‘Endeavour’ Season 8 Episode 1 recap: What happened in ‘Striker’?

The eighth season of Endeavour began in the UK tonight!

ITV’s Inspector Morse prequel series is back with three brand new feature-length episodes, having been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Written by Endeavour creator Russell Lewis, Season 8 sees Shaun Evans reprise his role as DS Endeavour Morse, alongside Roger Allam as DCI Fred Thursday.

Also returning are Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones) as CS Reginald Bright, Sean Rigby (Gunpowder) as DS Jim Strange, James Bradshaw (Close to The Enemy) as Dr Max DeBryn, Abigail Thaw (I Want My Wife Back) as Dorothea Frazil, Caroline O’Neill (Last Tango In Halifax) as Win Thursday, and Sara Vickers (Watchmen) as Joan Thursday.

The year 1971 has just begun and any hope of light duties quickly vanishes as the team, still reeling from the events of the past year, are summoned to investigate the most challenging of cases so far.

Endeavour’s struggle with his inner demons reaches fever pitch, exacerbated by love, lost and guilt weighing on his mind. All the while, the team find themselves right back in the thick of it as crime in Oxford takes on a scale bigger than ever before.

Here’s a plot recap for ‘Striker’, which aired on ITV at 8pm on Sunday 12th September 2021:

It’s the start of 1971. Though wearied from the events of the past year, there’s no chance of ‘light duties’ at the CID – crestfallen and rarely without a scotch in-hand, Endeavour finds himself right back in the thick of it.

An explosive murder at an Oxford college has potentially far-reaching political ramifications.

Meanwhile, the IRA have made a threat against the life of the Oxford Wanderers’ star striker and Endeavour is tasked with the duty of acting bodyguard.

Endeavour is available to watch on Amazon Prime and if you’re not already a member you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here!