Foyle's War: Series 2

Starring:Jonah Lotan
Studio: Acorn Media
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
The critically acclaimed PBS series that weaves mystery with real historical events returns with four stories set in September and October 1940. Winner of the Audience Award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 2003, the series stars Michael Kitchen (Proof of Life) as quietly enigmatic detective Christopher Foyle whose territory on the south coast of England is rocked by the chaos and danger of World War II.

Also starring Anthony Howell, Honeysuckle Weeks, Julian Ovenden, and featuring Nicholas Farrell, Alan Howard, Corin Redgrave, and Amanda Root.
The Mysteries:
Fifty Ships--Foyle's determined investigation of a body on a deserted beach puts at risk the donation of American Aid and the crucial start of Lend-Lease in the war.
Among the Few--Pilots and their girlfriends live fast and die young in a story of greed and passion where Foyle finds appearances are deceptive.
War Games--Divided loyalties lead to revenge and murder when a businessman puts profits before principles in a secret pact with the Nazis.
The Funk Hole--Foyle finds himself accused of a serious offense, which complicates his hunt for a ruthless murderer at a sinister hotel.

Description

The critically acclaimed PBS series that weaves mystery with real historical events returns with four stories set in September and October 1940. Winner of the Audience Award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 2003, the series stars Michael Kitchen (Proof of Life) as quietly enigmatic detective Christopher Foyle whose territory on the south coast of England is rocked by the chaos and danger of World War II.

Customer Reviews:

foyle's war.......2007-03-20

The British are the only ones that can really do mystery. They give us credit for having brains to try to figure out the villain. American writers,I feel, don't think that we can follow a plot. They feel that they need to give us the plot in advance.

The series is marvelous. Michael Kitchen is superb as well as the rest of the cast. Very well done. Thank you Britain.

"If I'm to do my job, how can I let you leave?" So Foyle asks a friend who broke the law for the supposed wartime greater good........2007-02-15

Once again we have Detective Chief Superintendent seems to be looting valuables whence responders arrive to clean up messes created by German bombs. A high profile visitor soon arrives in town and not long after a murder takes place. Are the two stories connected? Such is the style of most Foyle dramas; usually more than one story line if drawn out for us viewers per episode. Sometimes the story lines eventually converge, but more often than not, they play out on separate planes. The viewer thus often has a doubly hard time trying to figure out which of the 2 (or more) threads of happenings is the one that is connected to the murder that Foyle is trying to tackle. So, it's not just who dunnit, but which story engendered murder and which dead-ends with simple (in comparison) robbery, adultery, blackmail, non leathal back-stabbing, or whatever. Then you have to choose from several possible suspects as to who was responsible for the vilest deed. In "50 Ships," in particular at least 2 characters not involved in murder ultimately are arrested for other crimes. Likewise, in the episode "Among the Few," 4 characters not including the murderer are ultimately arrested for various crimes and misdemeanors. To complicate things even further, many murders during Foyle's War episodes do not necessarily occur in the first 10-30 minutes of these 95-100 minute long programes. In one episode herein the sole murder (some episodes have several too, to further complicate your guessing odds) doesn't occur until 50 minutes into the episode.

My advice thus is not to overly focus on actively trying to solve these tough-to-crack mysteries. Notwithstanding the "Columbo" series being a totally different style of show, Foyle's War shares a number of similarities with Peter Falk's famed detective: the who-did-it is not the most interesting part of the show, but watching the very deliberate and understated dectective go about his job. I particularly relish Columbo's speech manners and the way he draws things out as if they were salt water taffy as he hems and haws, pauses, retreats, etc. Michael Kitchen's Foyle, albeit in his own unique way, is entertaining just to watch as well. He is a man of few words, but very communicative with his demeanor, facial expressions, and the like. A hostile possible suspect verbally lambasts Foyle in one episode, for instance, while Foyle looks into this man's eyes watching him vent. When the man finishes, Foyle begins to pass the man on his way out. The man comes after Foyle trying to add a coda to his venting and when doing so attempts to grab hold of Foyle's arm. Foyle simply continues on his way and half over his shoulder, simply says to a uniformed officer behind him, "arrest this man." In another episode a person asks how Foyle knew something that would be hard to know and came to the conclusion that he did. To which Foyle responds, a picture in his hand, and a knowing expression on his expressive face: "I found this in her diary. I found the diary under her pillow." Maybe I'm just a glutton for language precisely employed, language--bereft of unneeded words---delivered with style. Cheers

Foyle's War Edition 2.......2007-01-11

This is a typical British TV production where more care is given to nuanced acting than pretty faces. If you are looking for gory murders or chase scenes - forget it. If you are looking for characterizations that make the actors seem like your family, then this is the series to watch. Intelligence supercedes brawn.

Great time piece mystery.......2006-11-06

Foyle's War Is a great series set in England during world war II. Each episode is a well written, well played mystery that keeps your attention from beginning to end. Each episode also gives the viewer a feel for what it was like to live in the time and place, the fear and the constant mistrust. These shows show the English home front fighting the war on home turf. Well worth the time and cost.

Excellent period piece from England's 1940s.......2006-08-28

Other reviewers have more detailed accounts of why this excellent series is receiving such acclaim, but I wanted to add my two cents briefly. If you enjoy the high quality productions that offers, and if you like brooding detectives solving various mysteries, usually homicides, and if you love anything set in England in the 1940s, then you couldn't ask for a better series than Foyle's War.

The sets are very accurate to the times, the scripts are very tight and although the episodes have that typically English leisurely pace about them, they do not languish. It is a perfect combination of action, dialogue and unspoken depth provided by a seasoned lead man and a fantastic supporting cast. Well worth five stars.

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