Blogging through Foyle's War with Rachel and Jess: Eagle Day

So, Foyle's War isn't really a book ---- but who cares because it is written by Anthony Horowitz who is brilliant AND it gives you the same experience as reading a really thoughtful and complex novel because it is a fabulous and engaging character piece. Perhaps, I would say, some of the best writing in television. EVER.So, Jess and Jen I are coupling our insane infatuation with the show from a.) a fangirly, giddy standpoint b.) a reverence for wonderful writing, characters and mood and pulling them together in one conversation.We are both simultaneously watching from the beginning of the series and chatting afterward ( note: Jess lives in China and I live in Toronto )


Episode 4: Eagle Day

Jess: A very exciting episode! Andrew gets to fly a spitfire and generally be awesome, an accidental murder is followed by a purposeful one, Milner solves an art heist with the help of Sam's dad, Andrew gets arrested for treason, Foyle cracks some heads (metaphorically - and very politely) until he gets him out again. There's some running, stuff explodes, secrets are covered up for the good of the war effort (a common occurence on Foyle's War, but Foyle always finds them out anyway), and Sam traumatizes her father by assuring him she won't get "PWP" - pregnant without permission.

Rachel: “Eagle Day” is the greatest thing ever. Really. When you think about it. Really. With no hyperbole.

Jess: This episode belongs to Foyle and Andrew. As you pointed out in a different discussion, I love how terribly "Foyle"  it is when he waits until Andrew's left the room to say "Take care." I also enjoy how desperate (or as desperate as Foyle gets) he is when Andrew's top secret girlfriend comes to the house but won't tell Foyle anything about where Andrew's being held. He's all, "Just give me something! Please!" except solely with his eyes. HE'S SO AMAZING.

Rachel: Michael Kitchen could probably do the entire show without actually saying anything, which makes me quite happy.   I also love how angry Foyle gets when the bad guy pinches Sam and he immediately wants to blow their “cover” and march into that pub and punch him out (or “have a word with him”, as Foyle says).

Jess: Yes! I love that he immediately intended to defend her honor.

Absolute favorite moment of the episode: After Foyle springs Andrew from top secret prison.

Andrew: You're brilliant, Dad, you know that?

Foyle: Yep.

Rachel: I really enjoy the little light moments Foyle allows himself to have with Andrew.  At this point in the series, he hasn’t really become “light” with Sam or Milner (a smile here and there, perhaps; I think he is still “testing” them out), but he is exceptionally comfortable with Andrew.  This makes me happy. Because Foyle is not always comfortable--- so reserved--- and he keeps so much inside. As you say, it is all in the eyes.

Jess: Back to the end of "Eagle Day": Foyle and Andrew have to run from the German planes! And Andrew's all worried and "Come on, Dad!" And Foyle runs! And then he's endearingly exasperated that Andrew takes them to the aviation fuel storage to hide! And teases Andrew in front of Sam and Milner!

Rachel: I like how the “cavalry!” arrives. You’ll notice that the finale of each season tends to bring the four of them together in some way, shape, or form.

Also, how AWESOME is it that Milner is immediately so concerned when Andrew arrives all flustered at the station and Milner is aching to help him.

Jess: Oh, that's a nice scene. How upset (and hilariously melodramatic - "Someone tried to kill me!") Andrew is, and how the first thing he does is go find his dad. Aw.

Other marvelous Foyle/Andrew moments: how Foyle kind of rolls his eyes every time the phrase, "Well, there is/was this girl..." leaves Andrew's mouth. Which is a lot. Hee.

Rachel: Andrew really matures over the series.   He turns into this somewhat serious pilot who is quite mellowed and sobered by the atrocities of war and his horrific involvement in it . What starts as a bit of a hot shot game sort of steadies out with his friends dying, a few harrowing accidents, and his realization that he is one of the only pilots left.   His combat fatigue doesn’t help.

