'Endeavour' "Prelude" (2023)
Opening thoughts: At its best, 'Endeavour' is a wonderful series. While the eighth season disappointed (especially the finale "Terminus", which didn't feel like 'Endeavour'), many of the early seasons' episodes were absolutely outstanding and worthy of 'Inspector Morse' (one of my favourites of all time) at its best. Also thoroughly enjoyed a lot of 'Lewis' and the three of them go very well with each other.
Was really psyched for this ninth and sadly final season, to see how such a high quality series would go. Was really hoping that it would be closer to the quality of early seasons 'Endeavour' and not closer to the previous one. Season 9's first episode "Prelude" sees 'Endeavour' back on track and back on form. Almost as good as the series in its prime and a huge improvement over "Terminus", with all the problems with Season 8 solved here.
Bad things: If there is one thing that isn't quite as good as it could have been, for my tastes the London gangster storyline could have gone into more detail.
Good things: Otherwise, "Prelude" is just great. The production values continue to be exceptionally high, exquisitely photographed and with a real sense of period lovingly and faithfully recreated. There is also a lot of atmosphere, particularly in the lighting. This atmosphere continues in the haunting music, which never felt overbearing or obvious. The theme music is iconic.
Moreover, the script is intricate and thought provoking, there is a good deal of talk but it is tight and none of it came over as filler. The storytelling is always absorbing, a lot happens with more than one case, but it never came over as disjointed or like three stories in one. There are a lot of twists and turns, but it still is coherent and it didn't feel over-complicated or bloated. The denouement is very unexpected and makes psychological sense, not silly, extreme or confused, the truth is quite sad and the motive made psychological sense.
Shaun Evans is as ever charismatic in the title and Roger Allam is wonderful as always, he can do no wrong in my eyes. They have such scintillating chemistry together, their relationship is pretty much the heart of the series and has always been beautifully written even in lesser episodes. Can't fault the supporting cast either.
Closing thoughts: Concluding, wonderful.
9/10.
Opening thoughts: At its best, 'Endeavour' is a wonderful series. While the eighth season disappointed (especially the finale "Terminus", which didn't feel like 'Endeavour'), many of the early seasons' episodes were absolutely outstanding and worthy of 'Inspector Morse' (one of my favourites of all time) at its best. Also thoroughly enjoyed a lot of 'Lewis' and the three of them go very well with each other.
Was really psyched for this ninth and sadly final season, to see how such a high quality series would go. Was really hoping that it would be closer to the quality of early seasons 'Endeavour' and not closer to the previous one. Season 9's first episode "Prelude" sees 'Endeavour' back on track and back on form. Almost as good as the series in its prime and a huge improvement over "Terminus", with all the problems with Season 8 solved here.
Bad things: If there is one thing that isn't quite as good as it could have been, for my tastes the London gangster storyline could have gone into more detail.
Good things: Otherwise, "Prelude" is just great. The production values continue to be exceptionally high, exquisitely photographed and with a real sense of period lovingly and faithfully recreated. There is also a lot of atmosphere, particularly in the lighting. This atmosphere continues in the haunting music, which never felt overbearing or obvious. The theme music is iconic.
Moreover, the script is intricate and thought provoking, there is a good deal of talk but it is tight and none of it came over as filler. The storytelling is always absorbing, a lot happens with more than one case, but it never came over as disjointed or like three stories in one. There are a lot of twists and turns, but it still is coherent and it didn't feel over-complicated or bloated. The denouement is very unexpected and makes psychological sense, not silly, extreme or confused, the truth is quite sad and the motive made psychological sense.
Shaun Evans is as ever charismatic in the title and Roger Allam is wonderful as always, he can do no wrong in my eyes. They have such scintillating chemistry together, their relationship is pretty much the heart of the series and has always been beautifully written even in lesser episodes. Can't fault the supporting cast either.
Closing thoughts: Concluding, wonderful.
9/10.