Endeavour (TV Series) Cartouche (2018) User Reviews

A slightly weaker instalment

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 16 February 2018]

Following a showing of the horror film 'The Pharaoh's Curse' at the Roxy cinema a man is found dead at his home. At first it looks like he died of natural causes but a post mortem indicates that he died of strychnine poisoning. It is thought most likely that he ingested it with an orange drink he had at the cinema. The man was a former detective sergeant who had been working at Oxford's Pitt River Museum. Emil Valdemar, the star of 'The Pharaoh's Curse' is due to visit the Roxy as part of the promotion for a sequel.

Elsewhere in Oxford there are a couple of arson incidents; it looks as though both were targeting Kenyan Asians but as both properties were owned by the same unpleasant character there are other possibilities. This character is also hoping to buy the Roxy for redevelopment.

Away from the crime Morse meets an attractive young woman who ends up spending the night with him... he is rather shocked when it emerges that she is DCI Thursday's niece! He is then asked to show her the city and they end up at The Roxy and witness a second suspicious death.

This episode was entertaining enough but it was a bit messy. There were claims that the film was cursed; an Egyptian archaeologist who vocally objected to his country's history being used in such schlock horror, an unscrupulous developer and motives dating back to the First World War. It was nice to see Morse finally have some luck with a lady but it seemed more than a little far-fetched when the next day he discovered she was Thursday's niece. The plot involving the arson didn't really go anywhere; I can only assume it will be part of an ongoing plot. This also involved a coincidence as Thursday's daughter worked at one of the properties. On the plus side I thought the cast did a solid job; this included a fine guest performance from Donald Sumpter as an actor with a shameful incident in his past. Overall I wouldn't say that this was bad but it wasn't up to the very high standards I expect of this series.

Endeavour is a great series,reminded of this watching a repeat.

[ib011f9545i · 8/10 · 9 July 2021]

I like Endeavour but forget how good it is sometimes.

This particular episode is especially impressive.

It is well written and well acted and cast.

The historical background is good and if you like film history you will like the episode very much.

I much prefer Endeavour to Morse,I find Morse in Morse to be rude and grumpy.

Theatrical Endeavour

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 15 February 2018]

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".

"Cartouche" was a very good continuation of Season 5, after it got off to a great start with "Muse". It is not perfect, it is at its weakest with how it handles the prejudice and racism themes, which are laid on too thick somewhat, and the racist thugs subplot, which was very under-cooked, in both how it was written and how much it features in the episode, and didn't feel satisfyingly resolved.

Was a little conflicted personally on the ending. It is purposefully theatrical, perfect for the cinema setting, the identity of the perpetrator was a shock and how the murders were done was clever. It was a little overblown though, slightly over-complicated and the motive felt like it came out of nowhere.

The story however is hugely compelling, leaning on the more complicated than the simple but it generally doesn't get overly-so and it was cohesive. There are plenty of shocks, twists and turns, and the whole intended targets and how the murders were committed misdirections were clever. Loved the affectionate 60s horror and cinematic pastiches and the cinema setting is used to full advantaged.

Loved the development of Morse and Thursday, seeing a more gentle Morse and a more jovial Thursday. They have always been wonderful characters but these sides to them was refreshing.

Nothing can be faulted with the production values. It is exquisitely filmed and the idyllic and atmospheric setting was a very nice change from Oxford. 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.

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.

Anton Lesser can't be faulted, while Dakota Blue Richards and Lewis Peek are breaths of fresh air, Peek has proven to be a fun addition. Was expecting Phil Daniels to be out of place but was pleasantly surprised to see that he wasn't and that he brings fun and heart to Thursday's subplot. Donald Sumpter is particularly inspired casting of the guest cast.

Overall, not perfect but very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox

One of the best episodes of Endeavour I've seen.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 11 February 2018]

Sometimes you watch something on TV and you just know in twenty years time it's something you'll curl up and enjoy every minute of, Cartouche falls into that bracket, let's face it, Endeavour is always great viewing, but this was a classic. The story was wonderfully intriguing as always, but the presence of a Film star and the Cinema setting just gave it a very different vibe. I mentioned in last week's episode how impressed I was with the character development of Morse, Morse was given DC Fancy to boss around, this week we got Morse 'The womaniser,' superb writing.