I really think there was some casting genius in Foyle because I see a similarity between Andrew and Foyle: physically --- not so much in looks as in some mannerisms.

Blogging Through Foyle's War with Rachel and Jess RETURNS

Readers,

Last night I discovered a word document containing all as-of-yet unpublished "Blogging Through Foyle's War with Rachel and Jess" entries.  I thought it would be great to get them up on the web, as well as edit those that went before in the series.




You can find these episodes listed in my "Series and Features" tab on the blog; but also, click the links here.

I hope you enjoy!  Join in the conversation on what is undoubtedly one of the most stunning experiences ever televised.  A very literary sensibility awaits you as you settle into this thought-provoking, immaculately-researched character piece by famed author Anthony Horowitz.

Episode 1: The German Woman
Episode 2: The White Feather
Episode 3: A Lesson in Murder
Episode 4: Eagle Day

I will add to the links as I post:

Episode 5: Fifty Ships
Episode 6: Among the Few
Episode 7: War Games
Episode 8:the Funk Hole

Joining us occasionally is our mutual friend, Jen.

note: Jessica is from Colorado ( she now teaches and lives in China) and I, of course, am in Toronto.  We communicate across countries ( and now continents).
I adore all Andrew-centric episodes and Jess is very much attached to Milner.

have fun!

2010 in books (and more)

( above: me wearing my spectacular traditional Austrian hat in Innsbruck this summer)

A few favourite books and book moments of 2010:

I can't tell you how many books I read. I read every morning on the subway and average about 5 books a week. During holidays, that can inflate or deflate. I probably average about 100-125 books a year in all genres. Though I don't blog about every one ( because who has time? ), I try to read one non-fiction ( biography, memoir, history, literary criticism ) a month.

Lifelong dreams inspired by books that came true: A Trip to Vienna, inspired by my childhood ( and adult love) of Vienna Prelude. I traveled from coast-to-coast for work and my favourite re-visits were Victoria, BC, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and, of course, St. John's, Newfoundland.

I also had the privilege of attending the TD Canadian Children's Lit Awards at the CARLU (where Arthur Slade won for The Hunchback Assignments). Arthur Slade also wrote the single best author blog entry I read this year and we crashed his signing at Chapters

Once upon a time, I was a judge for the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour ( here in beloved Canada), and I knew if I put my mind to it, I could read and judge things again. So, when the call for INSPYs judges was sent out, I jumped at it! I was so fortunate to read for the Historical Fiction Category of the INSPYs ---and a fabulous book won!

Mystery:

-A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch

-Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

-What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris

-Where Serpents Sleep by C.S. Harris

-The Mistress of the Art of Death by Arianna Franklin

-A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen

-The Keeper of Secrets by Judith Cutler

SERIES I GOT HOOKED ON: Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries, Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series, C.S. Harris's Sebastian St. Cyr series, Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series.

Christian:

-She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell

-Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers

-The Bridegrooms by Alison Pittman

-While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin

-Hear No Evil by Matthew Paul Turner

-Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz

General Market:

-The Help by Kathryn Stockett

-Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

-Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace

-Venetia by Georgette Heyer

-Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer

-Scout, Atticus and Boo by Mary McDonough Murphy

-The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl

-Death by Fame: A Life of Elisabeth, Empress of Austria by Andrew Sinclair

-The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

-The Piano Teacher by Janice K. Lee

-Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith

-Come, Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant

YA

-Smith by Leon Garfield

-The Dream Thief by Catherine Webb

-The Dark Deeps by Arthur Slade

-Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

-Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Favourite Book of 2010: The Dream Thief by Catherine Webb (unsurprisingly)

This was not a fantastic year for film; but there were a few stand-outs.

