PBS stations, like KVIE (Sacramento/Stockton), KQED (San Francisco), and KVPT (Fresno), provide viewers with a variety of programs including some of the most iconic mysteries and crime dramas. There’s VERA, Death in Paradise, Annika, Grantchester, Father Brown, Shakespeare & Hathaway, and so much more, including Endeavour, the popular prequel to the iconic Inspector Morse series.
Inspector Morse concluded its run in 2000, but not its popularity. “What will the next invasion bring?” Two spin-off dramas crossed to our shores providing a positive nod to the original, yet unique enough to become favorites among the “Morse” fans.
Paul Revere wouldn’t have been so worried had the British crossing to our shores been an army of detective dramas. He would have foregone his ride through the countryside, put on a pot of black-market tea and sat and enjoyed the invasion. He would have noticed a diversity in the era, setting and style of the lead detective and supporting team, but would have recognized that the programs shared the English twang, unique locations and intriguing characters. Paul would have become a convert!
Since it aired on our local PBS station, we've enjoyed the Masterpiece Mystery Endeavour crime drama series. A prequel to the Inspector Morse series, also set in Oxford, the series focuses on the detective’s early career and is based on the Colin Dexter novels.
