in the one review I respect the most – anyone can say “best episode ever” or “complete shite” that is not a review.
It makes me laugh when the same people who rubbish you for making the often valid points regarding the comparison to Morse (or anyone that does) because “it is a completely different show” (paraphrasing but I have seen endless variations of the comment) will comment how emotional they felt when Morse moved into his forever home and they can’t wait unti he gets the burgundy jag – if the shows don’t relate then why care ? I have come to the conclusion that they cherry pick what they want – any negative comparison the person is rubbished any positive link or comparison praised – -all power to them but for me it is not an intelligent commentary.
What first attracted me to Endeavour was the music. Someone lent me a dvd and, although I was reluctant to ‘waste my time’ watching it at first, it made an immediate impression. Here was a production in which music played an upfront role—not just background music but a proud statement in its own right. And it was wonderful music, some of the greatest ever composed—baroque, classical, romantic, 20th century. Music presented in this way has such an impact that it only needs to appear in two or three places during each episode for it to take the whole production to a completely new level.
Background music is part of every TV drama and plays an important role, in Endeavour as in other shows. But there is something striking and memorable about the way music has also been used in Endeavour. Not simply to set a mood, or reinforce a dramatic moment, but to open a door into the world of Endeavour Morse’s own cultural and emotional reality.
I’m sure Endeavour isn’t the first TV show to use music in this way, but it’s what I like about it. And since I’ve come to admire its other aspects as well, I know I am going to continue to enjoy each episode to the bitter end. But I’m hoping that classical music will always play a major role in my experience of Endeavour.
I don’t disagree, but I do especially like when the music played is organic to the action. Thursday’s listening to Jim Reeves in the last episode was magic.
I do think, also, that the incidental music is well done. Here’s a sample done by the LMO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rprrpShsy2k
Love that Endeavour is now in Morse’s Woodstock Road house even if it isn’t the ‘real’ due to the redevelopment but… Does anyone know where said new house is? Guessing thats under wraps for privacy? It’s fascinating that RL put the new house through such a torrid time to make it affordable to Endeavour… And adds a piquant history to Morse’s sentiment toward that (big) home. Nicely handled. On other matters I do wonder how long the black Jag can realistically keep going in police service. Perhaps Endeavour will flirt with a Lancia before realising the error of his taste and heading back to our dear 248 RPA. (It’s still available for hire.. 😉 Thanks Chris for all the hard work. Best wishes.
Jago = Iago = the Machiavellian villain in Othello – also an opera by Verdi that has apparently featured in the soundtrack heavily this season.
Spotted by a commentator in the tabloids…
If I’m not mistaken, Verdi only shows up once in all seasons of ‘Endeavour,’ and not his ‘Otello’ or in Season 6.
I’m glad I double checked. I found more borrowings from Verdi, but not from ‘Otello.’
Egad, I should have known that Chris would be a better resource than Tunefind. I see that music from ‘Otello’ appears in ‘Fugue’ from Season One.
I’m going back to bed.
I literally laughed out loud when I read this.
Hey, good review. Thank you for your diligent work, as always.
(1) The scene where Bright was saved by kids also reminded me of Indiana Jones. You have the right picture, but you say “Temple of Doom,” which is the wrong movie. He was saved by kids in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” In “Temple of Doom,” of course, he saves a bunch of kids (with the help of the British Indian Army, with Bright in attendance). (Remember the episode “Prey” where Bright mentions he was a subaltern in India “at Pan Kot, just after that Thugee business in ’35”–“Temple of Doom.”)
(2) Ms. Frazil mentions the tearing down of the Oxpens was supposed to be a new start and a new residential area. This was the scandal in the series 1 episode “Home,” where the city was going to clean out the Oxpens and build a new residential area. Right?
(3) In “The Third Man,” the Holly Martins character wrote westerns. A reference to the shootout at the end of the episode? (And Jim Reeves, a singer of country and western music.)
(4) Did they say “Teagarden” or “Treegarden”? I heard “Treegarden.” And, at one point, I thought she said that the family name was translated from Baumgarten. Baum is tree in German and garten is garden. Or did I mishear that?
(5) In the Morse episode “Masonic Mysteries,” when Morse’s home in this episode is burned down, doesn’t somebody remark in wonder at how Morse could afford such a large house? We now know why, it was a flophouse/drug den full of dead bodies.
