Quartet

The 'Endeavour' series is 100% superb all the time; I've seen the whole series (to date) and this is definitely the very best episode of all. 'Quartet' is, in an hour and a half, actually a very deft self-contained Cold War spy thriller that could easily have been issued (with Sean Connery, and added-in action, and a Bond girl) as the James Bond film in the 1968 gap in that franchise.

The story opens with a murder at a clown-giant race with international teams competing in Oxford on live (1968) TV. Endeavour is quick to realise there is more here than meets the eye. The plot continues using all the best Bond tropes - international intrigue, secret spies in HM government, a late-night rendezvous, a code-breaking mystery, a psychopathic industrialist, a clue hidden in a poisonous-fish tank, villains who seem sympathetic victims at first, government's doubt in our super-spy hero, untrustworthy women, and, best of all, an esoteric literature-based riddle that only our hero has the intellect to work out.

On top of all this, it is beautifully produced, with each scene patiently filmed even whilst the plot runs at breakneck pace. As ever for this series the historical details are spot-on and charmingly nostalgic. And there is the start of the secondary subplot that will become the principal plot of Series 6.

In spite of direct orders not to involve himself in the case, morse charges on anway, demonstrating once again his contempt for authority and proper procedure... this attitude occurs time and again and was repeatedly pointed out by his superiors to no avail, yet he wasn't disciplined .. he'd never make it in the real world.

This is what a truly great series looks like. First, we have a resourceful and fearless character. Actually one who forgets his vulnerability at times. He is also flawed as a human being at times. We have secondary characters that contribute to the sophisticated plots. Here we have Morse finding his way into an inner circle of hell. The tight plotting and cold war espionage and counter-espionage is excellent. Morse tries not to look inward but has to at times. His intense lifestyle is so engaging. He passes on the human pleasures for the most part whenever a clue comes along. This may be favorite episode because it was accessible and intense. Yes, there are plot elements that won't hold up under close scrutiny, but a scripted drama must push beyond normal events. I look forward to seeing the finale.

This series of Endeavour has been a real privilege to watch, and for me the peak comes with Quartet (Finale to watch of course.) I've been a fan of the series since the very first, but somehow they took the show up another level with this episode, so many different plots, so much going on, but it was neat, tightly written, cohesive and easy to follow. So often you watch an espionage drama and get lost in complexities or bored, this was captivating.

There are almost too many superlatives for me to highlight, but I'll highlight a few. First of all, the story, absolutely fantastic, multi layered, intriguing, worthy of a John le Carre novel. The characters were incredible, Paul Ready and Ellie Haddington were fabulous, the latter reminded me of her character from Foyle's War. It was socially interesting, it highlighted so much stuff that was going on at the time, The Invasion on Czechoslovakia, the divide in Germany. It was quite action packed, our Morse almost garroted. It highlighted Morse's intelligence very well, and his thoughts on justice compared to those of his boss's. Finally Fred Thursday's decision to retire is told to Morse, so it will be intriguing to discover his fate, and see how the relationship changes between the pair.

I can think of no flaws at all, my only sadness is next week's is the season finale, the decision to put out a six part serial was a great one. It will be good to see the conclusion of the series arc.

Fabulous.

As said in my review for the entire show three years ago, 'Endeavour' is not just a more than worthy prequel series to one of my favourite detective dramas of all time and goes very well with it, but it is a great series on its own as well. It maintains everything that makes 'Inspector Morse' so good, while also containing enough to make it its own, and in my mind 'Inspector Morse', 'Lewis' and 'Endeavour' go perfectly well together.

The pilot was a very promising start if with an understandable finding its feet feel. Things got even better with the consistently outstanding first season, and the darker Season 2 was hardly inferior, with "Neverland" being an 'Endeavour' high point. Season 3 is considered by fans as nowhere near as good as previously. Will admit that it is not as good as Seasons 1 and 2, which had more believable stories and didn't try to do too much but count me in as someone who has still enjoyed the episodes and has found a lot to like, while finding "Coda" outstanding. Likewise with Season 4, with its weak point being the soap operatic Joan subplot in "Harvest".

There is not much else to say to what has been said already about "Quartet". Season 5 has been very impressive with it getting stronger generally with each episode, even the weakest "Cartouche" is still very good. It is agreed though that the season's penultimate episode "Quartet" is the best to date. It does make one highly anticipating the last episode, but there is a touch of sadness as well.

"Quartet's" mystery/story is the best, most thematically involving and dramatically and emotionally involving of the season. It is incredibly compelling throughout, with both alertness and breathing space and a suitably cold and intense spy thriller feel. It is eventful without being over-stuffed, complicated without being confusing and cleverly twisted without being improbable, complete with many layers, an interesting look at what was going on at the time how the period was on a social level and inspired visual references.

Morse continues to be a fascinating, complex and well rounded character that reminds one of the older Morse. The personal life elements do not get soapy, nor do they take over. Trewlove and George are very amusing and sweet, while never being corny or detracting from the dark subject and the generally darker and more serious tone of the season. Just for the record, am liking that 'Endeavour' increased in maturity over the years, not that it wasn't already but meaning that it got darker and tackled heavier themes yet still to me didn't feel like a different show.

Nothing can be faulted with the production values. It is exquisitely filmed and the idyllic and atmospheric setting is beautifully evoked, 1960s Oxford is always interesting to see.

There is something very nostalgic and charming about the atmospherically evoked 1960s period detail. Similarly, as always, the music is hauntingly beautiful with the way it's utilised never in question, the iconic 'Inspector Morse' theme will forever be immortal and it has always been a genius move to use it for 'Endeavour'.

Writing, as has been said many times in my reviews for the previous 'Endeavour' episodes, is every bit as intelligent, entertaining and tense as the previous episodes and as the best of 'Morse'.

As ever, Morse and Thursday's relationship was always one of the show's major high points, it always entertained and warmed the heart and with each episode it gets more so on both counts, with some moving and tense moments too. Especially the former, with a real air of melancholy.

Shaun Evans as ever does some powerful, charismatic work as younger Morse, showing enough loyalty to John Thaw's iconic Morse while making the character his own too. Roger Allam is also superb, his rapport with Evans always compels and entertains but Thursday is quite a sympathetic character, as well as loyal and firm, and Allam does a lot special with a role that could have been less interesting possibly in lesser hands.

The rest of the regular cast are excellent, especially Paul Ready as one of the show's most loathsome characters. There's even a pretty freaky fish character to enjoy.

Overall, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox