Morse's Devastating Loss, Venice's Allure, and a Sinister Insurance Conspiracy: Endeavour Season 7 Recap

Summary

Endeavour season 7 showcases intense mysteries, secret love affairs, and corrupt officers that leave a lasting impact on the show.

Inspector Morse embarks on a captivating journey of love and loss amidst the charming city of Venice. As he navigates the complexities of a compelling affair, the strain on his relationships becomes palpable. Morse's clash with Fred stems from their inflated egos and diverging theories, causing tensions to mount. Unveiling a criminal insurance scheme only intensifies the stakes, leading to heart-wrenching consequences.

Endeavour season 7 introduced another captivating and enigmatic addition to the British crime drama series. As a prequel to the original Inspector Morse and its spin-off, Lewis, this third installment delves into the early years of Inspector Endeavour Morse in the 1960s and 1970s. Young Morse, fresh from Oxford University, embarks on his career as a rookie detective constable with the Oxford City Police CID, under the guidance of the experienced Detective Inspector Fred Thursday (Roger Allam). Recognizing Morse's immense potential, Thursday becomes his mentor.

Haunted by the loss of Detective Constable George Fancy in the previous season and reeling from the revelation of corrupt officers Ronnie Box and Alan Jago, Morse decides to seek solace in Venice during the New Year's Eve. However, Morse's attempt at an uncomplicated vacation soon becomes entangled in a web of a secret love affair, insurance fraud, and a series of inexplicable incidents. Although the show goes on with the assurance of an upcoming season 8 and 9, the impact of season 7 continues to reverberate throughout the series.

Morse's Finds (& Loses) Love In Venice

Inspector Morse meets a woman named Violetta while on vacation in Venice, Italy in 1969. They have an affair, but Morse ends things when he learns that Violetta is married to an old acquaintance, Ludo Talenti. However, after investigating a murder back in England, Violetta shows up at Morse's home and they decide to continue their affair.

Although hesitant at first, Morse is convinced to continue the relationship when Violetta confesses her love for him and her unhappiness with Ludo. They meet regularly at a house belonging to Violetta's dancer friend, keeping the affair a secret from Morse's partner and mentor, Fred Thursday. This secrecy adds to the tension between Morse and Thursday.

Carl Sturgiss And His (Alleged) Murders

Molly Andrews' lifeless body is discovered near a canal on New Year's Day, her neck cruelly broken. This unexpected death forces Morse to cut short his trip to Venice and return to England to unravel the mystery. Tensions rise immediately as Morse and Thursday engage in a heated argument over the case, prompted by Police Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright's suggestion that Morse review the evidence, a step Thursday deems unnecessary. Among the key suspects is Molly's boyfriend, Carl Sturgiss, passionately believed by Fred to be the culprit, though Morse remains unconvinced.

In the third episode of Endeavour season 7, the body of Bridget Mulcahy is found in the canal, mirroring Molly's tragic fate with a broken neck. Since Carl had a connection with Bridget, Fred and Morse promptly arrest and charge him for the deaths of both women. However, Carl's release becomes inevitable when the police stumble upon another body in the canal while questioning him at the station. With no fresh leads, Morse is driven to consider the possibility that these deaths might be the result of a string of bizarre accidents.

Fred And Morse Butt Heads

Both Morse and Fred constantly clash with each other due to their egos, arrogance, and superiority complexes. They completely disregard each other's theories and get extremely frustrated when proven wrong. For instance, Morse suspects Ludo's involvement in the murders based on journalist Dorothea Frazil's findings, which Fred dismisses entirely, angering Morse. Similarly, Thursday is equally frustrated when Superintendent Bright allows Morse to re-examine evidence because he firmly believes that Carl is the killer.

Furthermore, Fred becomes even more upset when the police are forced to release Carl, feeling "proven wrong." Morse reminds Fred that he is there to keep him on track, not just agree with him. Morse theorizes that not only are the bodies with broken necks found under the canal the result of a series of "freak accidents," but also that Carrie, Superintendent Bright's wife who was in remission from lung cancer, was a victim of these "freak accidents." This infuriates Fred and severely damages their relationship.

Ludo's Insurance Scheme

In the finale of Endeavour season 7, it is revealed that both Morse and Fred were correct. Ludo had devised a criminal scheme involving the purchase of people's life insurance policies, followed by orchestrating their deaths to appear as accidents. By doing so, he and Violetta could claim the insurance payout. It is unveiled that Carl was indeed the one responsible for the murders of Molly and Bridget, but they also fell victim to Ludo's life insurance scheme. Ludo was even accountable for the death of Carrie, whom he deceived by posing as a spiritual healer. After acquiring her life insurance policy, he intentionally tampered with her Christmas lights, resulting in a fatal electrocution.

With all the evidence connecting these deaths to Ludo, Endeavour ensures that Fred receives the findings, alongside a letter in which Morse apologizes for his actions and takes responsibility for their fallout. Upon reading the letter, Fred immediately travels to Venice to assist Morse. In a confrontation at a cemetery, Morse confronts Ludo, leading to the shooting of Violetta in an attempt to flee. Fortunately, Fred arrives just in time to shoot Ludo, preventing his escape. However, it is too late to save Violetta. In her final moments, she confesses her genuine love for Morse, leaving him devastated as Endeavour season 7 concludes.