Endeavour Episode, PRELUDE (Series 9, Episode 1): Review + Locations, Literary References, Music etc. SPOILERS.

Chris Sullivan

1 year ago

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Let’s get started.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Where’s Colin?

We see a picture of Colin in the Burridges store at around 24 minutes and then later on in the episode.

Directed by Shaun Evans. Shaun has also directed the following Endeavour episodes; Apollo (S6.E2), Oracle (S7.E1), Striker (S8.E1).

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’.

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First broadcast in the UK on February 26th February, 2023.

Endeavour series 9 – Prelude – consolidated with an audience of five million viewers. That’s 3 million less than it once achieved and two million less than series six.

PRELUDE: Series 9, Episode 1.

SYNOPSIS

It’s 1972. Endeavour has returned from Lyme Regis having taken steps to rid himself of his alcohol problem. Jim Strange has proposed to Joan Thursday and she accepted. As Endeavour slides back into the routine of police work there is a dead body found on college grounds. Bright tells Thursday about a promotion at Carshall Police Station which would also mean more money. Bright decides it is time to retire.

REVIEW.
(warning, this review will contain spoilers)

Sorry this is not a video review but unfortunately, I don’t have the time.

The Endeavour series reaches it’s final series but is it one series too many? Will series nine help many of us get rid of the bad taste left in our mouths from series seven and eight?

The first episode, Prelude, gets the series off to a fairly good start but is spoiled by Russell Lewis incorporating his usual tropes into the episode, A woman scorned; multiple murders, too many subplots and the ongoing saga of Endeavour and Joan. Another trope is Endeavour being the only one who finds clues. In this episode, it’s the bracelet. (In the next two episodes he finds other clues that makes the rest of the police officers seem incompetent).

The episode, minus the afore mentioned tropes, had the feel of an episode from the original Morse series. The episode had a gentler tone with no gunplay, attempts on Endeavour’s life and talk of London gangsters is kept to just talk. The original Morse feel was also present in the use of classical music and no modern music. Endeavour is back to completing crosswords, listening to a live orchestra and falling (only slightly) for an attractive woman, Christina Poole.

In this episode you feel that Endeavour and Thursday are trying to reconnect after the events of the Terminus episode. Thursday hovers over Endeavour like a mother hen at times trying to make sure Endeavour doesn’t fall off the proverbial wagon. When talking to Bright about a move to Carshall, Thursday is concerned about Morse and what might happen to him should Fred take up the promotion. Not only does Fred try to deal with his son by proxy but also with his actual son, Sam. Coincidentally, both have a problem with drink.

One of my pet hates in films and especially TV shows is the way they portray people who are going through problems be it emotionally or mentally turning to drink to solve their problems. It happens frequently in TV soap operas and all to often in TV dramas. I know this does happen in real life but it is a rather boring cliché in TV and film.

The afore mentioned ‘gentler tone’ was also present in the pacing and direction of the episode. I did feel at times that the direction was a little turgid at times but as I have written before it is difficult for TV directors to be a Scorsese, Tarantino, Kurosawa or Truffaut due to money and time constraints. But it can be done if the director has vision.

In my many reviews of episodes in the Morse Universe I have never given a show a half mark. But I felt this episode did definitely deserve an above average score of six but not quite a seven. But almost a seven.

It may have got a seven or even an eight if the episode hadn’t been bogged down with Russell’s tropes. I did like the main storyline outcome about how bullying can drive one to suicide which is of course prescient today with social media being used by cowards to bully people. But unfortunately it was very close to being a ‘woman scorned’ trope and Russell has used that trope far too often in the Endeavour series.

The Joan and Endeavour romance is excruciating. It is so reminiscent of a Mills and Boon novel. The Lewis and Laura will they won’t they from the Lewis series was more believable and better written. I had hoped that with this being the last series we would see less deaths and more character driven stories. Russell has learned nothing from his previous series with their story arcs and multiple murders. Why not make them standalone episodes as in the original Morse and the Lewis series?

Another problem was that I, and many others who I have talked to, knew who the killer was within the first 30 minutes. That shouldn’t happen. That is bad writing and is more reminiscent of Murder She Wrote or Father Brown. Endeavour is supposed to be a more superior TV show than those safe, cosy afternoon dramas.

