The TV-Series ‘Foyle’s War’

By | July 16, 2024

[July 16, 2024]  Pulling the operating rod handle back, I inspected the chamber of my American-made M1 Garand Rifle, a rifle used during World War II.  While cleaning the rifle, my wife watched a British detective television series called Foyle’s War.  Recently, she got me interested in the series, too.  I think it might be my affinity for WWII movies.

This article is not a television series review, as I wouldn’t say I like watching television much.  But, as I’ve slowed down a bit, pushing hard against creeping arthritis in my joints and old injuries coming back to haunt me, I find myself more sedentary.  I did watch a few episodes with my wife to see why she was so enthralled with this WWII Home Front series.

Foyle’s War is about DCS Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen), a quiet, organized, sensible, scrupulously honest detective and frequently underestimated by his foes.  His cases involve profiteering, the black market, and murder, as he is called upon to catch criminals who are taking advantage of the chaos created by the war.  That is interesting because it describes the highly-regarded qualities of one particular type of highly successful leader.

Furthermore, Foyle regularly comes up against high-ranking British Army or Intelligence services who would rather he mind his own business.  Of course, a running theme in this series is that Foyle seeks justice tenaciously.  He is assisted by his driver “Sam” Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks) and DS Milner (Anthony Howell), each adding an element of support to Foyle’s personality.  This story is a spinoff of ancient stories, much like the underdog themes often found in contemporary American stories.

As I understand from reviews of the series, the screenwriter Anthony Horowitz – notable for his attention to historical detail – became more interested in the “murder mystery” format than the portrayal of history.  The show suffered because of this decision, and the introduction of “Woke” in the last two of eight series.

However, I was attracted to the show by the historical recreation of old Britain during WWII and Foyle himself as a stoic man.

That is something I have going for me in my old age.

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Author: Douglas R. Satterfield

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12 thoughts on “The TV-Series ‘Foyle’s War’

  1. The Toad

    Foyle’s War is a British detective drama television series set during and shortly after the Second World War, created by Midsomer Murders screenwriter and author Anthony Horowitz and commissioned by ITV after the long-running series Inspector Morse ended in 2000. It began broadcasting on ITV in October 2002. ITV director of programmes Simon Shaps cancelled Foyle’s War in 2007, but Peter Fincham (Shaps’ replacement) revived the programme after good ratings for 2008’s fifth series.[1][2] The final episode was broadcast on 18 January 2015, after eight series.[3]
    From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foyle%27s_War

    Reply
    1. Saul McPherson

      👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 I saw the first two years of the series a few months ago and really liked it.

      Reply
  2. Bryan Z. Lee

    Thanks you, Sir, for the short review. I’ll start watching tonight after I get home from work.

    Reply
    1. Bernie

      Right, Foyle, played by the truly magnificent Michael Kitchen, conveys more in a single twitch of an eyebrow than a dozen other actors could in an hour of shouting and gesticulation

      Reply
  3. Gail Hamilton

    Hi Gen. Satterfield. I started watching British television shows about three years ago in the middle of the covid “fake” crisis. And now I’m hooked. Foyle’s War was one of the first. I highly recommend it. And you’re right, the last two seasons are poorly written, but the acting is still good.

    Reply
  4. Vanguard

    Thanks for the short review, Gen. Satterfield. A nice departure from the craziness of the presidential campaign and the lying by Joe Biden and his ilk.

    Reply
    1. MrJohn

      Yeah, we all know that Biden is descending into dementia. It is obvious to all folks who are sane. And now that his SS failed to protect Donald Trump, things are starting to fall apart for him and like a dementia patient, Biden is lashing out. “Firefighter Corey Comperatore’s widow refused Biden call after Trump rally shooting: ‘Didn’t want to talk to him’”
      https://nypost.com/2024/07/15/us-news/corey-comperatores-widow-refused-biden-call-after-trump-rally-shooting/
      This article is about the widow of the firefighter who was killed by the assassin bullet meant for Trump and she rightly rejected a call from Biden (which I’m surprised he made the call).

      Reply
        1. Tom Bushmaster

          Melo and BIg Al, you guys are nuts. Ha Ha Ha, saying that in a friendly way. I was laughing the whole time I was reading your comments. Thanks for making my day. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

          Reply

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