Zenana
- Episode aired Aug 23, 2020
- TV-14
- 1h 29m
When Endeavour is called to investigate what at first appears to be a freak accident at Lady Matilda's College, he uncovers a potential link between a series of peculiar incidents across Oxf... Read allWhen Endeavour is called to investigate what at first appears to be a freak accident at Lady Matilda's College, he uncovers a potential link between a series of peculiar incidents across Oxford.When Endeavour is called to investigate what at first appears to be a freak accident at Lady Matilda's College, he uncovers a potential link between a series of peculiar incidents across Oxford.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThere are references throughout the story to a police inspector named "McNutt", who will be Morse's new superior after he transfers to Kidlington in the New Year. McNutt featured prominently (played by Iain Cuthbertson) in the famous "Inspector Morse" story, "Masonic Mysteries", where Morse referred to him as a mentor who had left the police force to take holy orders. McNutt was murdered in the course of that story, set some twenty years after this one.
- Quotes
Dr. Max DeBryn: [examining the corpse of the killer after Strange has been stabbed] Don't do anything by halves, your boys, do they?
DCI Fred Thursday: [grimly] If a thing's worth doing... But I'd sooner he was alive. Morse?
Dr. Max DeBryn: With the girl.
DCI Fred Thursday: How is she?
Dr. Max DeBryn: Physically, she's lost a little blood. There are bite-marks on her inner forearm, but, thankfully, there wasn't much there for him to get his teeth into. Mentally, I don't think she had far to fall.
- Crazy creditsThere are red letter interspersed in the credits. They spell "La Traviata" which was the opera at the end of the episode.
- ConnectionsReferences The Wolf Man (1941)
- SoundtracksMake Believe
(uncredited)
Lyrics by by Russell Lewis and music by Matthew Slater
Performed by Sharlette Henry
"Zenana" fits that distinction very well. After liking very much "Oracle", with only the denouement disappointing, and finding much to like about "Raga" despite big reservations, "Zenana" was a good if not great ending to the season. It did have potential to be the best of the season and there are some elements that are done the best of all three episodes. "Oracle" is still the best and least problematic of the three though, because for all of "Zenana's" many great things it also has the most frustrations.
Will get the bad things out of the way. Despite starting off quite intriguingly, my opinion of Ludo is pretty much the same as it was in "Raga". A rather strange character that not only seemed out of place but also like he was lifted from somewhere else entirely. Will admit too to not being surprised at all by his reveal, which was pretty predictable and guessable in some form from relatively early on in the season.
Did think that "Zenana" was a little slow-going on at the start and that some of the story is forced and too reliant on convenient coincidences.
On the other hand, when it gets going "Zenana" is mostly quite engrossing stuff. It has easily the best climax of the three Season 7 episodes for me and it was the only one that worked. Whereas the climaxes in the previous two episodes, especially "Raga" were quite perfunctory, this one was exciting and had the tension not present before. The time period is put to great use, with everything with the characters and relationships changing as the era changed. It has been interesting seeing a different side to Morse and Thursday's relationship, which doesn't have the spark and warmth shown in the previous six seasons and instead a strain and tension that grew throughout Season 7 and reaches breaking point here. Thursday also has a different side to him than before, in Season 7 he is more hardened, embittered and weary, again at its most evident here. Some might find it out of character, for me it was appropriate with the times changing although it was a shock seeing him that way.
As usual for 'Endeavour', "Zenana" looks immaculate visually. The photography is exquisite in both the not as ominous bits and where things are especially bleak, while the production design is full of handsome atmosphere and is the most authentic visually of the three Season 7 episodes. The music as ever is hauntingly beautiful, with music choices that fit the time period in style and not being questionable in placement. The script is intelligent and has the right amount of intensity and feels without being too dreary, Morse and Thursday's sparring really gives it life. As said the story is far from perfect, but the second half is often thrilling, the suspense is there and the character relationships are handled really well. As aforementioned too, the ending is the best of the season. The mystery avoids over-convolution and only the Ludo reveal is too obvious. It is a very well directed episode and while all the cast give strong performances across the board it is Roger Allam who really captivates, the increasing strain is acted with intensity and he is quite moving in places too.
In a nutshell, a lot of great things but a few frustrations. 7/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 28, 2020
Details
- Runtime1 hour 29 minutes
- Color