Release OrderRecommended
0 / 3 watchedBroadcast order, as audiences met the three detectives.
- 1 Inspector Morse 33 feature-length cases, 1987 to 2000.
- 2 Lewis 33 episodes, 2006 to 2015. The sequel.
- 3 Endeavour 36 episodes, 2012 to 2023. The prequel.
Chronological Order
0 / 3 watchedStory order: the prequel first, then the classic run, then the sequel.
- 1 Endeavour Young Morse in the 1960s onward.
- 2 Inspector Morse Morse at his peak, 1980s to 2000.
- 3 Lewis Lewis carrying on after Morse.
About Inspector Morse
Oxford's detectives come in three eras that form one life backwards and forwards. Inspector Morse (1987 to 2000) pairs John Thaw's crossword-loving inspector with Lewis across 33 feature-length cases. Lewis (2006 to 2015) promotes the sergeant to inspector with his own sergeant Hathaway. Endeavour (2012 to 2023) rewinds to the young Morse in the 1960s.
Broadcast order works, but the intended experience is Endeavour first as the prequel, then Morse, then Lewis: the prequel plants origins that pay off decades later in story time. Either order is defensible, so this guide gives both. All three run at feature length per episode, so pace yourself rather than binging.
Good to know
Endeavour was designed with the ending of Morse in mind, and its finale lands hardest if you know where the older Morse ends up. Lewis stands the most alone of the three and works as an entry point on its own. Episode counts confuse streamers: 33 Morse films, 33 Lewis episodes, 36 Endeavour episodes. The 2023 Endeavour finale closed all three strands, and no further series has been announced.
