Well, I'm not sure if Joan was mentioned, but the woman he was engaged to was named Susan. I know this , as I belong to MovieChat and it was discussed there:_

The moment she referred to "Susan" I remembered that terrible tragic "Morse" episode in which he has to investigate Susan's husband's death--and that he'd been engaged to the Susan the widow. Played so perfectly by Emilia Fox's real life mother, Joanna David, as well. A Susan Fallon.

@merryapril said:

I've seen all of the Inspector Morse episodes in the past but I'm admittedly not an expert when it comes to some details. So I'm wondering if Joan Thursday was ever mentioned or alluded to in the original series? I seem to recall some sort of unrequited romance in Morse's past but can't remember much else about the relationship. I'm not sure but wasn't there a long lost love who had either died or married someone else? I also have a faint recollection of a woman named Susan who was of some significance in his life but I could be wrong about the name...

Anyway, if anyone is more familiar than I am about Morse canon/background and can answer, I'd appreciate it!

I've already answered some of your questions here on the "Inspector Morse" message board.

It might be interesting to see if any new love interests pop up in the next series, instead of only Joan.

Thanks for the replies and for refreshing my memory, wonder2wonder and lennonforever!

The romantic plot trajectory seems to be laying the groundwork of female trouble that shaped the older Morse and helps to explain his bachelorhood and cynicism. Endeavor has unrequited feelings for Joan, who suffers from "Daddy Issues" which make him, as a fellow cop, less attractive. Plus, Joan is much more in the groove of the Swinging 60's than Endeavor. And while he's able to take advantage of the carefree approach to sex, he's nevertheless bemused by it all. Less serious young men would be happy about such blithe attitudes, but Endeavor seemed caught off guard by the French photographer Claudine's emotional detachment. Women are more puzzling than crosswords.

IMO the writers are doing a very good job of character development. More and more, I can see how Morse ended up the way he was.

I wish they had continued on with Endeavour's relationship with Nurse Monica Hicks .

@bratface said:

I wish they had continued on with Endeavour's relationship with Nurse Monica Hicks .

She was a very nice girl, but probably too boring for him. Claudine was exciting and vivacious. Joan, "just right" as in Three Bears!! LOL. My heart does ache for him because we know he will not find true happiness with anyone, for very long. The last scene in "Icarus" I won't spoil, but it is so maddening!!

IMO that last scene was manipulative!!! Something similar was done in another season finale, again featuring Joan and Morse. It's almost as though the writer thinks he has to dangle their potential romance to keep women viewers interested! For some reason, the continued tension between the two makes me suspect Joan is destined to come to a bad/sorrowful end.

@wonder2wonder said:

It might be interesting to see if any new love interests pop up in the next series, instead of only Joan.

In an episode of the season before last, I really liked Thursday's beautiful blonde niece https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1078568-emma-rigby?language=en-US, Carol, who Endeavour hooked up with while she was visiting. I was sure that the one-night stand with Carol would somehow be found out by one or more of the Thursdays, and was surprised that it never was.

By the way, while you're all here, a question: https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/44264-endeavour/discuss/5d1de8f794d8a820fb3db5c3