MovieChat Forums > Foyle's War (2003) Discussion > The very Top of the Tree

The very Top of the Tree

posted 9 years ago by lilactime2014
20 replies | jump to latest

I have just finished the whole series of Foyle in a 10 day marathon and can honestly say it has been the most delightful series I have EVER seen. I have seen the whole cadre of British Crime thrillers and procedurals. Foyle caps the lot. I am so glad I missed the whole of it's broadcast run

Morse, Lewis, Endeavour, Cracker, Frost, Dalziel, Midsomer, Silent Witness, Banks, Prime Suspect, Whitechapel, Broadchurch, Mars / Ashes, Paradise, Marple in all it's guises (Joan Hickson is the best by far), Father Brown (ouch).

The ones I will admit to having never seen yet are Gently and Lynley.

The writing for Foyle was so consistently high, the acting was fantastic, the characters superb. Sam is just so gorgeously perfect, a Mary Poppins perfection. Spit-Spot sir, it's only a scratch, shall we move on..... I think I am in love with her and I so want to be Foyle, I want to master his economy of words. Give nothing away whilst getting as much information as you can all the time appearing to be sympathetic.

Looking back it was ludicrous that some here-today, gone-tomorrow executive cancelled it before it's time which hurried the series to the end of the war too soon, however the post-war series were equally fabulous.

I am in a quandary as I have no idea where to go now, maybe I shall start again with The German Woman and see how young Michael Kitchen looks

'tler

[–] caviar1234 9 years ago

I totally agree with you!! My only complaint is no more episodes will be made after Elise.

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[–] lilactime2014 9 years ago

I missed a few off that list, Jonathan Creek is one of my very favourites, up to the end of series 4 at any rate, the last series (5) was a desecration of the memory, even the return of the much missed Rik Mayall to the role of Gideon Pryke couldn't save it. Seen all of Judge John Deed, very good, though not a fan of Martin Shaw which is probably why I have avoided George Gently, though I will probably love it if I leap in. Hustle is marvellous, always loved it and watch it at least once a year in a marathon, last series was a bit meh, but overall superb. I watched the first six or so series of New Tricks, but felt it got a bit samey....

So what's left, I will investigate Cadfael, Murder in Suburbia, Scott and Bailey, Wexford...never heard of The Bletchley circle, must dig deeper, Kavanagh QC, of course how could I forget John Thaw.

Mrs. Lilac is listening to Rebus on audible, so it would make sense to give that a go too.

Where to start..... now the bar has been set even higher since watching the Marvellous Foyle. Thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated.

'tler

[–] caviar1234 9 years ago

I'd also like to recommand you Cracker, Murder in Mind and Crime Traveller, the latter two are also created by Anthony Horowitz. I'm now looking forward to his new drama New Blood.

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[–] vicboyd001-1 9 years ago

Agreed! Gently is good but better watch paint dry than Lynley,

[–] SrEditor 9 years ago

I, on the other hand, really enjoyed Lynley.

I don't think anything can ever top Foyle, but just to keep our lists as complete as possible, let's mention Ripper Street, Death in Paradise, Case Histories, Worriker Trilogy, Jack Irish, Jack Taylor, Line of Duty, Grantchester, Thorne, Chasing Shadows, and River.

From Australia: The Brokenwood Mysteries, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.

And from Italy: Zen.

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[–] SrEditor 9 years ago

Oh, yes! Forgot Wimsey!

Janet King is on my list to try.

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[–] SrEditor 9 years ago

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

I will have to check that out!

btw, I *loved* the Last Detective. I was so disappointed there weren't any more!

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[–] lilactime2014 9 years ago

I was so disappointed there weren't any more!

Ah, how many series could this have been said of? Some mid-Atlantic solution would be nice. Baby Bear's Porridge....Not too short - Not too long

Too many UK shows that show real promise get canned far too soon (Bletchley Circle), too many struggle to get a decent run, even when commissioned (Luther - 2 x 1 hour equals a series?). Even the brilliant Foyle's War got canned by the dumbest of dumb executives before being thankfully resurrected after a substantial gap and lost opportunities. Then you get great shows that get dicked about by schedulers trying to squeeze more sport in where they can (Shetland).

To be honest even if I quite like a show from America I find that 24 / 26 episodes is just too many to stretch the storylines over and weaker episodes, filler, if you will, can proliferate. 12 or 13 seems to be more common now and even that can get dull unless really top notch.

It's a balancing act where some UK series (Endeavour) seem to be over just as they get going and some US that drag on and on. 5 x 2hr slot seems to be about right for a UK series but we rarely get more than 3 x 2 or even worse 6 x 1.
'tler

[–] SrEditor 9 years ago

get canned far too soon (Bletchley Circle)

I thought the actress (as well as the character) had left?

Could they have continued without her? I suppose, but it would have been very different.

[–] lilactime2014 9 years ago

IIRC Anna Maxwell-Martin (Susan) left at pretty much the beginning of the second series and wasn't in the final two episodes at all and it didn't suffer too much. Loads of series get by with a change of character, or in the case of another one of my favourites, Goodnight Sweetheart, totally recasting half of the lead characters.

There was something definitely further to be explored with Bletchley Circle and it was given up on too soon, which as a female ensemble crime drama surprises me as it was one of those rarities of something that's ticks executives' "Inclusivity boxes" whilst also being rather good.

Back to on topic, they should have recast Andrew in Foyle, they recast Adam with little or no harm. It's not like Adam / Andrew were lead characters.

'tler

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[–] lilactime2014 9 years ago

I think you are right. It was never about Bletchley, which was a shame, I think that seam would be ripe for further investigation. They stepped away from the key selling point too quickly, within the first episode even.

It would be like starting Foyle's War in 1950, just because he bumped into someone he worked with in 1939 to 1942....

'tler

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[–] louiseculmer 8 years ago

foyle is quite good, but not one of my favourites. iit's a bit on the sombre side for me, i like my mysteries a bit more cheerful.