War drama on ITV hailed ‘best television show’ as ‘outstanding’ series has fans hooked
The wartime drama Foyle’s War has been streaming free on ITVX and has left fans completely hooked
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Viewers can’t stop raving about the ‘authentic’ detective war drama(Image: ITV/Greenlit Productions)
Fans of war dramas searching for their next binge-worthy series are in luck, as there’s a programme available free on ITV which has left audiences utterly captivated.
Hailed as ‘exceptional’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘outstanding’, the ITV production has viewers completely gripped, with devoted fans revealing they’ve been fixated on the wartime drama for ‘two years’, while others admit they ‘can’t stop re-watching’ it.
Available to stream free on ITVX, Foyle’s War is a British detective wartime drama set throughout and following the Second World War. Developed by author Anthony Horowitz – the scriptwriter behind Midsomer Murders – the show was commissioned by ITV following the conclusion of the broadcaster’s long-standing hit Inspector Morse in 2000.
Foyle’s War features the remarkable Michael Kitchen in the leading role as DCS Christopher Foyle. He’s accompanied by Honeysuckle Weeks – whose performance has attracted considerable praise – alongside Anthony Howell, Julian Ovenden, and Ellie Haddington as part of a broader ensemble cast.
Foyle’s War made its debut in October 2002 and continued until 2015, with an interruption between 2007 and 2010 when the series was abruptly axed by the network’s Director of Programmes – a decision that was overturned following a management reshuffle, reports the Express.
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The wartime drama has received glowing praise from all quarters(Image: ITV/Greenlit Productions)
The programme was back on screens in 2010 and enjoyed a successful run until January 2015, when it was cancelled for a second time and ended after eight seasons.
The wartime detective drama’s official synopsis states: “As WWII rages, DCS Foyle fights his own war on the home-front, investigating crime on the south coast of England. Later series, see the retired detective working as an MI5 agent in the aftermath of the war.”
Foyle’s War secured a BAFTA Television Award nomination for Best Production Design and claimed a Lew Grade Award for Best Entertainment Programme at the 2003 BAFTA Television Awards. The programme also received a BAFTA nomination for Best Drama Series the following year.
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The wartime drama has garnered widespread critical acclaim, with one reviewer saying: “A perfect winter indulgence that should take some of the sting out of the fact that this terrific series – once canceled, then resurrected several years ago – is now really, truly one for the history books.”
Another critic said: “Luckily, the people you would least like to encounter in real life make fantastic TV.”
A third reviewer praised Kitchen’s portrayal: “There is a moral intensity to Foyle that Kitchen expresses by the slightest raising of his voice or quickening of his words or birdlike cocking of his head.”
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The ‘outstanding’ war drama is available to stream free on ITVX(Image: ITV/Greenlit Productions)
Viewers have been similarly captivated, with one writing: “Exceptional. Near perfection. Kitchen is complete in his role, his surrounding cast also perfect. Brilliantly written and directed. Can’t wait to watch the whole series again.”
One viewer review on IMDB says: “An outstanding series. Foyle’s War is up there with Morse, Endeavour and Poirot. This incredible series ran for thirteen years, giving us crime during and after World War II.
“There isn’t a single below par episode, nor a dip in quality, just a history of brilliant mysteries, solved by Christopher Foyle and Sam. Superbly written, Horowitz truly devised a classic. It’s a wonderful series, for my money it’s one of the best. 10/10.”
Meanwhile, another fan of the show said: “The best television show I have ever watched. I accidentally discovered this TV show, only seeing 5 minutes of a random episode, but I was amazed enough to watch the entire series.
“I am going to struggle to find a TV show to follow this one and I might just have to watch it all again. I would recommend watching this show, it is brilliant!”.
Another audience review added: “I first heard about this series two years ago. Since then, I have been hooked. The series really does look amazing, set during the 2nd World War, with beautiful costumes, pretty locations and authentic-looking scenery.
“The scripts are intelligent, sophisticated and absorbing as you would expect from a talented writer like Anthony Horowitz, and I will say I loved the concept. The stories are intriguing and multi-layered. Overall, a truly excellent series, where would we be without it? 10/10”.
Foyle’s War is available to stream free of charge on ITVX.
SOURCE: WALESONLINE