It was good to see Ronnie Box (Simon Harrison) again. He was a character I liked. He was the bad boy one loved to hate. It was also nice to see Jakes at the end of the episode. He was a character who was sadly missed by me and many others when he left to marry his sweetheart and go off to America. Like Ronnie, Jakes was a character one loved to hate and he made the Endeavour series a more interesting place.

A few niggles: One, why did Mickey Flood have to use the phone directory if he had Thursday’s number in a matchbook? Jim Strange has no other friends he could ask to be his best man? Surely the Oxford Police would be aware of Ronnie becoming a private investigator? If nothing else he was a former policeman and criminal. Wasn’t it fortuitous that Max was at the concert when Quincannon collapsed? Jane Lapotaire (as Madame Belasco) accent was terrible and so unconvincing.

I didn’t like that Endeavour turned straight to drink after he found out she was getting married. It is too reminiscent of him turning to drink after losing Susan. However, it could be seen as a pattern of behaviour.

So, over all a good start to the final series.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Jags out of ten:

MUSIC.

(Due to copyright and cost the modern music on the DVD’s and on broadcast outside the UK is different).

Most of the music in this episode is composed by Matthew Slater.

The first piece of music we hear in the episode is I believe by Matthew Slater. It has the feel of a Phillip Glass or Steve Reich piece.

The music at just before three minutes being played by the orchestra is Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, MWV O14: I. Allegro molto appassionato by Mendelssohn.

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At around 49 minutes, Endeavour is looking at the book in Burridges store and sees Joan’s name. The music that is played over the scene is, to me, reminiscent of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem ‘In Paradisum.’

LITERARY REFERENCES.

At eight minutes in the scene when the orchestra are having a tea break, John Graham-Scott says, “Her voice was ever soft, gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.” This is a quote from William Shakespeare’s King Lear, Act 5, Scene 3.

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In the same scene Mabs Portman says, “Render unto Caesar.” “Render unto Caesar” is the beginning of a phrase attributed to Jesus in the synoptic gospels, which reads in full, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”

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In the same scene as above John says, “They’re the special reserve of La Reine Margeaux, apparently.” La Reine Margot (English: Queen Margot) is a historical novel written in 1845 by Alexandre Dumas.

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At around 15 minutes Sir Alexander Lermontov says to Endeavour, “What was it Shaw said? “Hell is full of musical amateurs.” The full quote by George Bernard Shaw is, “Hell is full of musical amateurs: music is the brandy of the damned. May not one lost soul be permitted to abstain?”

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At around 7 minutes we have the following conversation:

Strange – “So, how was the West, then, matey? All pasties and scrumpy?”

Endeavour – “I was mostly following in Hardy’s footsteps.”

Strange “Were you? “There’s another fine mess”, eh?”

Endeavour was of course referring to the author, Thomas Hardy not Oliver hardy.

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The relationship between Sir Alexander Lermontov and Christina Poole is very reminiscent of the characters, Trilby and Svengali in George du Maurier’s novel, ‘Trilby.’

Svengali transforms Trilby into a great singer by using hypnosis. Unable to perform without Svengali’s help, Trilby becomes entranced.

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At around 41 minutes, Thursday says to Endeavour, “Hell hath no fury.” ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’ is an idiom that is adapted from a line in William Congreve’s play, The Mourning Bride (1697). The line from which it came is ‘Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.”

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The Balasco Academy may be named after David Balasco the theatre producer. Balasco is referenced in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The mention of Belasco is made by a character called the owl-eyed man who looks at the books in Jay Gatsby’s library and is surprised to discover that they are real and not theatrical props.

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Thanks to Gerry who pointed out the following literary reference. When Max first sees Endeavour he says, “ You have been in Afghanistan I perceive.” Gerry states that this is Max paraphrasing Sherlock Holmes conversation with Dr Watson when they meet for the first time in A Study in Scarlet. “ You have been in Afghanistan I perceive” Thank you Gerry.

ART

No art to speak of.

LOCATIONS.

Less than a minute in we get this shot.

The building to the right is Radcliffe Camera. The building to the left is University Church of St Mary the Virgin.

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Just over a minute and we see the taxi driving down Merton street.