The development of Shaun Evans's character into John Thaw's has been astonishing, massive credit to all concerned, particularly to Evans, who continues to do John Thaw proud. I love how the dynamic between Morse and Thursday has changed, Thursday somehow less dependant on Morse. Allam continues to shine, and nice to see his character socialise with Bright, Anton Lesser also giving a superb performance.

The ending was wonderfully dramatic, but there was definitely some ambiguity wit the secondary case, I'm sure the racist element is a story that will be revisited.

Exceptional telly.

Another great episode

[jimvandemoter-50236 · 10/10 · 29 March 2021]

While some episodes are much better than others, this is one of the best. One little bit of trivia, the theater organ is one of a few that still exist. One is still in my old home town, Saginaw, MI at the Temple Theater, built in 1927. It is still played for Christmas shows.

Great Use of the Cinema as a Plot Element

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 16 July 2018]

In this one we are introduced to the show business of the time. The introduction of numerous interesting characters makes this priceless. It reminded me of a 1940's B movie where we are given a number of possible suspects, all of whom are viable.

Absolute amazingly intriguing mystery not to be missed

[lbowdls · 10/10 · 4 January 2020]

Anybody on here giving 1 star are just insane. In fact I find it mind knowingly ridiculous to give any episode of anything that you mainly like 1 star inane surely you don't have to be over theatrical about it. Anyway back to my review I'm only halfway there this and I had to read this ad thus is the best Endeavour episode I've yet to see. So many different plots and avenues as the actual Morse so often did. This one has movie stars, and old cinema, Egyptian folklore and villain, the poisoning death of an ex detective, an Indian cafe, racial violence and the return of Thursday's daughter and his niece who is seeing Morse. How can anyone say that all this elements make for a weak instalment? And how are all these connected are they connected? However this ends it wind stop the mystery and intrigue of this amazingly put together episode.

Incomprehensible

[l_rawjalaurence · 13 February 2018]

I have to say I did not understand this episode at all. The plot had too many twists and turns, while the 60s setting did not convince in the least. This was Sunday night candy floss for the easily pleased, not worth anything else otherwise.

Controversy about Morse's feelings for Carol Thursday and vice versa

[mungo-hausammann · 7/10 · 13 April 2021]

In 'Cartouche', Morse probably gets Carol to know better in the night they spend together and finds out that she may be just a lovable spoilt little brat with no special interests, a bit boy-mad and too immature for a relationship; and eventually he gets to know her father Charlie, doesn't he? Carol, having spent the night with Morse, might also have concerns regarding a relationship with him. And what is the reason why Carol sneaks out in the morning instead of waiting till Morse wakes up? And why has she been stood up by Joan Thursday who might know her a bit as her cousin. My, and probably Morse's hunch is confirmed when at the Roxy cinema, Carol successfully starts to flirt with the actor Jason Curwin as soon as she gets near him in the bar room - quite understandable, she adores him from another film. Maybe she felt that Morse isn't really her guy already when she was embarrassed by her dad and tried to protest against her dad's command - with no effect - at the Thursdays' place to go sightseeing with Morse and both lose interest completely when they have to go sightseeing against their will. Anyone who can't see that might not understand neither the feelings of pitiable Carol certainly not being embarrassed by her father for the first time nor the feelings of Morse who certainly figures out immediately what was going on and embarrassed has to play the game. But DCI Thursday does see that as he sends Carol home at the cinema right after he sees her and much later at the very end of the episode when he thanks Morse for having taken care of Carol: "Good of you to show her around." - Morse's answer is ingenious: "Don't mention it." - Esther Hausammann.

