#and a disservice to morse to act like he doesn't know his own mind enough

[iloveyoudie]

thinking about how the true conflict between morse and the partners paired with him, is really how its FAMILY above all else. Its the same with Thursday as it will be with Lewis - a man with a family that he doesnt give as much attention as he should because of The Job - but also because of Morse’s needs. Now, Morse doesn’t think he has those needs, but everyone around him knows it. And it inevitably gets to the point where the family can’t be ignored anymore. And sorry for Morse - he isn’t their spouse or son or cousin. He’s truly a guy who wants to just work and work and work and be left alone until it’s not convenient for him to be. Everyone is going to prioritize their own son’s upset over him. Their wife’s. Their daughter’s. I dont think it’s a coincidence either that Thursday and Lewis have the same family set up (wife - one son - one daughter). These families are always made open to him but he will never ALLOW himself to be one of them they way he could be - and there will always be some reminder that he ISNT one of them. It takes him years to even be an active part of his own sister’s life (and mad props too for being a part of Gwen’s even into old age when he helps provide for her). TBH i think this is more familiar for a modern audience, especially us in specific generations who have gone the ‘chosen family’ route or just arent the types to settle down and get married and have kids. It’s just those options weren’t considered to be mainstream or standard, or even advice that anyone would think to give Morse - that its okay to pick your own family and no you dont have to get married actually. I think Morse hit a specific age where he HAS realized marriage isn’t for him and so he thinks hes a failure at Life Things and Milestones. I GENUINELY DONT THINK HE WANTS TO SETTLE DOWN. I dont for a second think he really wanted Joan at the point of the recent seasons. Her moving on is just a bittersweet punctuation on something he already knows and feels. That life isn’t for him. Maybe when he was younger he wanted it. Maybe 5 years ago. But now? No. He just hasn’t been given societal permission to feel that way.

I have some thoughts about how this carries through into s9 but since this isn’t a spoilery post I’ll either discuss that elsewhere or in another post.