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In the next scene we see two of the women walking down Deadman’s Walk and about to enter Grove Walk.

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At one and a half minutes.

This is Harrow School, a public school in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. 5 High St, Harrow HA1 3HP. Thank you to Anthony Richards for putting me on to this location.

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Next we see inside the building.

This is Harrow again.

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At three minutes we see Endeavour completing a crossword.

This is Christ Church meadow. We can see Merton College in the background.

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Next we see Mickey Flood running.

This street is Crown Street in Harrow.

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We next see Mickey running down some stairs.

These stairs come off Crown Street, Harrow.

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Thanks to David S who mentioned that the location below is The Maltings in Amersham.

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At five minutes we get this shot.

This is Magdalen College.

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Next we see Endeavour walking down New College Lane about to enter New College.

Next we see Endeavour meeting Max.

In the above picture we can see All Souls College behind Endeavour. The area where Max and Endeavour are is Warden’s Garden.

More about this location and it’s connection to an earlier Endeavour episode in the section, ‘CONNECTIONS OTHER THAN ACTORS TO THE LEWIS, ORIGINAL MORSE SERIES AND PREVIOUS ENDEAVOUR EPISODES.’

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At nearly eight minutes we see the orchestra about to have tea.

Thanks to Coco who identified this location as Ealing Town Hall.

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We see the police station for the first time at the 10 minute mark.

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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We see Endeavour here at around 12m15s.

Thank you to Coco who found this location. It is Hertford Council offices.

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The Belasco Academy first seen at around the 26m30s mark.

Thanks to Coco who identified this location as Princess Helena College in Preston.

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The Thursday house.

The address is 10 Ramsey Road, Headington.

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Margeaux Quincannon’s home. UNIDENTIFIED

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At around 50 minutes we see the Oxford skyline.

The shot is overlooking Trinity College.

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At around 53 minutes Endeavour and Fred are discussing the case.

I believe I have found the exact spot where they are. It is on Christ Church Meadow Walk.

Compare the trees in the first photo with the second and you will see they are the same.

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At around 54 minutes we see Sam being released from military prison.

Thank you to David who identified the location. It is Surbiton Golf Studio, Simpson Way, Long Ditton.

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At around the one hour mark Endeavour arrives at Blenheim Vale.

This is Langleybury House & Film Centre, Langleybury Ln, Sarratt, Kings Langley WD4 8RN.

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At around one hour and 11 minutes, Endeavour almost runs into Sam.

This is Beaumont Place which is almost opposite Pusey Street used for the famous scene in the pilot episode when the young Endeavour sees himself 20 years in the future and we see John Thaw’s eyes.

Thanks to Russ who corrected my incorrect ID as Pusey Street.

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The next scene is where Endeavour takes Sam to Joan’s flat.

This is Wellington Square in Oxford.

The blue door is Joan’s home.

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At 1h15 minutes Endeavour drives to see Max.

Endeavour is driving from Merton Street into Oriel Square.

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Endeavour’s home.

It is a vicarage next to St Paul’s Church, Grove Park Road, Hounslow, London.

PUB LOCATIONS.

Not seen but mentioned at around 8m40s. Lindsay Trench mentions The White Horse.

In the same scene John mentions the Turf Tavern.

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At 21m55s we see Jim and Fred having a drink.

It’s the Royal Standard of England pub, Forty Green, Buckinghamshire.

I believe all the pub scenes in the episode are the afore-mentioned pub.

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The pub scenes with Sam are I believe a studio set.

Actors who appeared in Prelude and/or Morse or Lewis.

First up we have Nicholas Farrell.

Nicholas Farrell appeared in the Lewis episode, Your Sudden Death Question as Charles Milner.

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James Doherty as Mr. Lee.

James Doherty appeared in the Endeavour episode, Sway playing the same character. He tried to sell a bed to Endeavour and Monica Hicks.

CONNECTIONS OTHER THAN ACTORS TO THE LEWIS, ORIGINAL MORSE SERIES AND PREVIOUS ENDEAVOUR EPISODES.