(6) I too thought of the Jago = Iago reference. Like Shakespeare’s Iago in “Othello,” Jago was pulling all the strings in the background.
All-in-all, a good episode. I didn’t think it too hokey at the end. Perhaps a tad hokey. I also thought, in a previous episode, that Strange would ask Joan out. What a way to make Morse more of a mope, and complicate Strange and Morse’s future relationship, than have Strange marry Joan! I thought for a bit that Thursday was going to get in deep trouble, which would mean Morse never mentions him in the future (mentioning the still-not-yet-seen McNutt instead as his mentor). I still wonder why Morse would never mention Thursday in the future (unless Joan marries Strange, then it becomes a sore name to bring up). I would have liked to have seen Morse get the Jaguar. But, we shall, I assume see that in series 7? And maybe McNutt too? Maybe some connections to future Morse characters, like Bottomley, Charlie Hillian, Patrick Dawson (again)?
” Did they say “Teagarden” or “Treegarden”? I heard “Treegarden.” And, at one point, I thought she said that the family name was translated from Baumgarten. Baum is tree in German and garten is garden. Or did I mishear that?”
My memory may be fuzzy about this, but I thought she said her ancestor–her grandfather, I believe? who immigrated well before the rise of the Nazis?–gave the English immigration official he dealt with the correct translation of “Treegarden,” but the official misheard and made it “Teagarden,” and nobody bothered to correct it, so that was how it had been ever since.
I am a Teagarden, My name is Deborah. (I come from the “Tegarden” side of the tracks, but many cousins are Teagardens.) I wish to say that this family name has NOTHING to do with trees and has never been interchangeable with Baumgarden. The name does certainly come from German, but it is a corruption of “Thier” and “Garten”–that is to say, an ANIMAL garden (I’m cool with “zoo”). I’m adding below the definitive genealogy of the family (it listsTeagardens, Tiegardens, and many more variants). There is absolutely nothing about trees. And although I have no objection to my name’s association with German Jews, you will find that the original Tegarden was a Lutheran. Just wanted to say this. Interesting website you have! Debbie T.
Wasn’t Jack Teagarden a great trombonist?
2 questions:
– Who shot Box?
– What happens now to the corrupt Councillor Clive Burkitt & McGyffin.
At the end Bright says what will happen within the police, but not to those two (unless I missed it)
Jago shot Box. They will all be jailed though the Councillor may escape jail as he turned Queen’s evidence which means he ‘grassed’ to put in the criminal vernacular.
But Box came in the door, shot Jago, then slid down the wall – showing he was shot in the back. So how/ why did Jago shot him first?
They pretty much shot at the same time.
I thought the blood on the wall meant he was shot in the back, but I’ll take your answer 🙂
Thanks so much for responding.
I assumed the bullet passed right through, leaving a possibly larger exit wound bleeding at the back.
Congrats on your studies! I did the same thing last year—nearly 30 years after my undergraduate, I finally started on my masters. Having a lot of fun being one of the oldest (but probably not wisest) in the room!
Thank you Meech. What are you studying?
Hi Chris…thank you so much for your thorough research and comments. If you do write a book and are able to get it published, please let us know the title. I live in the states (Texas) but LOVE Endeavour , Morse and Lewis and would love to read you research about these series. Keep up the good work
Thank you for your review and analysis As always an entertaining and comprehensive adjunct to the series.
You correctly caught on to the reference to ‘The Third Man’ in Fred Thursday’s comment about Holly Martins being his preferred author. Remember though that Holly Martins (Rollo Martins in the novella) wrote under a pen-name that led to his being mistaken for another author. That pen-name was Dexter.
Just watched The Third Man Again. The pen-name sub plot is not in the movie but in the novel, Martins’ pen-name is Buck Dexter. Perhaps the author he was mistaken for was a very young Colin Dexter.
Sorry to be so late to the party. This episode was only televised on Australian ABC last week. The character Dr. Jasper Nicholson is a nod to Agatha Christie. Dr. Jasper Nicholson was the owner of a Sanatorium In ‘Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?”. Evans no doubt alluding to Shaun Evans. In the television film of this novel, his first name was changed to Alec.
