Foyle's War (series 7)
| Foyle's War (series 7) | |
|---|---|
| No. of episodes | 3 |
Series 7 of the ITV programme Foyle's War first aired in 2013, beginning Sunday 24 March; comprising three episodes, it is set in the period from August 1946 onwards. Series Seven was broadcast in the United States on PBS stations on Masterpiece Mystery! as Foyle's War VII on 15, 22 and 29 September 2013,[1] and on Netflix as of April 2014.[2]
"The Eternity Ring"
| Writer: Anthony Horowitz | Director: Stuart Orme | Airdate: 24 March 2013 (UK) | Net duration: 87 minutes | Set: August 1946 | Viewers: 8.58 million |
| Guests: Ken Bones, Stephen Boxer, Nicholas Jones, Kate Duchene | |||||
| In 1946 Foyle arrives home from America, and MI5 recruits him to investigate a suspected Soviet spy ring at work in the heart of London. Now married, Sam and Adam plan for his prospective candidacy as a Labour MP whilst Foyle's old constable Frank Shaw finds it difficult to adapt to home life after arriving back from captivity in the Far East. | |||||
Character and plot development
The episode reintroduces the recurring character Hilda Pierce, played by Ellie Haddington ("War Games", "The French Drop" and "All Clear"), turning her into a regular character. It also introduces the regular character of Arthur Valentine, played by Tim McMullan.
The episode also reintroduces Adam Wainwright, now Sam's husband, though he is played by a new actor (Daniel Weyman, as opposed to Max Brown in the previous series).
Foyle returns from a trip to America, during which he pursued former industrialist and "inventor", now a United States Senator, Howard Paige (Episode 1/Series 2, "Fifty Ships"), whom Foyle vowed to bring to justice for a murder which Paige committed while in England. It is revealed that Paige committed suicide, allegedly after being hounded by Foyle, although Foyle was unaware of Paige's suicide.
"The Cage"
| Writer: David Kane | Director: Stuart Orme | Airdate: 31 March 2013 (UK) | Net duration: 86 minutes | Set: August 1946 | Viewers: 7.08 million |
| Guests: Rupert Vansittart, Jonathan Hyde | |||||
| The disappearance of a Foreign Office official appears to explain the deaths of a number of Soviet agents working for British Intelligence. An apprehensive Sam is also now working at MI5 HQ while helping her husband Adam, who is standing as a Labour Party candidate at the Peckham by-election. While on the campaign trail, Adam meets a woman who asks for his help in finding her daughter Evelyn who has been missing for three days. Back at MI5, Sam notices documents referring to Evelyn Greene, the missing woman from her husband's potential constituency. But as Foyle continues with his enquiries, the wall of silence surrounding a mysterious military facility leads him to question the motives of his own colleagues. | |||||
Historical context
Much of this story is loosely based on the real "Tin Eye" Stephens who successfully ran Camp 020, an interrogation centre near London during the Second World War.[3] After the war he ran another in Bad Nenndorf in Germany but was tried for the maltreatment of prisoners, some of whom died. He was tried in a German court and found not guilty, but others involved were not.[4]
References are made, in the episode, to ongoing housing and food shortages, food rationing, the Lend-Lease programme and abuses of the Official Secrets Act. Women's multi-style coupon busters shoes, fashionable at the time, serve as a plot point.[5]
"Sunflower"
| Writer: Anthony Horowitz | Director: Andy Hay | Airdate: 7 April 2013 (UK) | Net duration: 89 minutes | Set: September 1946 | Viewers: 7.39 million |
| Guests: Tamzin Outhwaite, Rupert Vansittart, Daniel Hill, Lars Eidinger[6] | |||||
| Foyle investigates a former Nazi SS officer Strasser, now protected by MI5 in exchange for providing Soviet intelligence. Threats, a bullet, and sunflower refer to Operation Sunflower 1944 in France, wherein Strasser ordered 26 surrendered American soldiers shot but claims he was elsewhere at a desk. American officials want him turned over as a war criminal. Meanwhile, Sam orders a phone tap after Adam suspects a government minister of illegal land speculation when a complainant is viciously assaulted. | |||||
Historical context
The Americans use as leverage with MI5 the 1943 BRUSA Agreement and loan terms the US has extended the UK. Mortain was an important battle site, but the massacre bears traits with Malmedy. Operation Sunflower happened in Africa in 1941.
References
- ↑ "Foyle's War Series VII". PBS.
- ↑ Thomas, Chet (2 April 2014). "More British TV Shows on Netflix: 'Foyle's War'". Netflix TV Shows Review.
- ↑ Macintyre, Ben (10 February 2006). "The truth that Tin Eye saw". The Times. Retrieved 22 February 2010. (registration required (help)).
- ↑ The diaries of Guy Liddell, MI5 1947, National Archives
- ↑ Smith, Lesley (16 September 2013). "Foyle's War: After the War, What Next?". PopMatters.
- ↑ Eidinger, Lars Lars Eidinger on IMDB IMDB