My favourite film of the year, is the King's Speech

followed closely by How to Train Your Dragon

I also enjoyed the return to vintage Disney with Tangled

As a Canadian, I enjoyed the Trotsky

Television was a bust this year; but I still watch House ( though it jumped the shark, in my opinion) and Republic of Doyle ( new season starts next week)

I watched Small Island this year and the 39 Steps, on the BBC front, as was the new series of Foyle's War. In media, my favourite offering of 2010 was the BBC Sherlock ( I adore it so much )

Blogging Through Foyle's War with Rachel and Jess and JEN: A Lesson In Murder

Friends! We have a new addition to our Foyle's War club. Meet JEN

By now, I think you know the drill:

So, Foyle's War isn't really a book ---- but who cares because it is written by Anthony Horowitz who is brilliant AND it gives you the same experience as reading a really thoughtful and complex novel because it is a fabulous and engaging character piece. Perhaps, I would say, some of the best writing in television. EVER.So, Jess and Jen I are coupling our insane infatuation with the show from a.) a fangirly, giddy standpoint b.) a reverence for wonderful writing, characters and mood and pulling them together in one conversation.We are both simultaneously watching from the beginning of the series and chatting afterward ( note: Jess and Jen live in Colorado and I live in Toronto )

And away we go....

Episode 3: A Lesson in Murder [a.k.a. as Hello David Tennant, we knew if we gave you enough time, you would show up]

Jess: First of all, let's take a moment to greet our guest stars. Hello, David Tennant and Sophia Myles! It's kind of funny that you're in the same episode of Foyle's War, even though you don't have any scenes together, since in a year or two you'll be in a Doctor Who episode together!


Jen: The conscientious objector's widow was absolutely lovely with how graciously she dealt with the trauma of losing her husband, knowing that there had been a severe injustice committed against him, and knowing that the cause she so deeply believed in was written off as irrelevant and cowardice. I thought she was wonderful. David Tennant, while always endearing was a little odd for me in this role...I subconsciously was waiting the entire time for him to randomly lick something. Don't ask me why.


Jess: I liked Milner's connection with Sophia Myles' character in this episode. I also like that, when Foyle announces he's arresting Sophia Myles' mother for the murder of her husband, she just nods and says, "Okay, let me pack a bag." Loved that.


What else happened in this episode? A conscientious objector was mistreated and hanged himself, Foyle used tricky interrogation tactics to get the policeman/guard responsible to confess, and we see Foyle discussing strategy and logistics with the Home Guard elite, (at least, I think it was the Home Guard) showing that on top of solving murders and whatnot, he's also one of the three or four guys in charge of Hastings' defense. Because he is awesome.


Rachel: What else? That adorable little boy who is sent out to the country for safety purposes and is subsequently killed. (Hello! Break your heart!) Well, it breaks Sam’s heart: we see her crying. Which is depressing because I don’t want ANYTHING to hurt our Sam. Also, cute connection between Sam and the little boy and, come to think of it, Sophia Myles and the little boy. Heartbreaking when the father returns and learns of his son’s death. HEARTBREAKING!


Jen: While the whole deception and arrogance on the bad guy front is always a reoccurring theme in crime based shows, I thoroughly enjoyed how this episode contrasted the "evil" of Mr. Gascoigne's plot line with the obvious innocence of the little boy constantly observing and taking notes and eventually being the Gascoigne family's undoing. I love that both Mr. & Mrs. thought of him as a useless pain while generally alluding to him being stupid and it was his cleverness that exposed and solved the whole plot line.




Rachel: Also, we get a flashback into the early life of our fair Foyle: apparently Rosalind Foyle and Christopher Foyle frequented the Italian restaurant Carlo and his son own and run. I love that Sam weasels her way into dinner with Foyle and they are both strongly warned about the lasagna. I am always interested to see how rations effected eating out.


Jess: I like seeing Foyle's life outside the police station.


Rachel: Then, Carlo’s son has a crush on Sam and it is adorable to watch Foyle watching the two of them. Also, Foyle ( and the audience) get to see Sam with her hair (literally) down for the first time--- when she goes to a dance with Tony. I really enjoyed that subplot of the story and the developing repartee between Foyle and Sam.


