Foyle's War

Usually when I talk about a TV series, I've seen it through, but today is an exception.

Today we're talking about Foyle's War.

Foyle's War is a crime drama set mostly during World War II in the south of England, mainly in Hastings. The last two seasons are set post 1945 in the early Cold War.

The show was commissioned by ITV and started in 2002 in order to fill the vacancy after Inspector Morse ended in 2000. It's written by Anthony Horowitz, the brain and pen behind Midsumer Murders, so that's some serious mystery chops right there.

As of writing this, I've seen series 1 and two episodes of series 2. Each episode is about 90 – 100 minutes long, so it's really more of a series of interconnecting movies than a regular TV show. This of course demands a lot more time from the viewer, but it allows the plots to develop more, which is important.

The titular character Christopher Foyle is a soft spoken, and doggedly determined Detective Chief Superintendent of the police. He's usually assisted by Sergeant Paul Milner and his driver Samantha “Sam” Stewart seconded from the Mechanised Transport Corps, as Foyle can't drive. Another regular character is Foyle's son, Andrew, a pilot in the RAF.

As far as I've seen, each episode consists of a main mystery and a couple of side plots, and usually they all connect somehow. A small incidental happening can be the key to solving a major crime, and so far I'm very impressed with the writing, it really is first class.

So what separates this show from the myriad of other British crime dramas is obviously the war. The production values are amazing with uniforms, clothes, everyday props, vehicles even Spitfires everywhere.

Plot wise, the war has an immense impact. From the evacuation of Dunkirk and bombings to rationing and black-market racketeering you feel the conflict in every episode, but in such a way as to make it natural and not forced. The script shows it doesn't tell. Again, first class work.

So what are the negatives? Well, there aren't that many to be honest. The pacing can be a bit slow at times, and some events are pretty predictable. Like in one episode, Sam is undercover, and despite being ordered to safety she sticks with it, but gets into a bit of trouble. Things like that. Due to the grim nature of the war, some scenes can be hard to watch, but this is British television, not a Hollywood gore fest, so not to worry.

Finally, if you have a good memory for faces like me, keep IMDB handy. Like many British TV productions, you'll find familiar faces everywhere, and if I couldn't look them up they'd have to lock me up. This seems to be one of those shows everyone has been in at one point or another.

If you want to give it a go, you can catch it on Netflix.

That's me done for this time, join me again next Monday and have yourself a great week!