Endeavour Episode, EXEUNT (Series 9, Episode 3): Review + Locations, Literary References, Music etc. SPOILERS.

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Let’s get started.

Exeunt: used as a stage direction in a play to indicate that a group of actors leave the stage.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Where’s Colin?

At two minutes we see a student running through a college quad. A professor is walking away from the camera. The actor has the look of Colin.

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At around the eight and a half minute mark, while in the first victim’s home, Endeavour mentions that the crossword setter was, Codex. This was the pseudonym that Colin used when setting crosswords.

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I think this is supposed to be Colin.

Directed by Kate Saxon. Kate directed the Endeavour episodes, Zenana (S7E3), Terminus (S8E3)

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 March 12, 2023.

EXEUNT: Series 9, Episode 2.

SYNOPSIS

June, 1972.

Endeavour continues to investigate who was killed and buried at Blenheim Vale. After the skeletal remains of Landesman and Brenda Lewis were found Endeavour believes that one of the young boys,  Peter Williams, will also be found. Meanwhile, two people have been killed in what looks like accidents. However, their obituaries were published in the Oxford Mail before they died.

Preparations for the wedding of Jim Strange and Joan Thursday continue to punctuate the events mentioned above.

REVIEW.
(warning, this review will contain spoilers)

I’m not sure where to start. Let’s start with the positives. As always the cast were sublime. The main cast can walk away with their collective heads held high. The actors who played the secondary characters, Frazil and Max in particular, played them with such relish. There were times when Abigail Thaw and James Bradshaw stole scenes from the main actors nor only in this episode but throughout the series. Anton Lesser was under used in this episode but his reading of Prospero’s monologue from Shakespeare’s The Tempest was moving, glorious and overwhelming. It practically stole the show.

Those behind the scenes can also take a curtain call: the cinematographers, the wardrobe and make-up departments, the location team and everyone else involved can be proud of their work on the Endeavour series.

Kate Saxon’s direction was good and showed she had a steady hand on the tiller. I think of the three episodes she directed, Zenana and Terminus, this was her best work. Kate appeared to have a clarity of vision in what was always going to be a difficult episode to direct. Kate appeared to be enthused and invested in this project.

The music by Matthew Slater was utterly beguiling at times especially the first piece we hear at the beginning of the episode. Matthew always had a difficult job in following in the proverbial footsteps of the legend that was Barrington Pheloung. I feel that Matthew Slater improved series by series.

Unfortunately, I need to write about what was wrong with the episode and the final series overall. This final episode was, like the second episode, Uniform, rather dull in places and even worse, ridiculous. The main/subplot of John Bingley was utter piffle and the episode would have been better without it. I still can’t decide if it was a subplot or the main plot. For a main plot it was over very quickly, within the first hour. John Bailey was a cartoon cypher for all that apparently ails modern Britain or England in the case of the episode. I have no problem with a writer pushing a political agenda but not when we are bludgeoned over the head with those ideals and it has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

What made it worse was the Scooby Doo moment when Bingley confronted Endeavour. He talked about how he would loved to have killed a few more if it hadn’t been for Endeavour interfering. I was waiting for the line, ‘If it wasn’t for you pesky police I would have gotten away with it.’ Russel tried to cram too much into the episode. It would have better if he had left out the John Bingley storyline and concentrated on the Blenheim Vale/Sam/wedding storylines.

However, I do believe using the events of the Neverland storyline was unwarranted and lazy. New storylines would have have been better and fresher. Each of the episodes of the ninth series should have been standalone episodes with the only story arcs being the wedding and Sam.

My main problem is Fred murdering the biker who turned out to be Peter Williams, the ‘boy’ that Endeavour believed was buried at Blenheim Vale. For me, this was not a good way to allow us to find out why the older Endeavour never mentions Thursday. Not only did Fred murder someone but Endeavour, in saying and doing nothing, is complicit in that murder. As I have written below, Why would Joan be safe from the bikers as said by Endeavour? Didn’t Fred say that criminals would get to you through your love for your family? Wouldn’t the bikers kidnap and threaten her until she told them where Fred was? Jim Strange has already told us that the bikers are relentless and unforgiving if one of their own is killed.