At around 14m45s Endeavour says, “Well, we’ve not been formally introduced, but, er, well, I sing with the Oxford Scholars’ Choral Association. We were part of
Faure’s Requiem in ’69.” This is a reference to the Endeavour episode Fugue (S1E2). Because of the performance Endeavour got his picture in the paper after Dorothea tried to get an interview with him.

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At 16m45s Endeavour in the mortuary holds a shoe which has the name Burridges.

Burridges was the large store that made an appearance in the Endeavour episode, Sway.

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The death of Mickey Flood is reminiscent of of the death of Yukio Lee in the Morse episode, The Settling of the Sun.

Both were nailed to the floor, crucifixion style. Both also had their tongue cut out.

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Burridges store shown at 28m30s.

Seen in the Endeavour episode, Sway.

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At around the 46 minute mark, Mrs Treadle mentions that The Young Generation and Mimi used the hall for rehearsal. This is referencing the group and singer who appeared in the Canticle episode of Endeavour.

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In the same scene as above Mrs Treadle says, “Oh, and next month we’ve got him off Jolliphant coming in for a play at the Empire.” We meet the character Jolliphant in the second episode of the ninth series.

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The biscuits served before the orchestra practices may be from Cresswells the biscuit factory from the Endeavour episode, Confection.

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The first victim’s name is Andrew Lewis who came from the North East of England. The same place as Robert (Robbie) Lewis.

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Ronnie Box played by Simon Harrison.

Ronnie first appeared in the episode Passenger and then appeared in all the episode of the sixth series. I’m not sure about Ronnie’s appearance as surely he should be serving a very long sentence for his crimes. Was his sentence a short one because he shot Alan Jago and saved Thursday and Endeavour? One can only assume he also plead guilty and turned Queen’s evidence on his cohorts.

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While Endeavour and Fred interview Ronnie Box he shows them a postcard.

Is this a reference to the postcard as a clue in the Morse episode, The Way Through the Woods?

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While interviewing Ronnie Box he mentions that the first victim’s mother, “She used to do a bit of temping, here and there. Richardson’s in Cowley, a spell at British Imperial Electric in the offices. The last I’ve got for her is in the September of ’63. She’s at Landesman Construction.

Well there are three references in there relating to other Endeavour episodes. First, Richardsons is the supermarket seen in the Arcadia episode. Next British Imperial Electric was the arms company in the episode Rocket. Landesman Construction was the building firm seen in the episode Neverland.

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Blenheim Vale.

Blenheim Vale children’s home was last seen in the episode Neverland. It is where Thursday was shot by ACC Deare. The flashbacks Endeavour has during the scene are from the Neverland episode.

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When Endeavour is in the pub at one hour and 15 minutes he sees a man eating peanuts.

Are the brand of nuts, Tyger, a reference to the Prey episode. Blake’s poem The Tyger as you can see spells Tiger, Tyger.

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The flashbacks to the school when Rose Garland killed herself has a touch of a connection to Nocturne and maybe even Icarus when Endeavour went under cover as a school teacher.

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At around 17 minutes, Jim and Fred are in the pub. I like this scene.

It’s Fred’s disappointment that Jim doesn’t know what is in Fred’s sandwich. Endeavour, of course could always tell Fred what the ingredients were. Fred is, of course, thinking of that fact.

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At around 26 minutes we see Lermontov in his dressing room.

Was the Flame after shave made by the Fenix company seen in the Endeavour episode, Quartet?

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In Mickey Flood’s effects that Fred is looking through at around the 28 and a half minute mark we see a card of the Ostrich Fanciers’ Club. In the Endeavour episode, Scherzo, the club was a porn distribution ring.

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At around the 28 minute mark Bright says, “I don’t like it, gang business. London business in Oxford.” This is probably a reference to the episode Home, when we met Vic Casper, a gangster from London. Of course other gangsters have been seen in the Endeavour series.

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The first body was found in the Warden’s Garden.

Warden’s Garden is where Endeavour is pickpocketed and then meets the Ludo character in the Endeavour episode, Oracle.

