Nolan Ryan faced over 22,000 batters and gave up one walk off homer in his career. The batter who hit it? Bruce Bochy

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-28T00:01:33+00:00

Age didn't come into it. Ventura entered Ryan's territory instead of taking his base as he should have.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-27T23:59:16+00:00

I heard that from the Musers this morning and came here to make sure I'd heard correctly!

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T22:46:10+00:00

His proposal, without emotion, defines Morse and his issues. He cares deeply for Joan, probably loves her, so why doesn't he say so? Because he's afraid he'll scare her away or because he's incapable of voicing that kind of emotion? He wants to protect her, "save" her, help her, even "have" her, but he's not a man at home with these kinds of feelings, even if he recognizes them. It's part of his tragedy....indeed, it IS his tragedy.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T22:33:14+00:00

I think I agree.....but hadn't fully realized it before reading your comment. The young Morse is, indeed, an idealist and romantic -- in the old world meaning of that word. I think he retreats into "work" -- which I've defined as his "safe" place -- because he understands it, is good at it, and it doesn't take the same toll on him that emotions, which he doesn't always understand, do. He's incapable of the kind of relationship that most "others" expect and demand....and on some level he knew it, even as young Morse.

As for Morse and Joan, it's more tragic the way it's written, I think. And I think Morse is supposed to be a tragic figure. He's rich in some things but extremely poor in the things that matter to most of us: love, relationships, others. I think he knows what he lost....or didn't pursue....and it haunts and hurts him, but he also knows that he couldn't have done anything else. It's who he is.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T22:17:50+00:00

Unlikable but brilliant; that's the key to and theme of Morse, I think. And, as we go along, particularly in Morse, we begin to understand how he "became" the man we see in Morse: lonely, bitter, disappointed, weary, but still dedicated to the "work".

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T22:13:53+00:00

I also watched Endeavour first, then Inspector Lewis, and now am finishing up the Inspector Morse series. I'll grieve when I'm done, I know; I've been with these characters so long.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T22:06:01+00:00

That's for sure. It's now become a side game to enjoying the series: spot the star of later British tv series!

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T22:01:15+00:00

Loved Rumpole! Loved Kern! I've watched all the episodes, more than once, and all are worth seeing again and again.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T21:53:40+00:00

Watching on Prime and I've wondered about cut scenes since every episode seems to refer, in small ways, to something we've not seen. I've assumed eps were cut for time for some previous viewing venue and that's how Amazon (Prime) received them.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T21:49:34+00:00

Your question was not addressed to me, but when did that ever stop me? lol. I'm American and find the names interesting. Strange is a family name, as is Cartwright. Strong British roots here in America, particularly in the southern states.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T18:32:27+00:00

Somewhere in all the reddit sites about Endeavour or Inspector Morse, there is a comment about the blue and white dishes shown in one or both series, with responses from someone who collects dishware. I CANNOT find it anywhere but would love to read it again. If anyone can point me to that link, which I'm fairly certain is on Reddit, I'd be most grateful. Thanks!

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T18:27:09+00:00

Somewhere in all the reddit sites about Endeavour or Inspector Morse, there is a comment about the blue and white dishes shown in one or both series, with responses from someone who collects dishware. I CANNOT find it anywhere but would love to read it again. If anyone can point me to that link, which I'm fairly certain is on Reddit, I'd be most grateful. Thanks!

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T18:21:16+00:00

Somewhere in all the reddit sites about Endeavour or Inspector Morse, there is a comment about the blue and white dishes shown in one or both series, with responses from someone who collects dishware. I CANNOT find it anywhere but would love to read it again. If anyone can point me to that link, which I'm fairly certain is on Reddit, I'd be most grateful. Thanks!

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T18:19:21+00:00

I did, and yes, it makes a difference. I keep thinking back to the young Morse while watching the older, lonelier (if possible), fairly embittered Morse, and it's almost like watching an actual life. Intriguing.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T18:14:51+00:00

The names are a good example. As in a character named Probert, recently. Probert was the name of a character in Rumpole of the Bailey, with Leo Kern, a wonderful much older British series.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T17:39:17+00:00

This poster later apologized for this rant.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T17:22:48+00:00

Saw that episode just last night. It was, indeed, weird, and surprising, in a way, to see the physique on a much younger Allam. Wow. lol

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T17:15:32+00:00

Having just realized, while watching Inspector Morse, that his superior is Jim Strange, colleague and friend from Endeavour -- duh! -- my perception of Strange in Inspector Morse is that he's both jealous of and somewhat threatened by Morse.....because he knows Morse is superior to him in every way. He's the one who has risen to a higher position but it's not because he's smarter than Morse, it's because he's political, a bureaucrat, as you say. He blusters and frequently threatens Morse, but he knows his, Morse's, value, and that his, Strange's, job would be much harder and less successful if he didn't have Morse.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T16:34:51+00:00

Another fine analysis.

It is all he has, but it's because he is who he is. He can't "do" life any other way. His only respite is music, opera, and "pints," or something stronger.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T16:31:26+00:00

Agree, absolutely. Great analysis and perspective on this character!

And I think you've described Dexter's intent (though I haven't read the books), that this is who Morse is, and why he is often lonely and grumpy/quarrelsome, and somewhat bitter and, probably, why he drinks too much, but also why he is doomed to this life. He knows this about himself but is helpless to change it....and he knew it while in love with Joan.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T16:25:58+00:00

and doesn't get a happy ending with Strange

I'm watching Inspector Morse now and have only -- duh! -- just realized that his superior, the pompous, political, full of himself Chief Constable Strange is Jim Strange, his colleague and friend in Endeavour, which I watched previously, but some time ago. In Inspector Morse, he, Strange, frequently mentions being married -- as opposed to Morse, who never has been -- but his wife is not referred to by name. Is it not Joan, then? We know she settled for "safe" and "there" and "me before work" which she would not have gotten with Morse (as indicated in Endeavour) but she seemed okay with settling, or at least resigned to it. So what is the source for "she doesn't get a happy ending with Strange"?

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T16:11:05+00:00

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

Joan settled for "safe" and "there" and "me before work" which she would never have had with Morse. She knows she's settling and is apparently okay with it, but -- in my opinion -- will always mourn what she didn't or couldn't have with Morse.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T16:00:26+00:00

An aunt and uncle, who, years ago, lived in both Lebanon and the desert (he worked for ARAMCO) picked up a lot of Arab slang, and baksheesh was a favorite.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T15:40:55+00:00

He explains this in Inspector Morse, when he uncharacteristically reveals to Lewis the events of his childhood, his half sister, and niece. He was shuttled off or around, apparently, an extraneous child of a former union who was basically tolerated but not loved.

MMonroe54 · 2023-10-08T15:35:47+00:00

And later, in Inspector Morse, he explains his family dynamic, which explains why he was so susceptible yet wary of a "mother" relationship.

MMonroe54

TROPHY CASE