Fred should have been killed due to a situation caused by Endeavour and so making him feel so guilty that he never mentions Fred. It would have also have created the reason why the older Jim Strange was quite frequently tetchy with Morse. It could have also explained why Strange’s wife, is rarely mentioned in the Morse series and in particular her never being named. This would have made more sense. I believe Russell didn’t have the courage to kill off Fred Thursday.

I enjoyed the ending with the two jags passing and a John Thaw lookalike being used. However I didn’t like the rear view mirror part. I know Russell did it to have a continuity with the last and the first episode but like using the Neverland Blenheim Vale storyline it is repeating oneself.

I will never understand why Russell didn’t introduce the McNutt character other than mentioning him. Surely, it would have been better to have had McNutt be Bright’s replacement. Of course, Morse says to Bright that he will think of moving to the newly reopened Cowley police station that McNutt will run. Maybe, we are to believe that he does transfer there and becomes McNutt’s bagman.

I believe the chap at the end who Endeavour hands the book to is supposed to be Colin Dexter.

The idea is I believe, that Russell Lewis, through the Endeavour character, is passing the baton over to Colin. Russell has written the first part of Endeavour Morse’s life now it is down to Coin Dexter to write about the later years of Morse.

So, what about the future of the Morse Universe. In discussions on my Twitch channel and in the comments section here on my website, the two favourite ideas are a series about a young Thursday and a quirky crime drama with the characters Dorothea Frazil and Max DeBryn. Unfortunately, I think it will be at least five years before we see another series in the Morse Universe. If we see one at all.

WHAT? 

 – Once again Russell puts Endeavour in jeopardy in this episode. Not just once but twice.

 – So, many ridiculous coincidences in this episode: the bikers turn up just in time to save Endeavour from being killed. But why? Wouldn’t the bikers be concerned that Endeavour would have them arrested for killing Lott? Why didn’t we hear the bikes driving up to the area.

Endeavour has a daydream. This is what one would expect from a soap opera or sitcom not a serious crime drama. Why not have Endeavour have a dream and then wake up in hospital after being beaten by the Lott?

He is badly injured, kicked in the ribs, maybe stabbed or punched in the back yet he doesn’t wince when Joan hugs him.

Sam has a major problem with drink and drugs but then hallelujah he suddenly doesn’t have those problems. No mention of going to the Alcoholics Anonymous or counselling. Would Sam be able to join the police force after being in a military prison?

Fred would need to tell Win why he was having to leave the police force and why they were no longer moving to Carshall. Would Win stay married to Fred if she knew he murdered someone? Fred lost their entire savings and she left him because of that.

Why would Joan be safe from the bikers as said by Endeavour? Didn’t Fred say that criminals would get to you through your love for your family? Wouldn’t the bikers kidnap and threaten her until she told them where Fred was? Jim Strange has already told us that the bikers are relentless and unforgiving if one of their own is killed.

What an amazing and incredible coincidence. The very church where Joan and Jim are being married, Endeavour sees the name of the person who owns Blenheim Vale on a gravestone.

 – Fred has hidden the gun in a box on top of a cupboard in the kitchen. Does Win NEVER clean up there?

Where did Endeavour get the bullet to load Fred’s gun?

It seems to me that the death of Andrew Lewis in the first episode of the series was just a tortured way to mention Robbie Lewis in the last episode.

Isn’t it a coincidence that Dr Andrea Massey at the wake for McMurdo says, “We should tell people if they mean something to us.” And here’s Endeavour thinking that same thing about Joan.

Once again Endeavour is the only one who finds clues; the button from Sam’s jacket, the name on the gravestone etc.

If the killer John Bingley has a friend who works at the Times as a typesetter why didn’t John Bingley get him to put in the other death notices? Wasn’t Bingly worried that his friend would tell all if the police got involved?

 – We never find out why Jakes returned. Yet another coincidence?

Jags out of ten:

MUSIC.

All ‘modern’ music is what was used in the original UK broadcast. For legal and copyright reasons the music may be different in broadcasts in other countries.

At around the seven minute mark we see Sam in a pub. The music being played is Paranoid by Black Sabbath.

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At 30 minutes Sam again at the pub while Bloodsucker by Deep Purple is playing.