Jen: I love Sam and how willing she is to do whatever she can to support the people around her. She is so open and generous and just lovely. And I love that she's obsessed with food. I love a heroine-type gal that I can relate to.


Rachel: Milner was around in this episode, too, though not as much. Oh, and in the ongoing theme of “I HATE EVERY WOMAN THAT PAUL MILNER IS WITH THROUGHOUT THE SERIES: ESPECIALLY JANE MILNER”: Jane Milner leaves to stay with her sister because she is a rotten cow.

Jess: Milner's wife is AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL TO HIM. Ohhhh, that whole dinner scene in which she doesn't want to see his leg and how paperwork is all he can handle these days and she's just running off to Wales and abandoning him and I WANT TO PUNCH HER IN THE FACE. She's horrible.

Jen: Though it has already been stated quite well, I don't think it can be said enough: Jane Milner is evil. I have a difficult time restraining my language when talking about her. I may be calling her horrid names in my head...things that rhyme with 'bore' and 'hitch.'
And finally, because it must be said: FOYLE MAKES MY HEART SMILE.

**Rachel: OBLIGATORY ANDREW SENTENCE**

You all that this was the cat's meow? Wait 'til we get to Eagle Day: then we really knock your socks off!

Blogging Through Foyle's War with Rachel and Jess: The White Feather

So, Foyle's War isn't really a book ---- but who cares because it is written by Anthony Horowitz who is brilliant AND it gives you the same experience as reading a really thoughtful and complex novel because it is a fabulous and engaging character piece. Perhaps, I would say, some of the best writing in television. EVER. So, Jess and I are coupling our insane infatuation with the show from a.) a fangirly, giddy standpoint b.) a reverence for wonderful writing, characters and mood and pulling them together in one conversation.
We are both simultaneously watching from the beginning of the series and chatting afterward ( note: Jess lives in Colorado and I live in Toronto )

Episode 2: The White Feather

Rachel: I am always really impressed at how well all of the story lines interlock:

-Fierce hatred and traitor-ship ( is that a word?) with Guy Pearce and his blackshirt crowd clashing with the fierce patriotism of the Dunkirk fishing boat crew
-The “victimization” of Edith: the young girl bullied into cutting wires by her horrible mother ---vs. David ---an innocent victim of a battle he did not fight ( when he is shot by a German bullet across the channel)
-The clash of ideas: Stanley’s hatred of his parents and his reverse-Freudism and Milner exploring the Protocols of the Elders of Zion out of sheer desperation.


Jessica: Watching that one, I just couldn’t imagine how frightened you must be to do what Edith did – to cut telephone wires so that when the Germans arrived in a few days they hopefully wouldn’t throw you in a camp because your grandfather was Jewish.
And the fishing boats going to Dunkirk! Oh! It just makes me want to cry with how awesome those people were. I think I need a book or a documentary on it or something, because that has got to be one the most amazing wartime stories I’ve ever heard – hundreds of English fishing boats crossing the Channel to rescue British soldiers trapped at Dunkirk. OH.


I love Foyle’s confrontation with Milner, how Foyle never outright condemns Guy’s ideas but you can read the disgust all over him (again and again, this is what blows me away about Michael Kitchen – how you always know exactly how Foyle feels despite the fact that he never, ever says it). Milner’s quiet despair. He feels lost and confused and just wants someone to explain it to him. “I don’t understand what it was for.” And Foyle’s response to this: A gentle understanding. He doesn’t try to explain, knows he can’t – he just needs Milner to be on his team, 100%, and maybe that’s exactly what Milner needs—a team to be on. And what better team than Foyle’s team? NONE.


