Foyle’s War is a crime drama which premiered on British television (itv) in 2002. The series, which ran for eight seasons, ended in 2015.
The story is set during and shortly after World War II. Most episodes take place in Hastings in the south of England - famous as the site of the Norman Conquest in 1066 - but sometimes other locations are used, for instance London.
The drama is named after the main character Christopher Foyle (played by Michael Kitchen). During the war, his official title is Detective Chief Superintendent. But when he presents himself, he usually just says:
“My name is Foyle. I’m a police officer.”
He is a modest man. When the war in Europe ends in May 1945, he retires, but he is still involved with some investigations.
In season seven, he starts to work for British intelligence, MI5.
Samantha “Sam” Stewart (played by Honeysuckle Weeks) serves as his driver during the war.
When Foyle retires, she tries to find a new job and a new life. When Foyle starts to work for MI5, she becomes his assistant.
Paul Milner (played by Anthony Howell) serves as a Detective Sergeant under Foyle during the war. After the war he is promoted to Detective Inspector in Brighton.
This is an outstanding drama.
Why?
I have three reasons:
(1) It is entertaining
(2) It is a challenge: can you figure out who is guilty and who is innocent before the truth is revealed?
(3) It is educational, because it shows the basic facts of life in the UK during and after World War II
Most episodes begin with several story lines. At first the viewer does not know how they are connected with each other. Eventually one of the story lines, perhaps even two, will lead to a crime, or two crimes, which Foyle and his team will have to investigate.
The crimes committed are often based on or inspired by real historical events. Historical accuracy is an important element of the project, although there are a few cases, where historical accuracy has been violated.
To give just one example: in the episode titled “Bad Blood,” set in 1942, streptomycin is used to cure a patient, but this drug was not developed until 1943.
There is an internal inconsistency regarding Foyle’s family:
Foyle is a widower. In one episode, he visits the cemetery where his wife is buried. According to the tombstone, she was born in 1902 and died in 1932. So far, so good.
Foyle has a son whose name is Andrew (played by Julian Ovenden). In one episode, Andrew says he was only eight years old when his mother died. If this is true, he was born in 1924. But this cannot be true, because it does not fit the general story line:
In 1940, when the story line begins, he is 20 years old. He has finished school; when the war begins in 1939, he is studying at university. He joins up and is in training to become a pilot. In other words:
He was born in 1920, when his mother was 18, and he was 12 in 1932, when his mother died.
If he was born in 1924, he was only 16 in 1940. He would be too young to study at university and too young to join the war effort as a pilot!
Foyle’s War is created by Anthony Horowitz who is also the author or the co-author of most episodes.
All episodes are well written and all actors play their roles very well. Each episode is a self-contained story which runs for more than 90 minutes, but at the same time there is long arch, a long-term development, rolling from one season to the next, rolling from the beginning of the war to the end of the war, and beyond.
War brings out the best and the worst in people. On the home front, war creates a series of new crimes, such as stealing food and petrol, known as racketeering.
During the war, many government institutions are shrouded in secrecy. Many people are not allowed to talk to outsiders about their jobs.
Some of them may use the high level of secrecy to commit a crime or to protect a person who has committed a crime, because this person is considered essential for the war effort.
When Foyle tries to investigate crimes committed on the home front, he is often rebuffed by people in high places. But he does not back down.
The more someone tries to keep him out, the more he will try to find out what goes on behind closed doors. His argument is something like this:
“Victims of theft and murder deserve justice, even though we are in the middle of a war. If crimes like theft and murder are allowed to take place, we are no better than the enemy.”
The end of the war in 1945 does not mean the end of crime; only new types of crimes. There is still work to do for Foyle. The Cold War between East and West is beginning, although no character used this term.
Each episode raises questions about legality and morality. What does the law say? And what is the right thing to do?
One reason for the high quality of this drama is the British understatement, as opposed to a typical US action drama, where there can be shooting and fighting all the time.
In most cases, Foyle’s War is not hectic. The pace is slow, but still intense. Since each episode runs for more than 90 minutes, there is time for reflection and time for a moment when no one says anything.
Foyle does not talk much, but he listens carefully to what other people say and he observes every detail around him. When he talks, his lines are usually short and clear.
He is a person of authority, not because he can beat somebody up, but because of his honesty, his integrity, and his sharp mind.
While the crimes are serious, there is also room for a bit of humour from time to time. The funny situations are often created by or connected with Sam, whose character is quite different from that of Foyle. The two characters complement each other very well.
What do reviewers say about this drama?
Here are some results:
On IMDb it has a rating of 86 percent.
On Rotten Tomatoes, each season has a separate rating. The figures are not the same, but they are always high. More than 90 percent. Sometimes 100 percent.
On Amazon, each season has a separate rating. The figures are not the same, but they are always high. More than four stars. Sometimes five stars.
I understand the numerous positive reviews. I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of five stars (100 percent).
PS # 1. Anthony Horowitz – the creator of Foyle’s War - has also written a book about the famous detective Sherlock Holmes:
The House of Silk
(Hardcover 2011)
(Paperback 2012)
PS # 2. For some background information about the drama, see the following item:
The Real History behind Foyle’s War
By Rod Green
(First edition 2006)
(Second edition 2010)
*****
Foyle's War
A crime drama
On British television
Eight seasons, 28 episodes
(2002-2015)
*****
No comments:
Post a Comment