At around 31 minutes, Endeavour is at home listening to music. It is Requiem in D Minor, K. 626: Communio. Lux aeterna – Cum sanctis tuis by Mozart.

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Around the one hour and five minute mark, Jakes and Endeavour are talking in Endeavour’s home. Thank you to Nancy who pointed out that the music playing in the background is, Chopin – Prelude in E Minor op 28 no 4.

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At around the one hour and ten minute mark, Endeavour is in his car. We hear, Mozart’s Requiem In D Minor,. K. 626: Sequence III, Rex Tremendae Majestatis.

 

At around one hour and 17 minutes Endeavour enters the marquee. We can hear Brown Sugar playing by the Rolling Stones.

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In the same scene the Rolling Stones segues into Elvis Presley’s, The Wonder of You.

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Then as Endeavour is left standing alone when Joan and Jim leave we hear Elton John’s, Rocket Man.

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The final piece of music was Requiem : ‘In Paradisum’ by Gabriel Fauré

LITERARY REFERENCES.

At two minutes we hear the college professor speaking to his class. He is quoting a Thomas Babington Macaulay poem, Horatius.

“Then out spake brave Horatius,
The Captain of the gate:
‘To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his Gods.

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The reverend during the funeral of Edwin Bevin says, “…the pen is infinitely mightier than the sword.” “The pen is mightier than the sword” is a metonymic adage, created by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839. The full quote is, “The pen is mightier than the sword if the sword is very short, and the pen is very sharp.”

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In the final pub scene, Endeavour says to Fred, “I know thee not, old man.” This is from Shakespeare’s, Henry IV Part 2: Act 5 Scene 5. The King is talking to Falstaff.

I know thee not, old man. Fall to thy prayers.
How ill white hairs become a fool and jester.
45I have long dreamt of such a kind of man,
So surfeit-swelled, so old, and so profane;
But being awaked, I do despise my dream.
Make less thy body hence, and more thy grace.

Coincidentally, Roger Allam has played the character of Falstaff.

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At the end Chief Inspector Bright reads out from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Act IV, Scene 1. It is said by Prospero.

Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp’d towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Ye all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vex’d;
Bear with my weakness; my, brain is troubled:
Be not disturb’d with my infirmity:
If you be pleased, retire into my cell
And there repose: a turn or two I’ll walk,
To still my beating mind.

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The name of McMurdo who was killed in an ‘accident’ and whose funeral we saw at the beginning has the name from the Arthur Conan Doyle novel, The Sign of Four. McMurdo is the doorman at Pondicherry Lodge.

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Claypole, the undertaker, shares his name with the undertaker in Charles Dicken’s Oliver Twist.

ART

At around the 22 minute mark, Endeavour and Thursday enter Dr Fortescue’s college rooms.

 

 

Above: Richmond Gardens by Mark Churchill (1935–2011).

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Above: Abstract Landscape in Greens and Browns by John Talbot Mclean (b.1960).

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LOCATIONS.

The episode opens with a funeral. It’s Dr McMurdo’s funeral.

Thank you to Coco who identified the above location. It is The South Chapel Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium, Holders Hill Rd, London NW7 1NB.

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At around two and a half minutes we  see a pupil running through a college quad.

This is New College.

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At three minutes 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. Thank you to Roger who wrote in the comments, “relevantly for Morse, that building is actually overwhelmingly taken up by classrooms and offices for the Oxford Law Faculty and for the Bodleian Law Library. A fitting fictional home for a police station?”

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Blenheim Vale.

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

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At around 11 minutes we see the new offices of the Oxford Mail.

This is a building adjacent to Holywell Music Room on Holywell Street.

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Endeavour visits Dr Rupert McMurdo’s home. UNIDENTIFIED.

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The Thursday home.

The Thursday house.

The address is 10 Ramsey Road, Headington.

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Strange and Joan arrive at what might be their new home. UNIDENTIFIED

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Endeavour, Thursday and Dr Fortescue walk through a college quad at around the 21 and a half minute mark.

This is again New College.

 

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After talking to Dr Fortescue at around 23 mins we see Thursday and Endeavour walking through a college quad.