I think my favorite moment in that episode, though, is when Foyle is talking to Stanley after Stanley’s mother is killed. Stanley says he knew the chick from Whitehall came out of the room, because he smelled her. And Foyle’s eyebrows shoot all the way up into his hairline, and he’s like, “…smelled her?” It cracks me up just thinking about it.

Rachel:I also love when Sam and Foyle meet Milner’s wife for the first time. Also, Foyle’s face, resolute yet still moved, when Guy mentions Andrew getting shot down over the channel

Jessica:I like how Andrew is used in the episode even though he’s not in it. Guy tries to use Andrew to emotionally blackmail Foyle, which just makes him angry. But then the fact that Foyle has a son the same age as David is all that’s necessary for David’s father to know that Foyle completely understands what he’s going through—all the explanation necessary for Foyle to attend his funeral. Just as mentioning Andrew is the surest way for Guy to destroy any sympathy or understanding Foyle might have had for him, mentioning Andrew is all that’s needed to form a bond between Foyle and David’s father.

Rachel: This great big war finally reaching poor, unsusceptible Hastings. As it always does----
The moment we think that Hastings is “safe” ---all being on the edge of the front and not near enough to be affected, that is when the war enters: be it by bomb, or a bunch of ships scraping the casualties and wounded from the other side.

Blogging through Foyle's War with Rachel and Jess: the superficial Julian Ovenden edition

You all find me in the midst of some epic Western Canadian travels for work. I write this from my hotel room in Edmonton, AB.

So, Blogging Through Foyle's War with Rachel and Jess** shall continue --as I find time to upload all of our goodies and our brilliant dissections of this miraculous television show.

But as I prepare and format, I want to leave you with something also very important to anything Blogging Through Foyle's War: the superficial Julian Ovenden edition----complete with Julian Ovenden's smoother-than-Starbucks-caramel-frappucino-singing voice (CLICK HERE TO HEAR). Yum.

I mean: who knew that Andrew Foyle took singing lessons on the weekend when he wasn't flying his spit? Not I.

But, DARNIT ---they sure paid off! Hats off to the Hastings constabulary for supporting this wonderment of music and song....
( the fact that he is good-looking, I assure you, has NOTHING to do with this post---- nothing! Nothing whatsoever in my superficial little mind... NOTHING--- I mean!, I don't even notice his smile [who would] or his eyes or the fact that he cleans up nice in his RAF uniform or the fact that he has a delicious accent or.....)
*blog truncated because I turn into puddle of goo*
**note: this post is a little more Rachel and a little less Jess---she's on a cruise right now, don't feel too badly for her---she's more of a Milner girl anyways....

Blogging through Foyle's War: with Rachel and Jess

So, Foyle's War isn't really a book ---- but who cares because it is written by Anthony Horowitz who is brilliant AND it gives you the same experience as reading a really thoughtful and complex novel because it is a fabulous and engaging character piece. Perhaps, I would say, some of the best writing in television. EVER.

So, Jess and I are coupling our insane infatuation with the show from a.) a fangirly, giddy standpoint b.) a reverence for wonderful writing, characters and mood and pulling them together in one conversation.

We are both simultaneously watching from the beginning of the series and chatting afterward ( note: Jess lives in Colorado and I live in Toronto )

 Ep. 1 THE GERMAN WOMAN

Rachel: Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.


There is SO much in this episode--- it almost makes my brain explode. It is a pivotal episode in the series; sets the mood and setting of the show and establishes all sorts of character background and relationships.


It is marvelous. Anthony Horowitz says in an interview that he always writes like the rings of a tree. I find this fascinating and every carefully plotted, well-executed, overlapping story line is proof of his genius in this method. For instance, you know that every plot thread in Foyle is somehow going to connect: whether overtly, or slowly knitting together.

