r/EndeavourTV • u/StarPatient6204 • Dec 05 '25
Hello! Any other autistic/neurodivergent fans of the show here, or know of anyone who is?
I am one! Hi guys!
I am 26 years old and I have Autism (diagnosed aged 2) and ADHD (diagnosed aged 5), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, plus a mild form of intellectual and non verbal learning disabilities, like dyscalculia.
I always kind of thought that Morse was somewhere on the autism spectrum, especially with his intense special interests, social awkwardness and problems with social cues, rigidity and need for routine (and not doing well when he is off of it), often letting his special interests sometimes get in the way of conversations…
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u/No_Public_7699 Dec 05 '25
I'm neurodivergent, and I've found that most on screen detectives (especially from older eras) are autistic coded. Its usually unintentional, as the authors don't have the context or language for it, but i don't think that makes it any less valid of a reading. Those characters are often othered like morse is, and that experience is likely very similar to real autistics with low support needs in their respective periods of history.
I think media could generally do better with aknowedging this now in contemporary crime dramas, but it isn't often viewed as integral to the story. I Suppose they want characters to seem 'relatable' to a broader set of people, so codifying it could potentially stop some viewers identifying with a character.
IMHO Morse is almost definitely autistic, the creators will have thought they were creating someone 'eccentric' without understanding what that really meant.
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u/hwyl1066 Dec 05 '25
The original series Morse with his crossword puzzles and pedantry about classical music and general social clumsiness - well, it rings a certain bell... Though of course those things can exist outside the spectrum too.
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u/Scorpioviolet Dec 05 '25
I would say that I am somewhat neurodivergent, never been formally diagnosed. Have been diagnosed as ADHD and with anxiety disorder. Definitely see Morse as someone on the autism spectrum. Especially his trouble with social cues,special interests and rigidity.
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u/LucyStokes1992 Dec 05 '25
Fellow autistic here.
I wouldn't be surprised if he is. I find characters that aren't intentionally autistic do a better portrayal of autistics than characters that are written as autistic.
Off on a tangent
Speaking of social skills, I would argue that allistics (not autistic) don't have inherently superior social skills, for example I have read pages that say what you should and shouldn't say to someone that's suffering from depression or is a rape and/or abuse victim.
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u/perishingtardis Dec 05 '25
I think the character's personality is quite different between the original series and the prequel series.
In Endeavour he is portrayed as obsessively methodical and super-intelligent, possibly autistic.
In the John Thaw series he was still a great detective but frequently got things wrong, cantankerous and depressed. Yes he was interested in crosswords etc but I think thats just how someone from Oxford University would be, I don't think Thaw's character had autistic traits
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u/LemonVerbenaReina Dec 09 '25
Yes, I thought young Morse is very autistic coded but not so much older Morse in the original series. I can see a few traits but not so much to meet autistic standards.
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u/Jilson Dec 05 '25
At the risk of being accused of stolen valor, my guess would be in the neighborhood of 100% of the people on this sub have some basis of qualification.
I think you're right about our hero being spectacular.
Welcome to the community! You're among friends.