Thanks for your great resource. It just came out in the USA, apparently with 5 minutes cut out. ARGGGH! Evrn if you contribute to PBS so you can watch it on the PBS Passport streaming service, you still get the edited 1 he 23 minute version. I wonder what gems and touching moments I missed.
In the operatic standoff at the end someone mentions Box and Jago says dismissively, “he’s not the sand for men’s work.” So poetic and a nod to the salty sand that failed in the tower, but what does it mean?
I think the phrase means that Ronnie Box didn’t have the strength of character that was needed to do ‘man’s work’. Sand is a key component of making cement and without sand the cement’s integrity would fail. That’s my guess.
“Sand”, in the southern United States, has long been used — in my experience by older folks who lived and died in the 20th century — to refer to spirit, gumption, grit, getting ones back up in difficult situations and, yes, strength of character. Having sand meant that one would stand up for themselves and give a good account of themselves.
Chris:
The “Lansbury” character, though minor, could also have been a reference to London-born TV producer/screenwriter Bruce Lansbury, responsible for “The Wild Wild West” and classic “Mission: IMPOSSIBLE” in the ’60s, and later shows such as “Knight Rider” and “Murder, She Wrote” (the last of which covers both Lansbury references, of course). Of course, it could also have been a name picked completely from thin air, but that doesn’t seem to happen much on “Endeavour,” does it.
While we’re on the subject of minor characters’ names, for my money, I don’t know how any of the cast could keep a straight face while referring to a librarian named “Paroo,” especially a man with stage musical credits like Roger Allam.
What was the song on the record Fred was playing? Not Jim Reeves.
You misidentified the song Fred Thursday was playing. It certainly reference the battle of the Alamo but it isn’t Mexicali Rose as linked on your page.
I’ve not been able to identify.
It was in the UK version that was broadcast.
In the US broadcast, it is an original composition by Endeavor composer Matthew Slater, titled, appropriately, “Deguello”. Took me hours to find it. It’s a lovely, haunting, solo, the voice quite Jim-Reeves-like, with vaguely Mexican chord progressions, slipping between major and minor, ending on an unresolved minor, one man’s sad farewell to his best girl and his resignation to his fate in the coming battle. The episode uses only parts of the piece, and if you listen carefully, there are the lyrics “the bugles are playing Deguello”, a direct reference to the bugles at the Alamo, and the determined resolve to fight to the death. This works well at this point in the story, where each character is shown as he forms that resolve. You can listen to the song in its entirety here: matthewslater.com.
I knew it must have been written especially for the episode because it certainly wasn’t any of the songs mentioned and the voice was just a shade off Jim Reeves. But what a perfect compliment to the final episode! gb
Did you discuss the meaning behind the Hebrew words and the implicit reference to the story of the Golem? I didn’t see any connection between the Golem and this storyline.
Many thanks.
The Hebrew characters and the Golem were in reference to Deborah Teagarden’s relatives who were Jews trapped in Nazi Germany during the second world war. Professor Ernest Burrowes believed that Dr. Jasper Nicholson had abandoned Teagarden’s ancestors, the Baumgardens, in Germany as well as using Emil Baugarden’s work which had been sent to Oxford before the family were interred in a concentration camp. Professor Burrows was in love with Dora Baumgarden (the family name was changed to Teagarden when they moved to the UK), who died in a concentration camp. But Dr Nicholson tried to get the Baumgarden family out but failed and burned Emil’s work as it was inferior and Nicholson didn’t want his friend, Emil, to be ridiculed. So, Burrows was taunting Nicholson with the Jewish artefacts and symbols. I hope that all makes sense.
Could the voice of the narrator at the start be Edward Fox’s?
Hi Sjef. It’s definitely Roger Allam.
who sang ” deguello;; in this episode?
I think the scene where Strange takes down the picture of George Fancy is to show his ‘investigation’ is now over, rather than any point about the Freemasons. Strange was the one how pursued the case, in many ways, he was the only one who could, with Bright and Morse sidelined to obscure roles and Thursday demoted. He lied so as to have Morse re-assigned back from the country station so that he could help him. Strange created a incident room in his office in the same way as would happen in a ‘normal’ investigation and this is shown earlier in the series. He is now dismantling it to symbolise that the case is closed.
