British Crime Drama · ITV · 2012–2023 · Complete Series
Shaun Evans stars as a young Endeavour Morse, working his way up through Oxford CID during the 1960s and early '70s under the watch of his mentor, DI Fred Thursday (Roger Allam). Endeavour consists of the original 2012 pilot and 35 episodes across nine numbered series, for a total of 36 feature-length stories, ending in 2023. Endeavour airs on PBS; for more, see British TV Hub's guide to where to watch British TV in the US.
Viewers who enjoy slow-burn character work alongside their mysteries, and don't mind a long-running story that rewards watching in order.
Episodes run around 90 minutes each — a real weekly-viewing commitment rather than a quick binge.
Endeavour is restrained rather than graphic, but its cases frequently involve murder, violence, suicide, abuse and other mature themes. Later series become increasingly sombre as institutional corruption and personal losses shape Morse's life. British TV Hub's verdict: the rare prequel that earns its place beside the original — essential viewing for Inspector Morse fans.
Where to watch in the US
PBS Masterpiece
Availability varies by participating PBS station and membership eligibility.
All 9 series · PBS Passport
Watch on PBS Masterpiece →Streaming availability in the US can change. Check the linked service for the current season and episode selection. Checked September 2026.
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Start with the original 2012 pilot, followed by Series 1, Episode 1, Girl. The pilot introduces Shaun Evans as the young Morse and establishes his early relationship with Fred Thursday. Because the characters and personal storylines develop across the entire run, watching in broadcast order is strongly recommended — it isn't as purely episodic as Vera or Midsomer Murders.
A serial killer stalks Oxford, and Morse works to stay one step ahead — one of our picks for the show's very best episodes.
A darker, more disturbing case, and our pick for a high point of the show's early run.
The Series 3 finale, and one of our picks among the strongest closing episodes across the show's nine-series run.
Our pick for a standout in Series 5, a season we'd count among the show's strongest overall.
The emotional series finale, bringing Endeavour's story to a close while carefully preparing the world viewers will later encounter in Inspector Morse.
After completing the series, watch the retrospective documentary Morse and the Last Endeavour for interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at the production — it's a separate documentary, not the series finale itself.
DC/DS Endeavour Morse — a young detective working his way through the ranks of Oxford City Police.
DI/DCI Fred Thursday — Morse's mentor, whose own compromises and regrets shadow the series.
Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright, commanding Oxford City Police CID.
Pathologist Max DeBryn, providing forensic insight throughout the series.
PC/DS Jim Strange — a colleague, friend and increasingly ambitious counterpart to Morse whose career progresses steadily through Oxford City Police.
Journalist Dorothea Frazil — a deliberate, well-known piece of casting, as Abigail is the real-life daughter of John Thaw, who played the original Inspector Morse.
Roger Allam's world-weary DI Fred Thursday gives young Morse a mentor whose own compromises and regrets shadow the whole series, making it as much about Thursday as about Morse himself.
Written entirely by Russell Lewis, Endeavour maintains remarkable continuity across all 36 episodes, threading details forward into the world of Inspector Morse.
The show's period detail and cinematography recreate an Oxford in transition, giving it a visual identity distinct from both Morse and Lewis.
Filmed on location in and around Oxford, using many of the same colleges, streets, and buildings recognizable from Inspector Morse and Lewis. The consistent Oxford setting across all three shows is part of what ties the wider Morse universe together visually.
Endeavour isn't a direct adaptation of any single Colin Dexter novel — it uses the characters Dexter created for his 13 Inspector Morse novels, but tells original stories set earlier in Morse's career.
Yes. Endeavour concluded after nine series in 2023. The finale brings the prequel to an emotional close while including several carefully placed references to Inspector Morse.
Endeavour consists of the original 2012 pilot and 35 episodes across nine numbered series, for a total of 36 feature-length stories.
Yes. Endeavour builds relationships and character arcs across series, particularly between Morse and DI Fred Thursday, so watching in broadcast order is strongly recommended.
PBS Masterpiece is Endeavour's primary US home. Availability varies by participating PBS station and membership eligibility. It's also available through Amazon Prime Video and the PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel.
Not directly. Endeavour uses the characters Colin Dexter created for the Inspector Morse novels, but tells original stories set earlier in Morse's career rather than adapting specific books.
Endeavour is filmed on location in and around Oxford, England, recreating the city's 1960s and '70s appearance.
Fact-checked and streaming availability checked September 2026. Spot an error or an outdated streaming link? Let us know via the contact page.
