Pilot

ITV took a very definite risk with this show, the follow up series Lewis had a stability in Kevin Whately, which I suppose gave viewers a link to the great show. Whereas with Endeavour the challenge was creating the DNA from the Morse show, the biggest question had to be 'Is Shaun Evans Morse?' The answer to that question is a resounding yes, watching Shaun I believe one hundred percent that he is Morse.

In this Pilot episode we see the very beginning of Morse's career, put into the team of Fred Thursday at a very junior level, it isn't long before the genius of Morse is recognised, and it's his attention to deal and ability to look beyond what's in front of him that helps solve the case of a missing fifteen year old girl.

Beautiful music combined with the great camera work and production values make this a very high quality drama, the story is intriguing, and the performances are excellent, most notably from the two lead actors.

They took a gamble, and boy has it paid off. 9/10

We know that Colin Dexter gave this production his blessing. Now we've seen it we can understand why.

Like the original Morse series, the production values, acting and script were superb. And just like the original, there wasn't a moment my wife and I didn't enjoy. Shaun Evans as Morse was brilliant. The emotions that played across his face before he regained control of them were palpable. My wife and I were both left feeling sympathy for young Morse as the world of his dreams came crashing down around him.

To see him take to his ale so readily after saying he didn't drink reminded us of Morse and Sgt. Lewis. His love of Jaguars reminds me of my own. Repeating the previous reviewer, we hope to see this one-off continue as a series.

I was a massive fan of Morse and was both excited and dreading this at the same time. Quit simply, excitement won !

I truly hope that ITV make this one off drama into a series, it was wonderfully acted (great performances from both Shaun Evans and Roger Allum), well scripted and was of course set in Oxford the home of Morse. I won't spoil the story for people that haven't seen it but suffice to say (as is usual in most Morse episodes) the culprit isn't any of the usual suspects.

All of the supporting cast play their parts well but Evans and Allum really do shine and seem to have that on screen chemistry that worked so well for John Thaw and Kevin Whately. I'm already planning to watch this again later on in the week as I'm sure I've missed some of the subtle nuances and twists that made Morse so great to watch.

Well done ITV, finally you're matching the BBC for quality drama instead of dreary reality and talent shows.

Always used IMDb as a reference site but never registered. However, this has forced me to put the effort in just to say how impressed I was at seeing this programme. Being a fan of the original (in part, forced to watch it as a teenager by my parents) it was great to see Morse back with all his quirks. The young actor does an exceptional job and the plot still retains the overall feeling of angst, intellect and hierarchical debauchery that the original series exuded. The "bit part" actors created an engaging ensemble and projected a perfect sixties feeling. All in all, superbly acted, a great (if not hugely intricate)story and a wanting for more. Sure this can be a series to watch out for.Can't wait to see further episodes.

I can add nothing new to the prior ten-star glowing reviews of the surprisingly satisfying young Endeavor Morse except to say that I am hanging on the edge of my seat hoping that this evolves into a series. I thought Shaun Evans showed amazing talent in his subtle and believable portrayal of young Morse. His sensitivity and depth and solitude were a fine introduction to the Morse he would become later, before life made him more impatient and sarcastic. The rest of the cast all gave stellar performances....there wasn't one character that I felt was a reach in any way. The connections to his Oxford past brought the original Morse series come full circle for me. Beautifully done! More, please!