I really want to start The German Woman with a few key notes of the beginning of the series:
First, I think it is very interesting that the series begins with a pastoral shot: beautiful, lush England, a picnic setting, two people having a wonderfully romantic time, the camera panning and then, at the last, the shot of the barb wire trapping them into this world we will soon learns as Hastings and this war that we will soon see all contained ( with a few exceptions) in this community and suddenly all idealism is shot. It’s rather fabulous. I also think that we should draw our attention to the relevance of the title and its dichotomy: there are two German women in the story line and one could argue both were murdered: one in the traditional “revenge”-type plot --- with direct criminal intent; the other as a result of the harrowing prospect of internment—a woman victim of horrible circumstances. Both murder, in a sense, just in different ways.

Next, I enjoy how the series begins with our lead character wanting out of his surrounding. The main premise of the story is DCS Foyle’s work as a policeman in a world overthrown with chaos ….. the detective story begins with the detective wanting out of his surrounding and, ironically, wanting to do more for the war effort.Interestingly, after that introduction to Foyle and his world, we will see the series unfolding with Foyle being a very important part of the war effort---- just in a slightly different way. What he does in the micro-world of Hastings often ends up effecting the macro-world of England and the war.




Jess: Wow. I'm not sure what else to add to that incredibly insightful introduction to the series. I guess I'll just have to go personal, rather than academic.
What always strikes me deepest about this series is how thoroughly they set up life in WWII England. Just how everyday people lived during the war. Not the soldiers, but the soldiers' families back home. All the fear and prejudice and hope and opportunism andkindness and struggle wrapped in surviving, in waiting to see if your country would be invaded, if your loved one would come home, if your rations would hold out.


To your point about there being two German women, that's kind of true. The second, the woman in the internment camp, is actually English. But because she's married to a German, she gets treated as though she wereGerman. She married the "enemy" (even though he's a refugee who fled Germany), thus she is the enemy.


Rachel: and we’re going to tip our cap at two very special guest stars: Rosamund Pike and James McAvoy and that guy from Our Mutual Friend who plays the murderer and whose real name I might never know. We are also going to take one moment for Sam Stewart who is just about the most adorable thing to ever walk the face of the earth. Finally, I would like to have a moment for Foyle’s countenance when he learns Andrew is going to war and then ANOTHER moment for their shared laughter over the perfect trout (isn’t it perfect that Foyle’s pastime is fly fishing: so classical and harmonious---so HIM!) and then another moment for the smile that turns into distress as soon as Andrew’s back turns out the door. Any other moments, Jess, before we move on?




Jess: The introduction of Milner and his perfect eyebrows definitely deserves a moment. Also deserving of a very long, reverent moment? His super sexy shadowed jaw the first couple times we see him in the hospital. I don't think we ever see it again, but day-amn Milner, that was nice.
Also related to Milner, the way the episode lays the groundwork for his troubled marriage by mentioned how his wife has only come to see him once since he returned to Hastings, and how his relationship with Foyle begins - Foyle gives Milner exactly what he needs to pull himself out of his PTSD depression but does in a way that is neither coddling nor hard. He simply, straightforwardly tells Milner he needs a sergeant and does Milner want the job, yes or no? Milner proves he is actually good at this police thing, and the dynamic detecting duo is born.


Again more about Milner, because apparently I am his champion today. I love that the show uses his relationship with his wife to show what so many soldiers probably went through up on returning home. Couples got married in a hurry before they shipped off, before they really knew each other. And then, when the man comes home, broken by war - physically and/or emotionally - suddenly both parties realize how little they know each other, how little they have in common, how little they've really invested in this relationship they're now stuck in. I can't imagine how common Milner's situation was. (Note: This does not excuse his wife for being so incredibly awful that I am overcome with the desire to punch her every time she's on screen. She's so horrible to him.)

Rachel: Let’s tie this up then with two summarizing thoughts:


--Everyone hates Milner’s wife

--Anthony Howell has the least boring eyebrows I have ever seen.

Like Foyle? Jump in our conversation!

Stay tuned for A Lesson in Murder when Blogging Through Foyle with Rachel and Jess RETURNS