Foyle's War – reviews of 'intriguing' new series
Long-running detective drama returns with more complex, shadowy tales from post-war era
What you need to know
A new series of the long-running British detective drama Foyle's War is screening on ITV. The series, created by screenwriter and author Anthony Horowitz, focuses on police detective Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) who investigates crimes related to the events of the Second World War and its aftermath.
The current run sees Foyle working for British Intelligence and investigating a series of post-war crimes. In Episode 1 Foyle was called on to solve a murder related to business deals between the US and German firms implicated in Nazi war crimes and the Nuremberg trials, while other episodes deal with post-war espionage.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The series co-stars Honeysuckle Weeks as Foyle's assistant Samantha. Episode 1 is available on the ITV Player. Episode 2 screens 11 January.
What the critics like
Foyle's War is back and is "still as exciting as ever", says Terry Ramsey in the Daily Telegraph. In fact it's better now there is no war, as the shifting currents of the post-conflict era, and of Foyle's own position, make it a more intriguing, shadowy and complex series than before.
"Horowitz has imbued Foyle's War with longevity by anchoring it among some lesser-known and frequently shameful occurrences in the margins of WWII," says Adam Sweeting on the Arts Desk. The series opener, drawing on historical events involving unscrupulous US oil barons and German industrialists, is the kind of story that could have been used in a big-budget movie and Kitchen's performance is as deft and detailed as ever.
This story, exploring the moral limits of realism, has its background in the real trial in Nuremberg of executives from the German chemical company IG Farben who manufactured the gas used in gas chambers, and "Horowitz's treatment does not cheapen it", says Andrew Billen in The Times. As always Kitchen's tortoise-like performance is a pleasure.
What they don't like
Foyle is now being filmed in Liverpool (instead of Hastings), but using it as a stand-in location for London just doesn't work and damages our suspension of disbelief, says Adam Sweeting on the Arts Desk. "Let's hope we haven't passed what we might call Peak Foyle."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Breathtaking: the Covid drama that may make you scream
The Week Recommends ITV three-parter is a 'tour de force' that exposes 'political complacency'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Westbury Hotel review: stunning suites in charming Dublin
The Week Recommends This hotel is the perfect spot to while away a weekend in Ireland's capital
By Kaye O'Doherty Published
-
Drama movies 2024: new films out this year
In Depth Latest reviews include The Boys in the Boat, One Life and Tchaikovsky's Wife
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Best new hotels and places to stay in 2024
The Week Recommends Featuring stylish island resorts, historical properties and wilderness retreats
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Albums of the year: best music of 2023
The Week Recommends A look back at the best pop, rap, jazz, dance, classical and rock releases
By The Week UK Published
-
Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay review: an institution reinvented
The Week Recommends Traditions are maintained and the tweaks are clever and modern
By Neil Davey Published
-
Tulum: a Mexican beach town of 'two halves'
The Week Recommends With the 'pueblo' and 'Zona Hotelera', Tulum is home to great hotels, restaurants and beach clubs
By William Leigh Published
-
La Zebra review: beach chic, perfect tacos and secret cenotes
The Week Recommends Enjoy a stylish stay in Mexico at this family-friendly beach hotel and restaurant
By William Leigh Published