Endeavour: The Evolution

Premiering Saturday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m.

Before “Inspector Morse,” there was the rookie Constable Morse, fed up with police work and ready to nip his career in the bud by handing in his resignation. That is until a murder turned up that only he could solve. Shaun Evans stars as the young Endeavour Morse, before his signature red Jaguar, but with his deductive powers already running in high gear.

“Endeavour” has captivated audiences with 30 nerve-wracking episodes on “Masterpiece Mystery.” Based on the characters of famed crime writer Colin Dexter, “Endeavour” is the third in a connected series of British detective dramas presented on “Masterpiece” over the past 35 years. In celebration of the popular detective’s 10th year on PBS,”Endeavour: The Evolution” provides a retrospective of the first seven seasons in advance of the Season 8 premiere.

In “Endeavour,” a prequel to “Inspector Morse” and “Inspector Lewis,” viewers begin to understand the depth and eccentricities of the cerebral and solitary Detective Constable Endeavour Morse. Through each successive season, as he works with his partner, Detective Chief Inspector Fred Thursday (Roger Allam), more about this unlikely pair’s evolution and complexities is revealed.

In addition to video clips from throughout the series history, the special includes behind-the-scenes features and interviews with the cast and creators. It also explores how DC Endeavour Morse and DI Fred Thursday have changed through the years. Sure to whet the appetites of longtime fans for Season 8 and entice new audiences to discover the series, “Endeavour: The Evolution” delves into the characters, themes and techniques that make “Endeavour” such a top-notch mystery.

Select this program when you support Arizona PBS and get the “Endeavour” season 1-8 on DVD and the Very Gorey Masterpiece Mystery mug!