Endeavour (TV Series) Icarus (2018) User Reviews

The End of an era. Series Five ends with a great episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 11 March 2018]

Series Five comes to an end, in some style. For my money this has been the strongest series of Endeavour, every single episode has been of the highest order, and Icarus is no exception to the rule. We've had six very different episodes, last week's espionage thriller was fantastic, this week we see Morse and WPC Trewlove undercover at a Public School.

Another excellent, complex story, with questions asked, questions answered, and many still needing answers. A shock exit for one character which had a strange feeling, felt like there was a lot that could have been done to develop the character, but it had a big effect on the episode, and of course the case will move to the new series. Some great, tense moments, Shirley's encounter with the sinister School boys was a great moment, very sinister.

I have really enjoyed the way each episode has linked, and the story arc, for loyal viewers like myself it's wonderful, allows you to engage more with each episode, I just worry that it isn't so good for the casual viewer.

At the start of the episode I felt a little sad that this run had reached its conclusion, but the announcement of the show's return next year was extremely welcome news. It's a gift for the producers, a new station, new characters, the ideas are endless. The big question for me is will Roger Allam return as Thursday, somehow the show won't be the same without him, although at some point we will have to see Desmond McNutt (Masonic Mysteries,) Morse's old boss.

I finally figured something out

[sasha99 · 10/10 · 18 July 2020]

I've watched the whole Endeavour series over and over again, maybe as many as 10 times in all. The stories are so multilayered and intricate that I am still discovering details that illuminate plot points, even after multiple viewings.

Before I launch into some major spoilers regarding "Icarus" and all of season 6 which follows, I'll just note one tip: watch the first minute or two of every episode very closely, and you will likely see the clue upon which the whole plot pivots. You won't know this the first time you see it, but by the 5th time or so you might.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW... * * * * * I never liked the character George Fancy, and frankly, was not sorry to see him go, but as I was watching "Icarus" for the upty-umpth time and once again shouting at George to stay in the car and not go in to where Cromwell Ames was getting ready to have it out with Eddie Nero. But this time, during the course of the episode, I noticed that George had in fact, improved and matured as a cop. The last thing he said to Thursday was, "I won't let you down." He was going to play it by the book to make Thursday proud (even if Morse had no time for him). So why DID he go into the snooker parlor when Jim Strange had told him to "stand fast"? * * * * SPOILERS FOR SEASON SIX We come to find out in the season six story arc that corrupt cops all the way to the top have been behind everything. We saw the beginnings of this in The Pilot. We find out that the bullet that killed Fancy was from a gun that had gone missing from a police evidence store. Eventually we come to realize that it was police who had killed George.

That's the missing piece of the puzzle: George did not rush into the snooker parlor on his own, in defiance of Strange's directive. Other cops arrived on the scene while George was waiting for his colleagues, and he went in with them, not knowing that one of them would kill him because he was the only witness to their massacre of Ames, Nero, and everyone on the scene.

It wasn't because of his naivete, stupidity, and lack of experience that he didn't wait in the car. He joined some other cops in the raid, probably at their invitation. I won't go into who-- but we do find out in season six. George knew them already.

Maybe everyone else already figured this out, but today it finally clicked for me.

A great conclusion to Series Five

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 16 March 2018]

It has been announced that Cowley Police Station is to close shortly but Thursday still wants 'one more good arrest'. He doesn't think it will come from Morse's latest case; he has been sent undercover at a local boys' boarding school to investigate the disappearance of one of the teachers. He is accompanied by WPC Trewlove, who is posing as his wife. Once at the school he quickly finds out that bullying is rife; this isn't just between the pupils; one teacher is particularly brutal in his treatment off the softer boys and some of the pupils try to menace teachers; including Morse. He isn't there long before he discovers that villain Eddie Nero's son attends the school. Away from the school Thursday is still pursuing Eddie Nero and his rival Cromwell Ames; a situation that will ultimately end in tragedy.

This series certainly ends with a fine episode; the central mystery is solid with plenty of suspects and a real sense of menace at the school. Surprisingly for a season finale there is a lot of time spent on character development as officers wonder where they will each be stationed after Cowley closes. It looks as if the main concern will be Thursday's problems with his retirement plans but that becomes a minor concern after a tragic event that affects everybody at the station and sets things up for series six. The cast is on fine form; Shaun Evans is on fine form as Morse and Roger Allam and Anton Lesser great as DCI Thursday and CS Bright; Lewis Peek, Sean Rigby and Dakota Blue Richards impress as DC Fancy, DS Strange and WPC Trewlove. The guest cast are pretty solid too, making their characters believable. One has to look hard to find faults; the school is a little underpopulated and the security for the cadets' rifles seemed rather lax, the school I attended in the '80s had steel doors on the armoury not a wooden cupboard! These are minor quibbles though and didn't detract from this fine episode. Overall a great series finale; I look forward to seeing what happens in series six.

