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.
Is This Series for You?
Slow-Burn Character Work
Viewers who enjoy slow-burn character work alongside their mysteries, and don't mind a long-running story that rewards watching in order.
A Real Weekly Commitment
Episodes run around 90 minutes each — a real weekly-viewing commitment rather than a quick binge.
Traditional in Style, Frequently Dark in Subject
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 October 2026.
Already Have Prime?
BritBox, Acorn TV and PBS Masterpiece can all be added as Prime Video channels, so every series sits on one watchlist.
📚 Love Endeavour? Join The Ultimate British Bookshelf for the books behind your favourite British dramas →
New Viewer's Guide
The 2012 Pilot, Then Series 1
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.
British TV Hub's Best Endeavour Episodes
Fugue (2013)
A serial killer stalks Oxford, and Morse works to stay one step ahead — one of British TV Hub's picks for the show's very best episodes.
Neverland (2014)
A darker, more disturbing case, and British TV Hub's pick for a high point of the show's early run.
Coda (2016)
The Series 3 finale, and one of British TV Hub's picks among the strongest closing episodes across the show's nine-series run.
Quartet (2018)
British TV Hub's pick for a standout in Series 5, a season that ranks among the show's strongest overall.
Exeunt (2023)
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.
Main Characters and Cast
Shaun Evans
DC/DS Endeavour Morse — a young detective working his way through the ranks of Oxford City Police.
Roger Allam
DI/DCI Fred Thursday — Morse's mentor, whose own compromises and regrets shadow the series.
Anton Lesser
Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright, commanding Oxford City Police CID.
James Bradshaw
Pathologist Max DeBryn, providing forensic insight throughout the series.
Sean Rigby
PC/DS Jim Strange — a colleague, friend and increasingly ambitious counterpart to Morse whose career progresses steadily through Oxford City Police.
Abigail Thaw
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.
What Makes the Series Special
The Morse-Thursday Partnership
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.
One Writer, 36 Episodes
Written entirely by Russell Lewis, Endeavour maintains remarkable continuity across all 36 episodes, threading details forward into the world of Inspector Morse.
1960s & '70s Oxford
The show's period detail and cinematography recreate an Oxford in transition, giving it a visual identity distinct from both Morse and Lewis.
Setting and Filming Locations
Oxford, 1960s-70s
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.
Books Behind the Series
Not a Direct Adaptation
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Endeavour finished?
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.
How many episodes of Endeavour are there?
Endeavour consists of the original 2012 pilot and 35 episodes across nine numbered series, for a total of 36 feature-length stories.
Do I need to watch Endeavour in order?
Yes. Endeavour builds relationships and character arcs across series, particularly between Morse and DI Fred Thursday, so watching in broadcast order is strongly recommended.
Where can I watch Endeavour in the US?
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.
Is Endeavour based on Colin Dexter's novels?
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.
Where is Endeavour filmed?
Endeavour is filmed on location in and around Oxford, England, recreating the city's 1960s and '70s appearance.
Fact-checked and streaming availability checked October 2026. Spot an error or an outdated streaming link? Send a correction via the contact page.
Related Guides
Five British TV Picks. Every Sunday.
Your weekly guide to what to watch next, plus what’s new on BritBox and Acorn TV.