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Tom wrote the following in the comments section; “The one thing that struck me was how similar the central plot about the person left in the more talented person’s wake was to the plot and central theme of the Inspector Lewis episode “Old Unhappy Far Off Things” which was also written by Russell Lewis. In that program Professor Ellerbee murders an undergrad who had romantically scorned her and another protege, Poppy Toynton, helps her conceal the murder and avoid a blackmailer because of her devotion to her. The Poppy character is on a slower track than other students and is jealous of their success. If you slightly re-arrange the characters and their positions you see the similarities right down to the involvement of an all girls school and fatal bullying.” Very well spotted Tom. 👏👏

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Thank you to Jonny who noticed the following two things. “1) The crossword Morse is completing at the beginning contains the names of previous Endeavour episodes: Neverland, Colours, Icarus, and Scherzo.”

As I wrote in reply to Jonny, I looked at the crossword and damned I could make out any of the writing. Looks like a trip to the optician for me.

The second thing Jonny noticed was ; “The music playing in Burridges when Morse first visits is “Make Believe You Love Me”, from Canticle.” I think I also need a trip to the audiologist as I can’t hear it. Thank you Jonny for two excellent links to previous episodes. 👏👏

Miscellaneous.

Larry, in the comments section noticed a reference to the band The Jam. The Jam reference is Selsey Bill or Bracklesham Bay. The afore mentioned English towns are mentioned in the lyrics of The Jam song, Saturday’s Kids.

What goes on – what goes wrong. Save up their money for a holiday, To Selsey Bill or Bracklesham Bay, Think about the future – when they’ll settle down.

Well spotted Larry.

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At 5m24s max says to Endeavour, “Oh, you have been in Lyme Regis, I perceive.” Max is of course referring Lyme Regis is a town in west Dorset, England.

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At around 7 minutes we have the following conversation:

Strange – “So, how was the West, then, matey? All pasties and scrumpy?”

Endeavour – “I was mostly following in Hardy’s footsteps.”

Strange “Were you? “There’s another fine mess”, eh?”

Endeavour was of course referring to the author, Thomas Hardy not Oliver hardy.

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At around the nine minute mark John says, “Ave, Imperator, morituri te salutant.” “Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you”

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At around the 10m40s mark Bright says, “I understand there’s a detective superintendency coming up in the next couple of months at Carshall New Town.” Carshall New Town is where Endeavour was stationed in the pilot episode before being seconded to Oxford.

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The Belasco Academy is mentioned. It’s where many of the female musicians attended when young. A connection might be David Belasco (July 25, 1853 – May 14, 1931) was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director, and playwright.

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At around 28m we see a photo on the wall of the Belasco Academy.

It is Rose Garland who was bullied into killing herself.

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At 28m30s Quincannon is looking at a bill.

All in German of course.

Zimmer means Room

Zimmerservice – means room service

Kontinentales Frohuck means continental breakfast

Oliven means Olive.

Arikel means Article

Menge means Amount

Gesamtbetrag means Total amount

Schokoladenauswahl means Chocolate Selection.

More importantly the hotel, Meiringer in Switzerland was the hotel where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson stayed. Then Holmes faced his nemesis Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls in the Sherlock Holmes story “The Adventure of the Final Problem”.

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We see the fictitious street name where Joan lives.

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At around the 49 minute mark we see Ronnie Box’s business card.

‘Matrimonial Work A Speciality.’ Jim getting married to Joan while she still loves Endeavour. Hopefully, a private detective will not have to look into it. 😁😉

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Is the prison name an allusion to Colchester which was the first Roman settlement in England and was referred to as Camulodunum. I’m not seeing a tie in with the Morse Universe. Maybe there isn’t one.

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Sir Alexander Lermontov

The conductor’s surname is the same as a character in the Pressburger and Powell film, The Red Shoes. The character in the Red Shoes was called Boris Lermontov. Boris Lermontov was a controlling character in the film.

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In the pub when Endeavour is talking to Mabs the scene starts off with the scene below.

That looks like Max on the left. But he is never actually used in the scene.

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At around one hour and six minutes, Endeavour and Fred talk to the manager, Donald Fischer.

The conversation starts:

Donald – “I refute the allegations, entirely.”

Fred – “Well, Mr Fischer, at the risk of sounding like Miss Rice-Davies, you would say that, wouldn’t you?

Fred is referring to Mandy Rice-Davies who was a Welsh model and showgirl best known for her association with Christine Keeler and her role in the Profumo affair, which discredited the Conservative government of British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1963.