Dark secrets at school

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 12 March 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".

Season 5 has been very impressive with all the episodes ranging from very good ("Cartouche") to outstanding ("Quartet" especially). While "Icarus" is not quite as brilliant as "Quartet", it is a fine way to end the season.

Personally thought that the episode could have gone into more detail with explaining a couple of the red herrings, especially the blood stained shirt.

More of a problem was Bright's attitude during the aftermath of the episode's shock event, it didn't ring true to me and was rather frustrating especially when you see great development and a sympathetic side to Bright in episodes like "Passenger".

However, love Morse and Trewlove together and their roles in the episode. Viewers have questioned its necessity and implausibility, but to me it was entertaining, thoughtfully done and made me like Trewlove even more than my positive opinion of her already.

Felt very sorry for Thursday here, the dark elements are as suspenseful as those in "Quartet" and the shock event is a contender for the most shocking 'Endeavour' scene and brings a devastatingly sombre effect in the aftermath. The unsettlement that comes with the prospect of change and moving on adds to this and is one that is easy to relate to, coming from somebody who finds change unsettling on an everyday basis.

Mystery is incredibly compelling throughout, with both alertness and breathing space. It is eventful without being over-stuffed, complicated without being confusing and cleverly twisted without being improbable. Morse continues to be a fascinating, complex and well rounded character that reminds one of the older Morse. The personal life elements do not get soapy, nor do they take over. Just for the record, as said a few times already, am liking that 'Endeavour' increased in maturity over the years, not that it wasn't already but meaning that it got darker and tackled heavier themes yet still to me didn't feel like a different show.

Nothing can be faulted with the production values. It is exquisitely filmed and the idyllic and atmospheric setting is beautifully evoked, 1960s Oxford is always interesting to see.

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'.

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, 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.

Dakota Blue Richards, Lewis Peek and Anton Lesser are also excellent, especially Richards. Likewise with the supporting cast, with some sinister schoolboys in the mix.

Overall, a fine way to end an impressive season and a great episode on its own. 9/10 Bethany Cox

The truth about George Fancy...

[ajsafe · 10/10 · 18 March 2018]

On 18 july 2020, Sasha99 wrote:

"George did not rush into the snooker parlor on his own, in defiance of Strange's directive. Other cops arrived on the scene while George was waiting for his colleagues, and he went in with them"

If Sasha will watch ... once again the episode, he will see that in the very last shot of George Fancy sitting in his car, a shadow appears in the background and stands out against the light, apparently heading towards the car.

It's extremely stealthy, but I guess it's not a mistake during the shooting and that this shadow is not a techie wandering around in the set ...

Fine Writing and a Sophisticated Plot

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 9 August 2018]

After the death of a teacher, Morse and others begin to investigate. What they find is a group of schoolboys who seem to be engaged in some pretty nasty stuff. One of the boys is central to everything because he is a victim. There is a kind of brainwashing that has happened and they are members of the power group. This, of course, leads to great resentment and possible revenge motives. This is nicely paced and offers us unique characters. The only criticism is that it sort of strains the limits of reality and group mentality.

Season 5 definite must watch

[abr-24374 · 9/10 · 2 February 2019]

Wonderful and worth the time to watch and or binge

A little cheesy with the continued reference to Make Britain Great and some other xenophobic tidbits that are historical wishful thinking

Noneed to inject modern politics into otherwise wonderful story

Good mystery, but . . .

[jknousak · 8/10 · 22 March 2022]

Why kill the guy, why not call the police with the evidence of drug smuggling that you have at hand, knowledge of student-teacher (Ivory) interactions, students taking drugs w/ overdose obvious, and certainly a bigger way to solve the dilemma you so passionately want to stop? No way does the final reveal seem realistic.

I agree with other commenters, though, that this series is among the best and the writing and story line(s) in this particular episode are worthy.

Finally, viewing this 5th series w/in a week, I can't help but realize how "cool" the Brits are to/for one another in times of, well, caring. Could be a product of the 50s and 60s being shown, by my goodness, there isn't a "warmth" moment (e.g., a hug) in all of the episodes. There is that one "pat on the shoulder" by Fred to Morse, but C'MON! (ya, I'm not British!).

A terrible mishmash

[rjhotmail · 1/10 · 6 July 2020]

Bits of If...., Unman wittering and Zygo, Edward G Robinson etc., etc. What a mess of a plot. A very unworthy successor to Morse and Lewis. Currently rated here at 8.9! I suppose it demonstrates the low ebb to which TV drama has fallen.