Foyle's War Set 7 DVD Review

 ***Complimentary copy received in exchange for an honest review***

  

One of PBS’s and Acorn’s most universally acclaimed and popular series, FOYLE’S WAR returns this Sunday on MASTERPIECE Mystery! on PBS. The three new episodes are excellent as Foyle (Michael Kitchen) makes the natural transition from policing in WWII to intelligence gathering in the Cold War. Please review them timed to the broadcast or home video release. British television specialist Acorn is streaming them the day after broadcast at www.Acorn.TV and offers all previous 22 episodes for catch-up viewing; and the three new mysteries arrive to DVD and Blu-ray as Set 7 on Sept. 24 with more than two hours of bonus features

  Hailed “Like a gift from the gods” (The New York Times) and “A triumph from start to finish” (The Wall Street Journal), FOYLE’S WAR returns this September with three new feature length mysteries available on television, streaming, and home video. One of PBS’s most popular and highly acclaimed programs, Foyle’s War premieres its new season on MASTERPIECE Mystery! on PBS on Sept. 15, 22, and 29. RLJ Entertainment’s proprietary digital channel Acorn TV, the first British TV focused streaming service in North America at www.Acorn.TV, will offer each new episode the day after it airs on PBS, as well as all previous episodes for catch-up viewing. Additionally, the new episodes debut on DVD and, for the first time, Blu-ray from Acorn on Sept. 24; featuring the complete U.K. broadcast edition and nearly two hours of bonus features, which includes a recap of Sets 1-6; four behind-the-scenes featurettes (86 min.); introductions by writer & creator Anthony Horowitz (15 min.), and more ($49.99 each, AcornOnline.com). The trailer for the new season is available at youtube.com/AcornMediaUS. Acorn, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc. brand (NASDAQ: RLJE), is already in development on another season as well. 

As the series returns, World War II is over, but the Cold War simmers in 1946 London. DCS Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) has retired from police work when Britain’s secret intelligence service compels him to join its ranks. Reunited with his former colleague, newlywed Sam Wainwright (Honeysuckle Weeks), Foyle faces new—but no less deadly—threats in the world of spies and counterintelligence.

RLJ Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Miguel Penella said, “Since acquiring Foyle’s War in Nov. 2010, we have been working closely with its creators to develop these new episodes. In these three gripping mysteries, Christopher Foyle makes a natural transition from policing during World War II to intelligence gathering during the Cold War. We’re thrilled to offer these exciting new episodes across several platforms (broadcast, digital, and home video), so consumers can watch them whenever and however they like.”

Combining uncompromising historical accuracy with compelling, character-driven murder mysteries, this enormously popular, award-winning British series has won critical acclaim and undying viewer loyalty since its premiere on ITV in 2002 and PBS in 2003. Set 7 guest stars include Ellie Haddington (Life Begins), Tim McMullan (The Woman in Black), Jeremy Swift (Oliver Twist), Rupert Vansittart (Holy Flying Circus), and Daniel Weyman (Great Expectations) as Sam’s husband. Foyle’s War was created by Anthony Horowitz, and the executive producer is Jill Green.

The Mysteries:

The Eternity Ring—Returning from America, Foyle gets drawn into an MI5 investigation of a Russian spy ring in which Sam, his former driver, has been implicated.

The Cage—Foyle’s inquiry into the deaths of several Russian defectors leads him to a mysterious military facility.

Sunflower—Foyle is charged with looking into assassination attempts against an ex-Nazi defector under MI5’s protection.

Platforms:

*Broadcast: MASTERPIECE Mystery! on PBS – Sept. 15, 22, and 29

*Streaming: Acorn TV at www.Acorn.TV – All 22 previous episodes available Sept. 1 with new episodes debuting the day after their PBS broadcast.

*Home Video: DVD and Blu-ray on Sept. 24, 2013 - Three mysteries, approx. 274 min., plus bonus - SDH subtitles

Blu-ray 2-Disc Set (SRP: $49.99) ISBN 978-1-59828-993-0/DVD 3-Disc Boxed Set: (SRP: $49.99) ISBN 978-1-59828-992-3

My Thoughts

 Set during World War II, Foyle's War is a mystery series worthy of its place in masterpiece theater. In this season, Foyle's moved on from the police to a government position and finds himself taking orders instead of giving them. The war has actually just come to an end but there's still plenty of tension in London. Thrust into a world of spies during the Cold War, Foyle finds himself in plenty of hairy situations.  There are three episdoes in this set:

 "The Eternity Ring"
"The Cage"
"Sunflower"

Each episode has its own disc so its really like watching three movies rather than a TV series by US standards. I loved both the set and the costumes in this brilliant show. It's all very realistic and its easy to feel like you've stepped back in time to war torn London. The actors all so a great job too and bring us characters that are easy to invest in. This DVD set also offers some fabulous behind the scenes footage you won't find anywhere else. Definitely a great deal and lots of of fun watching all the episodes back to back.

***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way.***