I too felt the lack of music in the series. The story line with Mrs Bright in this particular episode could have been enhanced by the inclusion of some music, there must be very many beautiful arias that could easily have been used.
Miss Paroo: Miss Peru (pronounced the same), won Miss World in 1967. The annual Miss World contest was pretty massive and prime tv in the 60’s.
Watching Degüello over the weekend I made a couple of connections, which might be of interest to you Chris.
In the questioning of Dr. Jasper Nicholson (Scene 7—01:06:18-01:08:53) I noted an allusion to the film A Beautiful Mind (2001) when he explains himself thus to Morse and Thursday: “Emile’s work was flawed. I mean, terribly, monstrously flawed. As I read through his notes, it became clear to me, and it would have been obvious to anyone else who saw, that he had suffered some kind of breakdown. (He sighs heavily) His mind . . . Oh, his beautiful . . . wonderful mind all . . . unravelling there before me on the pages. The anxiety and stress of the situation. The worry for his family. Well, it must have, erm . . .”
Also, the title of the episode itself, Degüello, deriving from the Spanish verb “degollar” meaning to cut the throat, decapitate or behead has a Masonic connection in my opinion. In the first degree initiation into Freemasonry the candidate swears an oath to have his throat slit if disloyal to the Brotherhood. Not only is this demonstrated by Strange’s doubts over his own loyalty to the Masonic mob, but this tug of war within oneself to stay loyal to a group and compromise one’s own integrity is further evidenced in both Thursday and Box throughout I feel.
Do you happen to know where the Council building interior was filmed?
Hi Zap. It was Catte Street in Oxford.
Further to my comment on this page, from March last year, regarding the actor Alexander Hanson, may I add another Morse connection, that is perhaps tenuous, but worth mentioning all the same. Alexander is married in real life, to the well known actress, Samantha Bond. She of course, appeared in the classic Inspector Morse episode, “Dead on Time”, as Helen Marriat, the wife of Adrian Dunbar’s doctor, John Marriot.
The body of Binks was discovered by the fire brigade in the basement of Cranmer House. He had been dead for about a year “encased in the foundations of Cranmer House”. I don’t see how the collapse of the building would have led to the disintegration of the foundations, sufficient for the body to be revealed, even if only partially, so that somebody in the fire brigade would see something and be prompted to dig out the rest. And another thing, have you noticed how Shaun Evans seems to walk about with both hands permanently stuck in his pockets? I’ve not noticed John Thaw do that. I was particularly struck when Morse walked into the hospital with his hands in his pockets to see Sandra Reynolds. This just doesn’t seem natural to me. Tell me if I’m wrong, but people don’t usually walk with their hands in their pockets, do they? It stops the natural slight swing of the arms in opposition to the motion of the legs. He speaks to Joan with his hands in his pockets. A few minutes later (in the episode), Morse walks with Thursday in Queen’s Lane hands in pockets, he talks to the porter of Garstang college ditto, and strolls in to the morgue/mortuary with his hands in his pockets. I know I would never have been allowed to speak to a teacher in the 50s and 60s with my hands in my pockets. It was just not respectful.
And how long does it take for sea sand in concrete to destroy Rebar anyway? And how far can you drive and walk with muddy boots and still leave perfect footprints upstairs in the library?
Hi Grace, that’s a great point you make. Never considered that but from experience I would say muddy footprints don’t last long especially perfect ones.
Thanks for answering. I find that even the best story writers often ignore the most practical of common sense. I’m not one to easily overlook details in true -life dramas. Just starting to watch season 7. Wonder how this year will turn out.
I do live in US but I had ordered the DVD’s of Series 7 from ITV so I know how the series goes. You will find many, many different opinions on this series once you read all the reviews and comments!
I just wanted to comment that Degüello in Spanish is the action of killing someone by cutting his neck
There is also an expression that says “tocar a degüello” which is a drumbeat that warns the troops that they have to attack and without taking prisoners, everyone must be killed, even those who surrender.
Again, the reference to the Battle of the Alamo. Grace Burt
Grace, you will have to give me some context. Why again?
Thanks for all the nice details! I was wondering — do you know if some of the scripts are made available by the BBC?
Hi Mimi. Endeavour is an ITV show and not one by the BBC. As far as I’m aware the scripts are not available but there are transcripts of some Endeavour episodes at this site, https://subslikescript.com/