Shaun Evans plays Morse with his own style, never once did i think he was doing an impersonation of John Thaw, but little inferences in his performance payed due homage to John and also gave us definition and clarity to Morse the human being.
Strongly supported by a great cast, we even see Morse giving his future Jaguar MK II a glance over.
I wasn't prepared to be so overcome with emotion when we see John Thaw's reflection in a mirror near the end, but it summed up how i felt about this prequel, it reflected the things i love about Morse as a whole, Oxford, Morse character, the music, the whole essence.
I'm pleased the makers didn't fall into the trap of trying too hard to copy and repeat things, instead we get a prequel that could run and run, but also a fitting tribute to a much loved and much missed character.