Endeavour: The Complete Seventh Season (Masterpiece)

The PBS broadcasts of Endeavour have always been four to five minutes shorter than the UK originals.I suspect that this was part of a PBS plan to hook freeloading US viewers on the show, then motivate them to spend money for the uncut episodes on DVD and Blu-ray.I don’t really begrudge them that.Plus the Oxford scenery is spectacular on Blu-ray.In addition to the uncut UK version, the Blu-ray of Season 7 includes seven behind-the-scenes featurettes (total time 19 minutes), plus English SDH subtitles.I haven't seen the Amazon downloads of Season 7, but I have seen the free PBS downloads.The PBS downloads are identical to the PBS broadcasts: the cut American version.The timings do not include the closing credits, which are longer on the PBS broadcast.Episode 1: “Oracle”PBS broadcast = 1:28:33Blu-ray version = 1:32:10Episode 2: “Raga”PBS broadcast = 1:27:48Blu-Ray version = 1:31:28Episode 3: “Zenana”PBS broadcast = 1:28:38Blu-Ray version = 1:32:19If you’ve been following my reviews of Endeavour, you will know that PBS screwed up last year’s release of Series 6.They mistakenly issued the cut US version on DVD and Blu-Ray.(and never admitted their mistake).I do begrudge them that.Anyway, the American DVDs and Blu-rays of Series 1-5 and 7 are the “Full-Length UK Edition”.The uncut Season 6 is only available on Region 2 DVDs imported from the UK:  Endeavour Series 6 [DVD] [2019 ]It has the ITV logo on the cover, not the PBS logo.But you will need a region-free DVD (or Blu-ray) player to view them.After years of resistance, Amazon now sells region-free players.Enter “region-free DVD player” or “region free Blu-ray player” in the Amazon search window.Or you can watch the UK DVDs on your computer’s DVD drive.(surprisingly, Endeavour has never been issued on Blu-ray in the UK).Or look up my Amazon review of the Season 6 American Blu-ray, where I explain how to find the deleted bits on the internet.POINTS OF INTEREST:Other than the fact that Endeavour has shaved his mustache, I can’t reveal too many details without risking spoilers.The three episodes form one long story arc.If nothing else, it has a very ambitious script by Russell Lewis (who has been the sole writer since the first episode). Filmed in Oxford and Venice.--- Symmetry: Inspector Morse (1987-2000) and Inspector Lewis (2006-2015) each had 33 episodes.Counting the current season, there have been 30 episodes of Endeavour.The plan was to film one more season with three episodes, thereby ending the series with 33 episodes.But the Covid virus has put the future of Season 8 on hold (scripts have been written, but nothing has been filmed).When there is more information, I will add it to the Comments section following this review.Season 8 of Endeavour will be set in 1971.Season 1 of Morse will be set in 1987 (a safe prediction).So we still have 16 television years of Endeavour Morse’s life yet to be accounted for.Perfect excuse for a new series.--- Last season, Inspector Fred Thursday was demoted from Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) to just plain Detective Inspector (DI).Humiliating enough, but he also lost his official car, the legendary Jaguar Mk I, and was instead assigned a cheesy Ford Zephyr Mk III.For Season 7, Thursday has been re-instated as Detective Chief Inspector.And the Jaguar Mk I is back - see photo.--- Episode 1 of Season 7 (“Oracle”) featured this testy exchange between Inspector Thursday and his wife:Mrs. Thursday: “Canaries! Where are we going to keep canaries?”Inspector Thursday: “Up my arse! - like David Nixon.”This is not a slur against the 37th President of the United States.David Nixon was a popular British magician and television personality in the ‘60s and ‘70s (famous for producing canaries from unexpected places).--- Episode 2 (“Raga”) features two members of DCI Fred Thursday / Roger Allam’s family in prominent parts:His wife, Rebecca Saire plays Mrs. Radowicz.Roger and Rebecca’s son, William Allam, plays Mrs. Radowicz’s son Gary.See photos.--- Episode 3 (“Zenana”)Inspector McNutt is mentioned several times in the season’s final episode.[McNutt was also mentioned in Endeavour Season 2, Episode 4 “Neverland”.]Perhaps we will finally meet him in Season 8.Of course, longtime viewers have already met Inspector Desmond McNutt.In Morse Season 4, Episode 4 “Masonic Mysteries” (1990), Inspector Morse (John Thaw) visited the retired McNutt for help on a case.Morse describes McNutt as "my mentor".ENDEAVOUR BREAKING NEWS:Your best source for news about Morse, Lewis and Endeavour is the website run by Chris Sullivan:morseandlewisandendeavouralso on Facebook, YouTube and Twitch

It's a great series. Enjoy watching many times.

Brand new, perfect condition, arrived fast. Complex plots with lots of twists and turns. Great casting makes for believable characters. After watching, I bought the whole book series as well.

As mentioned above

This came on time and properly packaged. Endeavour is one of the more popular franchises shown on PBS Masterpiece Mystery along with the original Inspector Morse and its spin-off Inspector Lewis. Whether season 7 is the best is best left up to individual’s judgement. I will note the season only had three episodes and this season basically followed two main story lines. In earlier seasons, each episode tended to stand more on its own. This phenomenon is not unique to Endeavour. Some reviewers balked that many of the plot devices have been used before. I did not find that objectionable since there really only so many plot devices to be mined in a who done it mystery. I will say Endeavour has relied more and more on gunplay over the course of the series. Typically, the notion of Morse is he solves them with his intellect, which I prefer.

(Based on Blu-ray edition) The 'Endeavour magic' continues. The writing, the production, the direction (yes, Shaun Evans' included), the cinematograpy, the acting, and the - amazing - casting efforts deserve an ovation. Likely the best TV series out there. Very sad to learn of composer Barrington Pheloung's passing in 2019; he was very much a part of what made this series so great. Especially in this Series 7, one can "sense" the climax ending coming on in episode 3, causing rapt attention to the screen. Kudos to all involved in the making; eagerly awaiting the next series!

Oh, the writing! the intricate plotting! We have loved the marvelously understated Shaun Evans and Roger Allam in their evolving roles…brilliant actors! I don’t understand previous reviews at all. Our set played in full with no glitches whatsoever. One of the very best of modern TV series.

A good mystery series. Delivery was as committed to and product was as described.

If you enjoyed the previous series, you will enjoy this one as well. It is set in a later period than the previous series, but appears to historically accurate not only in the topics covered by the cases, but also in the background and clothing being worn by the characters. This series provides more details regarding the home life of the station's chief.

Once again Morse provides the viewer with excellent British crime drama. This series despite being the 7th season has lost nothing, if anything the cast have grown and completely settled into their roles. Nothing to be said, you have bought 6 seasons, buy this.

I've been following the Endeavour series for years. I had to get this latest season. Sometimes DVD's are made so cheaply that they skip around, but not this one from Materpiece. This 7th season is only 3 episodes, but it is jam-packed with continueing storylines. If you are a fan, I recommend spending a bit more on this DVD. Must wait another year for season 8.

Continues in the same classy storylines created earlier. Can't wait for the next series (in production at present).

Disks arrived in good shape. No damages to either disks or case.