Zenana review – Endeavour pulls off a series best in its final, tragic episode

After an all-too brief run, it’s time to say goodbye to another series of Endeavour. ‘Zenana’ wraps up all of this series’ recurring plot threads and, with a quality script and exceptional performances by its cast, this episode really could go down as one of the show’s best-ever instalments.

The discovery of another murder victim on the Oxford towpath leads to a worsening in the relationship between Morse and Thursday, who are still at odds as to whether the culprit is Carl Sturgis (Sam Ferriday) or someone else entirely. Both men are determined to see the case to the end, whether or not their friendship can survive it. Meanwhile, Morse is on the trail of a series of bizarre accidents, with the latest leading to a death at Lady Matilda’s College. He is convinced there’s a connection, but trying to prove it may prove incredibly costly to his police career and his personal life.

Throughout this series blog, I’ve been lamented the fact that laying the groundwork for this final episode has almost been in the way of everything else that’s happened – fortunately, in ‘Zenana’, it all pays off and it does so beautifully. We finally learn the identity of the Towpath Killer, we finally get a bit of explanation as to Jenny Tate’s (Holli Dempsey) mysterious visions, we finally learn whether there is anything to the mention of accidents. There’s a lot going on, as the Ludo/Violetta storyline also needs wrapping up, but it never feels overcrowded or confusing. The only recurring thread that doesn’t really pay off is the minor theme of women’s rights and liberation – it appears in the opening, but then we get maybe two scenes in the episode dealing with it. It gives us an excuse for a body and little more, and I feel like Russell Lewis’ fantastic script would have been even streamlined and stronger if this aspect was dropped.

I never realised how invested I was in the relationship between Morse and Thursday until their sniping and arguing really hurt – lingering resentments start to show, and neither man bears it well

However, the reason that ‘Zenana’ works so well is because this is a cast that we’ve grown with, all of whom get a moment to shine and a lot to sink their teeth into. I never realised how invested I was in the relationship between Morse and Thursday until their sniping and arguing really hurt – lingering resentments start to show, and neither man bears it well. We must sing the praises again of Shaun Evans and Roger Allam, the standouts in a cast of standouts. And then, we have Supt. Bright, finally feeling a bit of hope about his wife’s illness; Dorothea Frazil, digging away and proving one of Morse’s strongest allies; Jim Strange (Sean Rigby), developing as both a policeman and an officer; and Max DeBryn (James Bradshaw), demanding dignity for the dead. We run the whole gamut of emotions here – I was on the edge of my seat, my heart ached for their pain and losses, I cried at one point.

It’s hard to explain how different ‘Zenana’ and the other series seven episodes feel to the earlier run – they’re darker and bleaker, transitioning to full-on tragedy, and it’s a testament to the show’s crew as to how well this all works

Kate Saxon’s direction and James Moss’ cinematography continue this series’ stunning nature, teetering from the bleak towpath to a house straight out of a horror film, and even a climax as operatic as the show warrants. It’s hard to explain how different ‘Zenana’ and the other series seven episodes feel to the earlier run – they’re darker and bleaker, transitioning to full-on tragedy, and it’s a testament to the show’s crew as to how well this all works, and how much is conveyed without ever needing to say a word.

‘Zenana’ was certainly the best episode of this run (perhaps even one of the best of the series), and it leaves us in a very interesting place for the future. We know that there will only be one more series, and threads about Morse’s future were most definitely evident here. As Morse says at one point, he’s burned all of his bridges, so what is left? We know where this series must end, but I’m looking forward to the final run to see exactly how.

Want more Endeavour? Read Reece’s reviews of episode one: Oracle and episode two: Raga.