People power pays off for FoyleÕs War welcome return

 Fans of Foyle’s War, the ITV detective series set during World War II, were so devastated when it decommissioned some years ago that a campaign was mounted to revive it. Never mind that the programming authorities said it had run its course, coming to a natural conclusion as World War II ended, the pressure continued.

And showing that people power can occasionally win out, it was revived for a three-episode series, which moved the action on to a post-war era, when the Russians were the new threat and there were whispers of Commies everywhere.

In this series, Detective Christopher Foyle – the softly spoken, upright policeman who frequently faced opposition from inside the system as he attempted to solve crimes during World War II – is back in action, albeit in a different role.

Having been approached by MI5 to work for them as an intelligence gather, he has reluctantly come out of retirement and regrouped with his old driver, Samantha, who is now married to a Labour MP.

Last Sunday night’s activities centred on a former Nazi commander responsible for wartime atrocities. He is now living in England under an assumed identity in the pay of MI5. Because of his expertise in Russian Communism, he is spared, despite his depravity during the war.

When the Nazi’s life is threatened, Foyle is assigned to ensure his safety, although he finds this task deeply distasteful. Of course, in the wonderful world of British espionage, it’s difficult to know who exactly wants to kill him and why.

Meanwhile, in a parallel sub-plot, Samantha’s husband, a member of the newly elected Labour government, is finding life in office presents its own dilemmas.

Foyle’s War is period drama and as such, it has all the trimmings; beautiful cars, stylish clothes and the like. But it also has bite, thanks to sharp writing by its creator Anthony Horowitz.

This episode featured a farmer who wanted to buy his land back from the Department of Defence, which had requisitioned it for the war, with the promise he could reclaim it. Now the Government seems to be reneging on its commitment.

But we learn the farmer only wants to reclaim ownership of the 1,000 acres to sell for housing developments while England desperately needed to grow food because of post-war shortages. So while he has right on his side, the Government is acting for the greater good.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.