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In the same conversation as above, Donald says, “The earners, the foreign tours, that’s what pays us to bring ‘L’apres-midi D’un Faune'” It is known in English as Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, is a symphonic poem for orchestra by Claude Debussy

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At the inquest flashback at one hour and seven minutes we see the following emblem.

The Latin phrase, ‘Dieu et mon droit’ means “God and my right.” It is the motto of UK royalty.

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At around one hour and nine minutes Fred visits the phone box where Mickey Flood called from.

He finds the telephone directory open at a page with his name and telephone number. But, why would Mickey need to look up Fred’s number when he had it written on a matchbook?

UPDATE: 9th July 2023. Terry in the comment’s section made the following well observed point about the phone number coundrum.

“Hi! I think I have an answer on the telephone number conundrum. Two different phone numbers!

On the shirt sleeve of the deceased Mickey Flood was the phone number for Castle Gate, Thursday’s office. That was discussed 21:20 minutes into the episode. He needed that number, because it was daytime, working hours, when he was trying to call Thursday from the phone booth.

Mickey Flood had earlier called Thursday at Thursday’s home at night. That was a different phone number, Oxford 2831. Flood called Thursday at home at 4:32 minutes into the episode, and Thursday repeated his phone number when he answered. You can see that home number inside the matchbook as Thursday is handling it at 28:24 minutes into the episode.”

Thanks Terry.

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When Endeavour and Fred go to arrest Mabs Portman at 1h an 19m I feel there is a touch of the Psycho shower scene in the music just before they are interrupted by Endeavour. What do you think?

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At around the 26 minute mark Lermontov is listening to a radio interview he had done. The interview discusses the supposed curse for composers that once they write a ninth symphony they die before they can write the tenth.

Of course this is the ninth series of Endeavour so…

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At around the one hour mark Strange enters Bright’s office where Fred is discussing a case.

Strange gives Fred information about the death at the concert. Fred says to Strange, “Carry On Sergeant.” This is probably a nod to the Carry on film of the same name.

Russell has referenced the Carry on films in a few Endeavour episodes, Lazaretto being one.

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The Balasco Academy I’m guessing a reference to theatre producer David Belasco.

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At 36 minutes Alexander is in Christina Poole’s room. He says to her, “We can put things back together, just like new. We’ll go to the villa at Mongi.” This might be a reference to the film, The Talented Mr Ripley based on the Patricia Highsmith novel. Mongibello is a fictional Italian town.

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Thanks to Terry who pointed out, ” The Hardy trail in Dorset and Lyme Regis story are the opening scenes in ‘ A Way Through the Woods’, the book that is.”

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Thank to James who wrote the following interesting connection, “…the Burridges shoe of the first murder victim. Morse utilized this piece of evidence by visiting Burridges, and this revealed the man’s name was apparently Edward Thomson. Later when further evidence led to Ronnie Box, we found out he was also known as Andrew Lewis. This could be seen as a possible link to the third episode of the first Endeavour series, Rocket, where something similar also occurred. In that instance, Morse discovered the real name of the first murder victim through an expensive handmade shoe, found in the man’s flat. Endeavour visited the fictional shoemakers Cribb & Co in Turl street, and it was realised through a “last” (the measurements taken of a man’s foot, creating a model used for the crafting of shoe), that the dead man initially identified by his work colleagues as Percy Malleson, was actually using a pseudonym. His real name was Eustace Kendrick, and from that followed a completely new and revealing backstory.”

THE MURDERED, THEIR MURDERER/S AND THEIR METHODS.

First victim. First named as Edward Thomson. Then Ronnie tells Endeavour and Fred that his real name is Andrew Lewis.

A Heroin and barbiturate overdose but not self inflicted. The killer is revealed later in the series.

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Second victim, Mickey Flood.

Shot. We don’t find out until later in the series who killed him.

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Third victim Margeaux Quincannon.

She died of cardiovascular collapse brought on by respiratory arrest. Anaphylactic shock from a nut allergy. Mabs Portman added nuts to the Rosin, string players apply it to their bows, and Margeaux Quincannon suffered an allergic reaction when she touched the strings.

Mabs was also responsible for the death of Rose Garland in 1949.