Above, Fred and Endeavour are walking toward this large Archway one can see in the photo below.

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In the next scene Thursday has his ‘turn.’

This is now Exeter College. As can happen in the Morse Universe. The actors walk through a door or exit of one college and end up in another.

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After the above scene we are at the funeral directors. Thanks to Coco who identified this as Hall Barn Estates Ltd, Home Farm Estate Office, Hall Barn, Windsor End, Beaconsfield HP9 2SG. This location was also used to stand in for Cowley Train Station in the episode Scherzo.

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Endeavour visits Neptune House where the first phone call was made to the Oxford Mail regarding a death notice. UNIDENTIFIED.

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At around 31 and a half minutes we see the shot shown below.

This is New College Lane.

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At 34 minutes Strange relates to Endeavour the location of the second phone call to the Oxford Mail.

This is The High Street in the Old Town of Hemel Hempstead.

The High Street in Hemel Hempstead has been used in a few Endeavour episodes; Raga (S7E2), Confection (S6E3) and Pylon (S6E1).

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At 41 minutes the funeral of Edwin Bevin. The South Chapel Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium, Holders Hill Rd, London NW7 1NB.

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A quick shot at around 47 minutes.

This is Brasenose Lane.

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After the above shot we are at the flower shop.

The production team have used the same location for the flower shop as they have for the empty shop that Endeavour visits at 34 minutes; The High Street in the Old Town of Hemel Hempstead.

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At around 47 minutes Endeavour arrives at the church where Jim and Joan’s wedding will take place.

All the church and graveyard scenes are at this location.

Thank you to my good friend, Linda Parker, who identified this location. It is St Mary & St Nicholas, Church, Berkshire, Remenham Ln, Henley-on-Thames RG9 3DD.

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Endeavour, at around the 56 minute mark, follows up a call from Ms Frazil.

This is Turl Street, Oxford. Once again, The Oxfam Bookshop has been used as a location.

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At around one hour and two minutes. we get this shot.

This is Catte Street at the Broad Street end.

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Morse’s home shown at one hour and four minutes.

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

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Endeavour is in hospital.

This is same exterior as used in the Endeavour episode, Lazaretto (S4E3).

This is Maidenhead Town Hall.

Image result for maidenhead town hall

The same location was used in the Carry On film, Carry On Doctor.

maidenhead

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Endeavour says goodbye to Fred.

This is, of course, Radcliffe Square. Fred is seen walking down St Mary’s Passage.

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Near the end of the episode. Blenheim Palace.

Above two photos from b4-business.com.

PUB LOCATIONS.

I’m not sure if the pub frequented by Sam is a real pub or a studio set.

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At around the one hour and two minute mark we see Jim’s stag night in full swing. UNIDENTIFIED.

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Fred and Endeavour spend one last time in a pub.

This is the The Cross Keys, 57 Black Lion Lane, London, W6 9BG.

Actors who appeared in Exeunt and/or Morse or Lewis or Previous Endeavour episodes.

At 39 minutes we see DC Lott in the police station.

DI Lott played by Danny Webb was in the pilot episode of Endeavour. He also turned up in the pilot episode of the Lewis series as Tom Pollock.

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Charlie, Fred’s brother turns up.

Charlie is played by Phil Daniels who turned up in the Cartouche (S5E2) and Icarus (S5E6) Endeavour episodes.

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

At around four minutes we see flashbacks to the Neverland episode of Endeavour.

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At around 16 and a half minutes, Endeavour tells Thursday that Andrew Lewis, the man killed in the first episode, had a cousin in Newcastle, Robert Lewis. This is of course referencing Robert Lewis, Morse’s sergeant.

If we take Kevin Whately’s real year of birth for that of Robert Lewis that would make him, 21 in 1972.

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Fred Thursday talks about a colleague and friend Commander Len Drury. he appeared in the episode Scherzo.

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Bright mentions to Endeavour in the police station around the 19 minute mark that, “Division are to reopen Cowley, under DCI McNutt.” McNutt is the character from the Morse episode, Masonic Mysteries.

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At 23 minutes, Thursday has his ‘turn.’

This happens in the same college quad where Morse collapsed in the episode The Remorseful Day; Exeter College front quad.

