Prelude – The episode opens as visitors file in to watch the Oxford Concert Orchestra led by Sir Alexander Lermontov (Nicholas Farrell). Christina Poole (Kristin Louie) joins the orchestra for the 1972 season.

A man running from a vehicle enters a public phone booth. He’s in the process of making a call when a man forcibly drags him into a vehicle. Restrained in a chair, he’s being severely tortured.

Poole enters her dressing room to see “BITCH” sprawled across the mirror.

DS Endeavour Morse (Shaun Evans) arrives at the crime scene as Dr. Max DeBryn (James Bradshaw) is snapping photos of the man’s lifeless body. DS Sam Strange (James Bradshaw) and DCI Fred Thursday (Roger Allam) approach. About 100 guests attended an orchestra reception at Beaumont College last night. DeBryn informs them of there being no visible signs of injury before determining the time of death to between 9pm and 3am. Morse points out that the victim is missing a shoe. Fred claims to have uniform officers searching for it.

Morse finds a bracelet when Dorthea Frazil (Abigail Thaw) approaches. She questions where he has been for the last few months. When he doesn’t answer, she immediately asks about the investigation.

Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright (Anton Lesser) says a detective superintendence position at Carshall-Newtown will be open in a few months. He tells him that he’ll soon retire. Fred admits to believing they would retire around the same time. Bright suggests discussing it with his wife, Win Thursday (Caroline O’Neill). Fred asks what about Morse. Bright assures him that he’s done good by Morse but he must eventually let him go.

The manager of the Oxford Concert Orchestra, Donald Fischer (Rob Ostlere) speaks with Morse when Poole arrives at the rehearsal. Mabel “Mabs” Portman (Imogen Daines), orchestra leader, Margeaux Quincannon (Tasmin Newlands), and Lermontov deny seeing the victim at the reception. Morse informs him of his being a member of the Oxford Scholars’ Chloral Association. Lermontov makes a snide remark about “musical amateurs.”

DeBryn suggests the victim died of natural causes since there are no signs of an injury. He says an analysis of the stomach content shows the victim’s last meal was alphabet spaghetti. Morse points out that the victim’s Burridges shoe has little wear.

Two boys discover a man’s body inside an abandoned warehouse.

Morse informs Fred of the ID bracelet with the letters “AL” found at the scene. He says Poole reported “BITCH” on her dressing mirror. Fred questions if it’s connected to the man’s death. Morse says not likely. Strange alerts them of a body in a warehouse.

DeBryn tells Morse and Fred that the victim’s tongue was removed and mailed to the floor. One gunshot wound to the head and another to the heart. The victim was seriously beaten. Castle Gate’s phone number is transcribed on the left cuff. Fred identifies the victim as a police informant, Mickey Flood. Strange discovers an expired train ticket in his wallet. Fred tells them that Mickey comes from a family of thieves.

Madame Belasco (Jane Lapotaire) introduces Poole to announce the Bedlow Prize. Poole tells Morse that similar messages were slipped under her door. She has a room at the Ragdale Hotel.

Margeaux has an invoice from the DAS Motel.

Burridges –  Mr. Less (James Doherty) claims to have no recollection of recent purchases of the victim’s shoe.

Fred informs Morse that Mickey had an active warrant in London. Morse believes the threatening messages Poole is linked to an orchestra conflict. He says a clerk at Burridges processed an exchange for what she believes is the same shoe.

Fischer reminds Margeaux that she’s supposed to be on stage. She claims to be retrieving peg dope for Lindsay Trench (Leaphia Dark).

Fred views a message, “Thursday Oxford 2831,” written inside a match pack. He tells Bright that Mickey is an informant. Bright asks why he’d travel to Oxford when they could have spoken on the phone. Fred suggests he wanted to speak with him one-on-one.

Margeaux collapses during the concert. After assessing her, DeBryn suggests she suffered a stroke or heart attack. Lermontov describes Margeaux as a “fine leader” when John Graham-Scott (Nicholas Boulton) mutters “hypocrite” under his breath. Fischer informs Morse that she’s single and her parents are in Cumbria.

Fred informs Win of the Carshall-Newtown job offer. She reminds him that they made a home there. He assures her that it is their decision. She asks what about Morse.

Poole sits at her vandalized dressing table when Morse approaches. He asks about her relationship with Margeaux. She admits they weren’t close. Fischer says a table has been booked for her at Tratt.

Morse discovers lipstick in Margeaux’s belongings. The shade is similar to that utilized to vandalize Poole’s dressing mirror.

Poole returns to her room to find Lermontov sitting in a chair. He asks if she’s going to waste her time on an infatuation. She complains about not having a normal childhood like other girls. He says she was special before suggesting they go to the villa at Mongi in the summer.

DeBryn determines Margeaux’s died after suffering cardiac arrest. Fred asks if her death was natural. DeBryn says the signs point to anaphylaxis. Fred questions why she didn’t seek medical attention. Morse suggests she didn’t want to interfere with the performance. They discover an adrenaline syringe in her bathroom cabinet. A crumpled letter reads, “If you think you’re going to put me aside, you’ve got another thing coming. I won’t go quietly. I’ll make such a scene you won’t be able to show your face again.” Morse informs him of the potential lipstick shade match with Poole’s dressing mirror.

Fred and Morse interview the orchestra members. Mabs claims Margeaux never ate strawberries. She denies there was anything between Lermontov and Margeaux. Lermontov assures them that his relationship with Poole and Margeuaux is nothing more than platonic. Morse is speaking with Pat Treadle (Jenny Galloway) when Poole approaches.

Strange informs Fred and Morse that the Beaumont victim had barbiturates and heroin in his system. A hot shot may have been injected between the toes.

