--- title: "Endeavour: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/endeavour/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/endeavour" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Endeavour (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 7 reviews: 6 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like Endeavour, and the praise gathers around two people: Shaun Evans as the young Morse and Roger Allam as his boss, DI Fred Thursday. Reviewers credit Evans with building a plausible early Morse, prickly, intellectually contemptuous and fixed on the truth, without imitating John Thaw. The pairing with Allam’s world-weary Thursday is singled out again and again, and Russell Lewis’s writing is commended for catching the spirit of the books. The period Oxford detail is generally found convincing rather than fussy. The reservations are few and mild. The spread is narrow, with the reviews sitting between good and very good and only one landing in the middle. That one is The Telegraph, which finds the series well made but without the sharp characterisation and weight of the original, and calls the plotting leaden. Even the warmer reviews describe the cases as cryptic and sometimes gruesome, though they offer that as a virtue rather than a complaint. Nobody dislikes it. ## The Times — Alex Hardy Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 14 April 2013. The critic finds the new Endeavour series poised to be a Sunday night hit, commending its clever plotting and strong cast led by Shaun Evans. They single out the balance of heritage elements with modern touches and the compelling central performance. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/tv-review-endeavour-and-britains-got-talent-l6d7b0n9qkj) ## The AV Club — Alasdair Wilkins Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 July 2013. The critic finds the series a promising first step in establishing a young Morse independent of John Thaw's iconic portrayal, praising Shaun Evans for capturing plausible early traits like intellectual contempt and uncompromising truth-seeking without imitation. It singles out the show's handling of Morse's investigative flaws and character development amid period Oxford cases as effective and engaging. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/endeavour-girl-1798177278) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 April 2013. The critic praises the perfect pairing of young Morse and his mentor DI Fred Thursday, played by Roger Allam, noting how the series reinvents the franchise with fresh energy. They single out the strong performances and authentic period details that suggest it will run successfully. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/apr/20/endeavour-ice-cream-girls-review) ## The i Paper — Jeff Robson Rating ★★★★. 10 February 2019. The opening episode is a dark and compelling whodunnit that is also a character study of the detectives coming to terms with trauma. Writer Russell Lewis catches the spirit of the Morse books brilliantly with strong performances throughout. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/endeavour-series-6-itv-review-dark-compelling-new-case-255644) ## Radio Times — David Butcher Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 April 2013. The double act between young Morse and his boss is developing nicely, with Roger Allam wonderful as the world-weary Thursday. The episode offers a musical, cryptic and gruesome case that tests Morse’s character and intellect. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-1c3lva/endeavour-season-1/) ## The Telegraph Rating 3/5. 15 January 2017. The series is well crafted with fine period detail but lacks the sharp characterisation and gravitas of the original Inspector Morse with John Thaw. Shaun Evans gives a credible performance as the young Morse but the plotting feels leaden. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/01/15/endeavour-crafted-lacks-john-thawssharp-characterisation-review/) ## Den of Geek — Gem Wheeler Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2018. The critic celebrates the series as a terrific crime drama that successfully captures the essence of the young Morse. They single out the tenderness of the performances and Shaun Evans' believable portrayal of a hopeful yet increasingly cynical young man. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/endeavour-saluting-an-engrossing-tender-crime-drama/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/endeavour.md