This is a bit tenuous. At about 26 minutes we are in the Oxford Mail office and on the wall we can see a front page of the Oxford Mail that reads, ‘Body found near church.’

A reference to the Morse episode, Service of All the Dead?

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At 34 minutes Endeavour is visiting the location of the second call to the Oxford Mail.

We see catalogues for the Burridges store. Burridges was of course seen in the Endeavour episode Sway and then mentioned in the Prelude episode. Endeavour also visits the store to ask about shoes in the prelude episode.

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Another tenuous link. DI Lott introduces his bagman as DC Bennett. Charlie Bennet was a character in the Morse episode, Absolute Conviction. Charlie Bennet ‘murdered’ his wife. Not the same character, of course. As I wrote, a bit tenuous.

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So, we learn that Charlie was not in money trouble from the Cartouche episode. He was told to say that by DI Lott to have something over Fred Thursday. They then called in that marker for Fred to close down the Blenheim Vale investigation.

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In the episode Win hands Endeavour a Wednesday special sandwich. So, we never find out what was between those slices of bread on a Wednesday.

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Endeavour says to Fred Thursday in their final scene, “Goodbye Sir.” The same words said by Lewis as he kissed the forehead of Morse in episode, The Remorseful Day.

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The music played at the end and sung by the choir is Requiem : ‘In Paradisum’ by Gabriel Fauré. This was the music played as Morse collapsed in the episode, The Remorseful Day.

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Jakes mentions during the stag party that he had dated Joan. This was seen in the Endeavour episode, Home.

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At the end we see ‘John Thaw’ as the older Morse.

Here are photos from the Oxford Mail during filming of the above scene.

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At the end of the episode we see Endeavour sing in a choir. In the first episode of Morse, The Dead of Jericho, Morse is seen singing in a choir near the beginning of the episode.

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Blenheim Palace seen at the end of the episode was first seen in the Morse Universe in the episode, The Way Through the Woods. Which co-incidentally was the first episode written by Russell Lewis for the Morse Universe.

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Endeavour is in hospital.

This is same exterior as used in the Endeavour episode, Lazaretto (S4E3).

This is Maidenhead Town Hall.

Image result for maidenhead town hall

The same location was used in the Carry On film, Carry On Doctor.

maidenhead

Miscellaneous.

At around six minutes Endeavour mentions to Thursday that the land at Blenheim Vale is owned by a Centavo Holdings. A centavo is a 1/100th of a Peso.

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The first victim as Professor Edwin Robert Bevin. There was a Edwyn Robert Bevan OBE, FBA (15 February 1870 in London – 18 October 1943 in London) was a versatile British philosopher and historian of the Hellenistic world.

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The first victim did not complete the Times crossword. The clue was, ‘Mother takes murderer back. Idiot.’ Six letters. The answer is Maniac. Here is how to get to the answer.

‘Ma’ is an abbreviation of, ‘Mother.’ So, that’s the first part of ‘Maniac.’ ‘takes murderer back’ is where you reverse (‘take back’) the last four letters of the clue’ niac’ and get ‘Cain’ a murderer. Idiot is the second clue. So, both clues lead to Maniac.

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The death notice of Professor Bevin in the newspaper has the Latin phrase, ‘Omnia mors aequat.’ Death makes all things equal.

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Professor Bevin, the first victim, taught at, Lonsdale College. Endeavour’s alma mater.

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The funeral director’s name is, Jephthah Claypole. Claypole reminded me of the BBC children’s TV show, Rentaghost. Timothy Claypole was the first ghost to appear in the show.

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While talking to Thursday at around the 17 minute mark, Endeavour says, “Ego te absolvo.” You are absolved.

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At around the 21 and a half minute mark, Dr Fortescue, in the company of Endeavour and Thursday, says to one of his pupils, “Cheerio, Thompson. Enjoy the vac. Cyclades, isn’t it? ‘Vac’ is short for vacation. The Cyclades are an island group in the Aegean Sea, southeast of mainland Greece and a former administrative prefecture of Greece.

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More Latin in the death notice for Doctor Rupert McMurdo, ‘Mortui Vivos Docent.’ Let the dead teach the living.

