Foyle's War: "Masterpiece Mystery." "The Russian House," 9 p.m. Sun. "Killing Time," 9 p.m. May 9. "The Hide," 9 p.m. May 16, on KQED.
Foyle's War, Set VI: "The Russian House," "Killing Time" and "The Hide": To be released June 1 on Acorn Media. Three discs; 300 minutes; $49.99.
War is hell, and that's as true for the justly popular "Foyle's War" on "Masterpiece Mystery" as it is for real war.
Created by Anthony Horowitz in 2002, the series was much more than a great mystery: Yes, Detective Superintendent Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) always solved whatever murder had befallen the not-so-sleepy coastal town of Hastings, England. But what made the series so compelling was how it probed the messy morality of World War II, not just as the setting for the mystery but as integral to the core story.
But, of course, World War II did come to an end in 1945, and so did "Foyle's War," sort of, in 2007. First it was canceled by ITV, proving that idiocy reigns as supremely in British TV as it does so often on these shores. After viewers complained and the supposed finale, "All Clear," drew significant ratings in its 2008 British telecast, ITV wisely saw the error of its ways and came to Horowitz, hat in hand, to ask him to continue the series.
To which we say, "Whew."
"The Russian House," the first of three new "Foyle's," airing Sunday night, easily answers the question of how Horowitz could continue the story line after the "main event" - World War II - was over. The answer is: as deftly as ever.
Call it "Foyle's Post-War" if you like, but with "The Russian House," Horowitz reminds us that war might sharpen the focus on social morality in a supposedly civilized society, but that doesn't mean right and wrong suddenly become more clearly defined after the last shot is fired.
The old gang at the center of "Foyle's War" seeminlgly have gone their separate ways as "Russian House" opens. Foyle is getting ready to retire and move to the United States. His faithful driver, Samantha Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks), is working as a housekeeper to an artist who is estranged from his son for political reasons. Foyle's able colleague, Paul Milner (Anthony Howell), has been promoted and is now working in Brighton.