Morse takes down the name of a customer, Edward Thomas, who shopped at Burridges. He discovers Joan Thursday (Sara Vickers) exchanged a pair of white gloves for a wedding on the same day. A business card for Ace Private Inquiries in Headington at Thomas’s flat at Ford Road in Cowley. Fred knocks on the door to find Ronnie Box (Simon Harrison) standing in front of him. Morse informs him of Mickey’s death. Ronnie claims he hired him to locate his mum, Brenda. A family member, Eileen Wright previously reported Brenda stopped writing her. Brenda was last working at Landesman Construction in September 1963. Edward was utilizing an alias, Andrew Lewis, when he hired Ronnie.

Madame Belasco (Jane Lapotaire) tells Morse that Margeaux was best friends with Rose Garland until she drowned in the nearby lake.

Sam Thursday (Jack Bannon) admits to considering not coming home. Fred stresses how much Win cares about him before suggesting he should have written her. Sam says to tell her that he’s a coward. Win greets him with a hug.

DeBryn determines Margeaux suffered anaphylaxis after eating nuts. Morse discovers an envelope, made out to F. Brathwaite at Das Motel, with an invoice. Fergus Brathwaite (James Anderson) is the guest in room 354 which has an adjoining door to room 352 where Poole is staying. He claims she threatened to bring their relationship to the surface. Fred suggests Lermontov wouldn’t have taken it well. Fergus tells them that he overheard her threatening to expose Fischer.

Mabs claims Margeaux believed Fischer was overcharging the orchestra on touring travel and accommodation expenses. Fischer denies the allegations before claiming she was sending hate mail to Poole. He never consulted her before she died.

Morse views a newspaper article announcing Corner Albert Lyons’ open verdict on the drowning death of 14-year-old Rose Garland at the Belasco Academy in Banbury. Harry Treadle, Rose’s guardian, claimed she was harassed by the other students. Principal Madame Belasco refuted the claims. Treadle, her guardian, says Margeaux was nice to her. She suggests Madame Belasco knew about the harassment and did nothing.

Finding Sam confused, Morse gives him a ride to Joan’s place. Joan informs him of her upcoming marriage. Strange asks Morse to be his best man. Morse goes for a drink at a local pub.

Morse tells Fred, Strange, and Bright that peg dope contains conifer tree sap. Fred questions if Margeaux had an allergy to peg dope. Morse suggests someone put ground nuts in peg dope and switched it with hers. She unknowingly applied the tainted rosin to her bow and suffered anaphylaxis during the concert. Debryn tested her peg dope to find it void of nuts but it was on her bow. Fred says the culprit switched it.

In a flashback, Margeaux writes “BITCH” on Poole’s dressing mirror. A similar note is hanging inside Rose’s desk. Back to the present, Fred suggests she drove Rose to suicide. Morse says Margeaux’s killer didn’t like the idea of being second best.

Mabs claims to have adored Margeaux. Fred accuses her of helping cover up Margeaux driving Rose to suicide. She admits to wanting her attention. They tell her that she told Rose to commit suicide. She admits to being a “lonely little girl.”

Fred joins Morse at the pub. Morse says a beer in moderation will do no harm. He suggests Edward knew something that put his life in danger. He questions why Edward wanted him to have the information. Fred assures him that they’ll figure it out. Morse congratulates him on Joan and Strange’s upcoming marriage. Fred admits to being glad he’s back. Morse has another drink as the episode comes to an end.

 

Endeavour Series 9 Cast

• DS Endeavour Morse (Shaun Evans)
• Max DeBryn (James Bradshaw)
• DCI Fred Thursday (Roger Allam)
• Win Thursday (Caroline O’Neill)
• Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright (Anton Lesser)
• Sam Thursday (Jack Bannon)
• Joan Thursday (Sara Vickers)

Where Was Endeavour Series 9 Filmed

Filming locations were in and around Oxford in England.

Where To Watch Endeavour Series 9

Series 9 premiered on PBS on February 26, 2023.

Endeavour Synopsis

DS Endeavour Morse and DCI Fred Thursday investigate the death of Edward Thomas. DeBryn determines he died after a hot shot of heroin. He may have been associated with the orchestra.

Christina Poole, a guest musician with the Oxford Concert Orchestra, is receiving threatening messages in red lipstick on her dressing room mirror. The orchestra leader, Margeaux collapses during a concert. The cause of death is cardiac arrest after suffering anaphylactic shock due to a nut allergy. She was previously involved with Fergus who is now involved with Poole. The threatening messages were from her.

Fred receives a detective superintendence proposal from Bright. The position would require him and Win to relocate to Carshall-Newtown. He hesitates to accept the position because of Morse. Since Fred’s son, Sam has returned home, he’s been drinking heavily.

A career criminal and police informant, Mickey Flood is found deceased in an abandoned warehouse. Fred believes he intended to trade him pertinent information for making a warrant disappear.

Margeaux and Mabs attended the Belasco Academy with Rose Garland. They harassed her until she committed suicide by drowning. Knowing Margeaux had a nut allergy, Mabs put crushed nuts in her peg dope. When no one was looking, she switched it out.

Endeavour Review

Nothing about the show can justify a 90-minute episode. Some scenes provide nothing to the story, just filler. Like nearly all 90-minute series, the dialogue is repetitive with tidbits added in some scenes. The script is a mess, it jumps back and forth from one investigation to another and repeat. The story doesn’t flow. There were periods of sheer boredom.

Only the last 30 minutes of the episode is worth watching. Some investigations are left on a cliffhanger to entice viewers to stick out another episode.

The episode deserves a 6. Get more Endeavour recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Inquire about our onsite advertising packages by reaching out to our support staff.