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At around the 35 minute mark, Thursday and Endeavour are talking. Fred mentions that Ms Frazil phoned to say another letter was in the Oxford Mail about Mr Heath.

This is referring to Edward Heath the Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1972. In the same scene Fred mentions the ‘European Communities Act.’ This was An Act to make provision in connection with the enlargement of the European Communities to include the United Kingdom, together with (for certain purposes) the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar. Brexit repealed that act.

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DI Lott says at around the 40 minute mark, “Well, they’re not flogging The Watchtower.” The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom is an illustrated religious magazine, published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Jehovah’s Witnesses distribute The Watchtower.

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Morse has collected all the sympathy cards after the funeral of Edwin Bevin.

The Latin phrase is “Mors Cum Terrore Novo Venit.” Death Has Come With A New Terror.

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More Latin at around the 57 minute mark when Endeavour is in the shop that’s closed down.

Mors cetra, bora incerta. Death is certain, its hour is uncertain.

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At around the 59 and a half minute mark, Fred is explaining to Prettyman what happened regarding the sympathy cards left by the killer. We see this one.

Minatue innocentilus qui parcit nocentibus. The innocent man who spares the guilty.

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In Endeavour’s home, Jakes says, “Go west, young man.” “Go West, young man” is a phrase, the origin of which is often credited to the American author and newspaper editor Horace Greeley

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At around one hour and five minutes Endeavour relates to Fred on where the name Lionel Godfrey Chambers, the owner of Blenheim Vale now apparently living in Bermuda, came from.

Someone took the name from a gravestone of a baby who died after only five days. Then using that name someone got a new birth certificate, passport etc. This idea was used in the excellent film, The Day of the Jackal.

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We see Bright, near the end of the episode, sitting at his daughter’s grave.

Bright has moved to India.

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As Fred and Win stand in their living room for one last time, Fred says, “Here’s looking at you.” A reference to the film Casablanca.

British Colloquialisms.

When Jakes arrives with Endeavour at the police station at around the five minute mark, Strange says,

“Well, brush my teeth and call me Pearly!”

I have never heard this phrase before.

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Win says to Fred, “He’s (Sam) just borrowed it, till he’s flush.” In this context, ‘flush’ means when Sam has gained more money.

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The barman is talking to Endeavour and the barman says, “Legless, as per.” ‘Legless’ means drunk. ‘As per’ means “as usual”

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The flower shop owner, Vi, says to Endeavour about the sympathy cards, “They could’ve put it on at the cremmy.” This is an abbreviation of crematorium.

THE MURDERED, THEIR MURDERER/S AND THEIR METHODS.

The first victim in this episode is Professor Edwin Robert Bevin. Tripped on the stair carpet.

Killed by John Bingley. Bludgeoned.

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Second victim. Dr Rupert McMurdo. Fell from a train. Though he is the second victim Endeavour encounters, McMurdo died before Professor Bevin. We never see Dr McMurdo. Killed by John Bingley.

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The third victim is Raymond Kennet, nickname Tomahawk. He of course turns out to be Peter Williams the body of whom Endeavour was searching for at Blenheim Vale.

Stabbed with his own knife by Fred Thursday.

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Andrew Lewis, the first victim in the episode, Prelude.

We never find out who killed him other than a corrupt group from London in connection with Blenheim Vale. It may have been DI Lott.

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A body is found at Blenheim Vale.

Shot in the head. Max confirms it’s Landesman. We never find out who killed him other than a corrupt group from London in connection with Blenheim Vale. It may have been DI Lott.

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Near the end of the Prelude episode another body had been found.

Endeavour believes it’s Brenda Lewis. She was shot. We never find out who killed him other than a criminal in connection with Blenheim Vale. It may have been DI Lott.

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Mickey Flood killed in the Prelude episode.

Shot. We never find out who killed him other than a gang from London in connection with Blenheim Vale. Again it may been DI Lott.

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We don’t see it but we have to assume that the bikers killed DI Lott.

CAST.

