Have always gotten a lot of enjoyment out of 'Endeavour', so was absolutely overjoyed hearing of its return. Because it meant that there was going to be a short period of having something to genuinely look forward to on Sunday evenings, which doesn't always happen. 'Endeavour' was something that was met with high anticipation from the start, due to 'Inspector Morse' being one of my all-time favourites and being quite fond too of 'Lewis' (more the earlier episodes than the later episodes).
Six seasons and seven years on, 'Endeavour' still is the more than worthy prequel series, that goes extremely well with both 'Inspector Morse' and 'Lewis', and stands up very well on its own too, being respectful while having more than enough to make it stand on its own two feet. Although some are going to disagree, as a few of the episodes are divisive, have yet to see a bad episode. Having liked to loved them all, although a few ("Sway", "Cartouche" and Season 3 excepting "Coda") did disappoint a little for me it has to be said. That strong relatively consistent standard has not changed watching Season 6's opener "Pylon", which was a very impressive start, signalling the beginning of a seeming new era that is going to take some getting used to, with many fine qualities. At the same time, it was also a little disappointing.
"Pylon" had a few things that stopped it from being a potentially great or more episode and instead a very solid one. Still a good position to be in but 'Endeavour' showed numerous times that it was capable of more than that. The story didn't come completely together for me (and this is probably not going to make me popular), was thinking that the hit and run plot would be more probable than it turned out because some of it was on the far fetched side. The denouement was interesting and was a surprise at first but by 'Endeavour' standards seemed somewhat too simple, too easily solved and anti-climactic.
Despite appreciation for Led Zeppelin, their inclusion on the soundtrack felt like a strange out of place one that was at odds with the style and mood of the episode's story. Personal opinion of course. Am not sure either about the moustache, part of me feels it doesn't suit Morse or Shaun Evans.
On the other hand, there are many fine qualities in "Pylon". Nothing can be faulted with the production values. It is exquisitely filmed, muted in use of colour yet never cheap as it is a perfect look for a mystery/thriller set in post-war Britain, and the idyllic and atmospheric setting is beautifully evoked. There is something very nostalgic and charming about the atmospherically evoked 1960s period detail. Similarly, as always, the rest of 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'. The writing is intelligent and thought-provoking, with some nice tension and moments of welcome and not jarring levity. Although the story execution wasn't perfect, it was still absorbing with a dark elegiac atmosphere that had a fair share of slow-burning suspense and also a poignant sadness in its exploring of quite bold subjects. It is a complicated one but didn't seem too convoluted mostly to me, nor did it feel like there was too much going on. The very end that makes one eager for how the rest of the season will unfold was a nice touch.
The characters are all intriguing and the relationships and interactions are still a treat, have always loved Morse and Thursday together and am so glad that Thursday is still here, 'Endeavour' would not be the same without him. Both are interesting characters here as ever, some said that Thursday's more brutal side here is out of character but although it is a shock it has been seen more than once before in other episodes so it didn't seem so to me. Shaun Evans continues to be a charismatic Morse that shows loyalty to the incomparable one of John Thaw in 'Inspector Morse' while not making it an impersonation. Roger Allam is on usual wonderful form, being both firm and sympathetic and it is really quite special. Anton Lesser also does a lot with a role that could be uninteresting in lesser hands. Simon Harrison does very well as Box, and doesn't make him pantomimic while making it clear that he is not a character to get on the wrong side of.
In conclusion, very solid episode if not quite great. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Six seasons and seven years on, 'Endeavour' still is the more than worthy prequel series, that goes extremely well with both 'Inspector Morse' and 'Lewis', and stands up very well on its own too, being respectful while having more than enough to make it stand on its own two feet. Although some are going to disagree, as a few of the episodes are divisive, have yet to see a bad episode. Having liked to loved them all, although a few ("Sway", "Cartouche" and Season 3 excepting "Coda") did disappoint a little for me it has to be said. That strong relatively consistent standard has not changed watching Season 6's opener "Pylon", which was a very impressive start, signalling the beginning of a seeming new era that is going to take some getting used to, with many fine qualities. At the same time, it was also a little disappointing.
"Pylon" had a few things that stopped it from being a potentially great or more episode and instead a very solid one. Still a good position to be in but 'Endeavour' showed numerous times that it was capable of more than that. The story didn't come completely together for me (and this is probably not going to make me popular), was thinking that the hit and run plot would be more probable than it turned out because some of it was on the far fetched side. The denouement was interesting and was a surprise at first but by 'Endeavour' standards seemed somewhat too simple, too easily solved and anti-climactic.
Despite appreciation for Led Zeppelin, their inclusion on the soundtrack felt like a strange out of place one that was at odds with the style and mood of the episode's story. Personal opinion of course. Am not sure either about the moustache, part of me feels it doesn't suit Morse or Shaun Evans.
On the other hand, there are many fine qualities in "Pylon". Nothing can be faulted with the production values. It is exquisitely filmed, muted in use of colour yet never cheap as it is a perfect look for a mystery/thriller set in post-war Britain, and the idyllic and atmospheric setting is beautifully evoked. There is something very nostalgic and charming about the atmospherically evoked 1960s period detail. Similarly, as always, the rest of 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'. The writing is intelligent and thought-provoking, with some nice tension and moments of welcome and not jarring levity. Although the story execution wasn't perfect, it was still absorbing with a dark elegiac atmosphere that had a fair share of slow-burning suspense and also a poignant sadness in its exploring of quite bold subjects. It is a complicated one but didn't seem too convoluted mostly to me, nor did it feel like there was too much going on. The very end that makes one eager for how the rest of the season will unfold was a nice touch.
The characters are all intriguing and the relationships and interactions are still a treat, have always loved Morse and Thursday together and am so glad that Thursday is still here, 'Endeavour' would not be the same without him. Both are interesting characters here as ever, some said that Thursday's more brutal side here is out of character but although it is a shock it has been seen more than once before in other episodes so it didn't seem so to me. Shaun Evans continues to be a charismatic Morse that shows loyalty to the incomparable one of John Thaw in 'Inspector Morse' while not making it an impersonation. Roger Allam is on usual wonderful form, being both firm and sympathetic and it is really quite special. Anton Lesser also does a lot with a role that could be uninteresting in lesser hands. Simon Harrison does very well as Box, and doesn't make him pantomimic while making it clear that he is not a character to get on the wrong side of.
In conclusion, very solid episode if not quite great. 8/10 Bethany Cox