Endeavour: The Complete First Series - Region 2

There are lots of things that make Endeavour really quite special, too. For instance, it doesn't pretend to be distinct, and weaves in one or two nods to the older Inspector Morse, without ever feeling that it's dependant on it. Furthermore, Evans is excellent. He captures many of the character ticks that John Thaw brought to the role, yet finds room to make his own mark too.

However, all of this would be of little use were the investigations themselves undercooked. As it is, the four films that make up this first series of Endeavour crackle with excellent writing and strong production values. At best, they're really quite gripping, arguably even better than Lewis, and measure up to the standards set in the past. Many were sceptical when it was first announced that ITV was planning Endeavour, and it was suggested that it was a spin-off too far. Those doubters have been proven wrong in the very best possible way. --Jon Foster