Brian Pettifer as Jephthah Claypole

Christopher Godwin as Theo Conklin

Victoria Alcock as Violet ‘Vi’ Bingley


Shaun Evans as DS Endeavour Morse

Caroline O’Neill as Win Thursday

Jack Bannon as Sam Thursday

Meg Kubota as Dr. Andrea Massey

Sara Vickers as Joan Thursday

Jo Stone-Fewings as Dr. Adam Fortescue

Roger Allam as DCI Fred Thursday

Jack Laskey as Peter Jakes

Anton Lesser as Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright

Sean Rigby as DS Jim Strange

James Bradshaw as Dr. Max DeBryn

Richard Ridings as DI Chesney Finch

Laura Branigan as Libby Ventnor

Abigail Thaw as Dorothea Frazil

Philip Wright as John Bingley

Jack Hamilton as Tomahawk

Danny Webb as DI Arthur Lott

Ross Green as Reverend Theodore Affcott

Phil Daniels as Charlie Thursday

Rufus Wright as Chief Superintendent Dominic Prettyman

Author: Chris Sullivan

Up until a few years ago I was my mum's full time carer. She died in, 2020, of Covid. At the moment I am attempting to write a novel.

128 thoughts

  1. I don’t know where to start here. Actually, I do. I need to start by thanking Chris for all his work on this blog. Great job. Thank you. I have really enjoyed your reviews, Chris, and the contributions by others.

    There’s lots of good comments and opinions here on the Endeavour season finale, and on TV writing quality in general. I kind of agree with all of it, all sides Chris is right that we shouldn’t be blinded by our love of series and its characters so that we excuse poor/lazy writing. He’s also right that we can love a show and still criticize it. I love Star Trek, for example, but there’s a number of episodes which are just plain silly. Another commenter mentioned M*A*S*H, which definitely fell apart towards the end. “Arrested Development” is another example – excellent show which went on one season too long. One can love a show and still criticize it. However, I also agree with those who say that we have willfully suspended our disbelief so just go with it and stop complaining. I get that, too, and can forgive a lot, except when it would be so easy to clear things up with one or two lines. For example, I don’t need it explained why Jakes has the ring – of course, Morse gave it to him. But no mention of why Jakes is there in the first place? Really? One line would have done it. “Thanks for the call, Morse, let’s see this BV thing out” or some such. The gunshot thing is just too weird, too. I could care less where the bullets come from, but what is that all about? A one-gun salute? Really? Is that a thing? I have always prefaced my comments with how much I love the acting, sets, locations, etc. and that hasn’t changed. I like this series and have thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I can still criticize it, especially when there are glaring problems. It’s still better than most stuff on TV though.

    Ok, not to be the “gun nut” American, but I have watched this episode twice now, and I do not think the revolver Thursday hands Morse, and which Morse puts in the Jag boot (look at me using UK-speak), is the Webley Thursday has used all series. Morse definitely has a Webley while sitting on the churchyard bench, distinctive due to its break-open action. But that’s no Webley going into the boot, in my estimation. Anybody else spot this?

    1. The revolver Thursday hand Morse is definitely not his Webley. I didn’t get a good look but probably an American Colt or S&W. Figured it might have been Thursday’s backup gun or untraceable “throw down” gun.
      The shot in the graveyard was confusing. The gun was a Webley. Morse loaded one round Russian roulette style. Was this some sort of test of luck or resolve by spinning the cylinder and pulling the trigger at the ground?

      1. Thanks, Bill. So it wasn’t just me who noticed that the revolver Thursday hands Morse and which goes into the Jag boot is NOT the Webley Morse has in the churchyard. I don’t feel like I’m seeing things that aren’t there anymore.

    2. Lawrence,
      I wonder if the rarity of shootouts in British dramas and therefore inexperience is at play here where US TV is the home of the bottomless magazine and 27 shot revolvers where antagonists fire hundreds of rounds to little effect. Morse clearly loads one round in the cylinder. Perhaps Thursday had handed him a fully loaded gun and he unloaded the rounds into his pocket. If his intention was to fire a one shot salute the top break action would easily allow the loaded chamber to be aligned with the barrel. By spinning the cylinder he introduces a one in six chance of a discharge. Remember the Russian roulette scene in The Deer Hunter where was it De Niro talks his tormentor into loading two rounds into the revolver enabling him to take out both guards?
      My thought is he was testing what would happen if he attempted suicide? Another explanation is that Morse just doesn’t have any training or experience in handling a gun since they were not widely carried by the police over there. I wonder if Fred’s revolver is even police issue or a relic of his WWII service? He usually kept it hidden and seldom carried it.
      I’m hoping PBS will repeat season nine in summer reruns.