Keeping up the standard

[akicork · 10/10 · 29 June 2019]

For me, this keeps up the standard of the series, in acting, writing and production. Morse's character is developed. He gives in to his natural instincts by sleeping with Carol, then runs slap bang into his sense of honour and duty when he finds out her identity. He immediately fends her off. Does this have anything to do with his possible recognition of the Thursday family (or maybe the police force?) as *his* family? The musing towards the end between Thursday and Morse about officers without a family ending up lonely with a bottle for company seems to overshadow Morse's future. The Eddie Nero story arc is gently developed, pointing us towards the end of the season. As to the reviewer complaining that current politics are affecting the scripting and making it appear to be written by Michael Moore - oh dear! For a start, she is gauging her time period over 40 years, from 1968, while the driver of the plot runs from events in 1918, so actually 90 years. The story was set in 1968, the year in which Enoch Powell made his anti-immigration "Rivers of Blood" speech which rocked the UK, triggering all sorts of responses from every political faction, and causing huge social tension. It was also set only twelve years after the Suez Crisis (see Wikipedia for a reasonable summary), which can well be presented as the last gasp of the British Empire. Feelings were running high, particularly on the right wing. Whether or not the Suez débâcle was a concerted attack on Egypt by Israel, France and the UK, it was clearly the last attempt by the UK to present itself as the Global Policeman, surrendering that rôle to the USA. I have to say no, there are no "modern day politics" - there are only politics. The tensions that caused the fight between the Israelite David and the Palestinian (Philistinian) Goliath from Gaza (Gath) four thousand years ago are the same driving conflict today. Perhaps the problem is "Politics". I have no cure for these - surely someone in the world can find one?

Weakest episode ever

[mcgowan11 · 1/10 · 2 August 2018]

Being huge Endeavour fans we are looking forward to Season5. Episode 1 (Muse) was strong but #2 (Cartouche) might be the weakest ever. Unnecessarily complicated and confusing plot twists notwithstanding, the real weaknesses included behaviors inconsistent with the well-established nature of long running characters. Joan Thursday stands up her cousin with no explanation, leaving her to be "met cute" by Morse? Morse beds a beautiful and likable girl - okay good for him and even understandable he might afterwards consider it a mistake but then for him to treat the same girl gruffly with none of his normally endearing awkwardness shows lack of understanding of the character by the writer. As noted by another reviewer, that two middle aged British cops in 1968 would lecture the audience on racial prejudice and immigrants rights really strains credulity. As decent as both characters are, these are exactly the guys who upheld the British Empire. That dialogue sounded like it had been dropped into the middle of this episode from a 2018 series focusing on social justice warriors due to an edict from the network.

Hopefully the rest of Season5 will return to the core attractions of this series. (Did enjoy Debruyn's "he won't bite " line however.)

If you're trying to avoid modern day politics expect to be horribly disappointed.

[debbiatkinson · 1/10 · 6 July 2018]

You would think that being across the pond and 40 years earlier than present day would provide a welcome relief from today's current political upheavals and hostility but not a chance. I felt like parts were written by Michael Moore; such an unpleasant shock as the first episode was quite good. Think I'll go back to reading books until the midterms are over.

A bit too Agatha Christie

[lol234 · 5/10 · 29 April 2018]

It's an interesting concept for an episode, but ended up a bit messy and in need of more grounding. My main problem with the story was the method of the murders. They just seemed a bit contrived and too clever - especially when we discover the perpetrator. I'm not spoiling much when I say the killing was done with poison, but the way it was administered to the victims was borderline silly. A team of the world's most skilled assassins couldn't have pulled off these murders.

Endeavour/Morse/Lewis are at their best when they explore the interesting motives and interpersonal connections behind a crime. The method of the murder usually rather banal. In this case, too much of the plot hinges on how the murder could possibly have been accomplished.

Writers Loste Plot

[mikeddunton · 1/10 · 14 February 2018]

Sorry, but I found this to be the worst Endeavour/Morse/Lewis episode I have ever watched. Totally unbelievable and over-complicated plot; Melodramatic; Poorly acted (apart from Fred Thursday character) I would make more observations, but they would involve "plot-spoilers," so i shall refrain. This has been a really good drama. Please do not spoil it by carrying on for too long and losing sight of the main objective - "Morse, The Early Years."