Icarus

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".

Season 5 has been very impressive with all the episodes ranging from very good ("Cartouche") to outstanding ("Quartet" especially). While "Icarus" is not quite as brilliant as "Quartet", it is a fine way to end the season.

Personally thought that the episode could have gone into more detail with explaining a couple of the red herrings, especially the blood stained shirt.

More of a problem was Bright's attitude during the aftermath of the episode's shock event, it didn't ring true to me and was rather frustrating especially when you see great development and a sympathetic side to Bright in episodes like "Passenger".

However, love Morse and Trewlove together and their roles in the episode. Viewers have questioned its necessity and implausibility, but to me it was entertaining, thoughtfully done and made me like Trewlove even more than my positive opinion of her already.

Felt very sorry for Thursday here, the dark elements are as suspenseful as those in "Quartet" and the shock event is a contender for the most shocking 'Endeavour' scene and brings a devastatingly sombre effect in the aftermath. The unsettlement that comes with the prospect of change and moving on adds to this and is one that is easy to relate to, coming from somebody who finds change unsettling on an everyday basis.

Mystery is incredibly compelling throughout, with both alertness and breathing space. It is eventful without being over-stuffed, complicated without being confusing and cleverly twisted without being improbable. 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. Just for the record, as said a few times already, 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'.

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, 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.

Dakota Blue Richards, Lewis Peek and Anton Lesser are also excellent, especially Richards. Likewise with the supporting cast, with some sinister schoolboys in the mix.

Overall, a fine way to end an impressive season and a great episode on its own. 9/10 Bethany Cox

After the death of a teacher, Morse and others begin to investigate. What they find is a group of schoolboys who seem to be engaged in some pretty nasty stuff. One of the boys is central to everything because he is a victim. There is a kind of brainwashing that has happened and they are members of the power group. This, of course, leads to great resentment and possible revenge motives. This is nicely paced and offers us unique characters. The only criticism is that it sort of strains the limits of reality and group mentality.

Bits of If...., Unman wittering and Zygo, Edward G Robinson etc., etc. What a mess of a plot. A very unworthy successor to Morse and Lewis. Currently rated here at 8.9! I suppose it demonstrates the low ebb to which TV drama has fallen.

It has been announced that Cowley Police Station is to close shortly but Thursday still wants 'one more good arrest'. He doesn't think it will come from Morse's latest case; he has been sent undercover at a local boys' boarding school to investigate the disappearance of one of the teachers. He is accompanied by WPC Trewlove, who is posing as his wife. Once at the school he quickly finds out that bullying is rife; this isn't just between the pupils; one teacher is particularly brutal in his treatment off the softer boys and some of the pupils try to menace teachers; including Morse. He isn't there long before he discovers that villain Eddie Nero's son attends the school. Away from the school Thursday is still pursuing Eddie Nero and his rival Cromwell Ames; a situation that will ultimately end in tragedy.

This series certainly ends with a fine episode; the central mystery is solid with plenty of suspects and a real sense of menace at the school. Surprisingly for a season finale there is a lot of time spent on character development as officers wonder where they will each be stationed after Cowley closes. It looks as if the main concern will be Thursday's problems with his retirement plans but that becomes a minor concern after a tragic event that affects everybody at the station and sets things up for series six. The cast is on fine form; Shaun Evans is on fine form as Morse and Roger Allam and Anton Lesser great as DCI Thursday and CS Bright; Lewis Peek, Sean Rigby and Dakota Blue Richards impress as DC Fancy, DS Strange and WPC Trewlove. The guest cast are pretty solid too, making their characters believable. One has to look hard to find faults; the school is a little underpopulated and the security for the cadets' rifles seemed rather lax, the school I attended in the '80s had steel doors on the armoury not a wooden cupboard! These are minor quibbles though and didn't detract from this fine episode. Overall a great series finale; I look forward to seeing what happens in series six.

Wonderful and worth the time to watch and or binge

A little cheesy with the continued reference to Make Britain Great and some other xenophobic tidbits that are historical wishful thinking

Noneed to inject modern politics into otherwise wonderful story