  2. There is another song in the episode, during the “dream scene” at Joan’s wedding. I believe it’s an original piece by Matthew Slater that was also in the episode Degüello, where Fred is listening to a record. I only recognized it because it’s haunted me from the first time I heard it and have tried to find it, to no avail. You can just barely hear it in this episode.

  3. Lawrence, I know absolutely nothing about guns/firearms, so if it was a Webley or not (going in the boot) didn’t matter to me. I enjoyed series 9, and will miss Endeavour dearly.

    1. Sheldon, I enjoyed Series 9, too, and will miss Endeavour as well. I thought Series 9 was well filmed and the acting was very particularly good this series. My observation (well, possible observation) of the discrepancy in the revolver make/model in the two scenes doesn’t take away from the quality of the show. I’m nitpicking here and I know it. It doesn’t really matter. It’s a failure by the “continuity guy”, if anything, and may not be a failure at all. I belong to a pistol club so I tend to notice the firearms used in movies/TV. Somebody on the production staff has to choose the right make/model appropriate for the time period/context, and the firearm has to be properly handled, accounted for, locked away, etc. This person is usually called the “armourer”. This is probably the only job on a production set I would be any good at.

  4. I am bewildered by how deeply I mourn the end of Endeavour. I keep googling “shows like Endeavour” and see nothing promising. Could someone please suggest a show that can soothe the bereft?

    1. @Barbara C Miller – I can relate to what you’re saying 100%. I dearly loved Endeavour, even the last few seasons. Have you seen “Vigil” ? Shaun plays a totally different character, and the series itself is pretty decent.

    2. Have you tried Sherlock series with Benedict Cumberbatch? I highly recommend it. That is no. 1 for me. Then comes Endeavour. And then Murdoch Mysteries, Canadian series.

  5. I think “pearly” could have been s reference to “pearl drops,” a whitening toothpaste introduced around 1972 and heavily advertised (at least in the usa).

  6. Help on this. I may not recall this accurately. I am looking for the source, and precise wording of this quote if you know? I think it was in Season 9, Exeunt, when Bright asks either Morse or Fred: what are you doing or what have you got? The reply is something to the effect of: nothing. Bright then answers: well, “that is something.” Brilliant and very zen or Eastern. Thanks.

  7. I read one of Chris’ comments when he questions why Jakes was brought back. I at first wondered that too but in rewatching especially the beginning when the graves are being dug up, I realized, in my opinion of course, that he was really brought back for closure in that he had spent such miserable years there and if anyone deserved to be present when the truth was discovered about Blenheim Vale and the monsters who ran it, it should be Jakes. I think it was important for him to lay to rest what happened to him. Such a good character he played!

  8. At the end when Morse and Thursday are in the pub, doesn’t Morse say that he told the bikers that Tomahawk was Lott’s informant alluding to Lott as Tomahawk’s killer? That would let Fred off the hook so the bikers wouldn’t come after him or his family.

  9. The whole Strange and Joan getting married in 1972 makes no sense. In The Enemy Within (Morse Series 3 Episode 2) filmed in 1989, Strange tells Morse that he was glad his girls went Red Brick. The time line means that they would not have been old enough to have started University, let alone graduated. The last three series do not fit into the timeline unless Morse is really a Timelord.

  10. Excellent post. I just finished Endeavour the other days. Already miss it and him. 🙂 The gunshot scared me. I forgot in the glimpse of the moment that Morse has to stay alive for the Inspector Morse series and was at the same time really angry because i suspected a suicide. I see that others suspect that attempt as well. What do you think after all about that gunshot?

    1. I don’t believe it was a suicide attempt. He had no reason to commit suicide. I believe the gunshot was a one gun salute to the memory of Fred Thursday.

      1. Perhaps, but then they could always learn to enjoy this brilliant language. Latin forms an essential part of the series. Endeavour studied Classics, ergo.

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