Bleak Midwinter

We see a young woman Grace Phillips leaving her boyfriend and going to work in a munitions factory where security is stringent. She drank something before she left for work and she seems tired as she is working. She dozes off on the job and blows herself up. Grace's boyfriend Harry Osborne is planning something with a friend and he is a big fan of Jimmy Cagney in White Heat.

Meanwhile Milner's estranged wife Jane returns after some years away. She wants to get back together with him just as he has started a close relationship with someone else. Both he and Jane have a public argument and later she is found dead. Milner becomes a suspect with some evidence pointing towards him.

I found the story relating to Mrs Milner's death ham fisted. Milner has a public argument in a restaurant where people overhear him making threats to Jane Milner. Then at the start of the episode when Foyle raids another restaurant for selling blackmarket food for Christmas. Milner tells off a police constable who was confiscating food from the kitchen for himself. You can tell where this was all going.

Even the plot dealing with the death of Grace Phillips and the aftermath was clumsy. The villain was too much of an unhinged bad guy who wanted to go out in a blaze of glory.

Loved 'Foyle's War' and was immediately hooked when first getting into it. Love it even more now, on re-watches things that didn't quite make sense at first are clearer and things that were not noticed or appreciated before are and much admired. Everything that came over as brilliant on first viewings still are brilliant on re-watches.

"Bleak Midwinter" is the weakest 'Foyle's War' episode up to this mid-way point in the series and one of the lesser episodes generally, having said that it is still a good episode with a lot of impressive things. It does suffer from an uncharacteristic lack of suspense and the person behind the murder is obvious far too early (don't think it was ever intended to be but it came over that way). There is also a character that is so over-the-top bad, almost out of kilter so, that there is no doubt straight away that they were either involved or knew something, very like how in the ITV Poirot adaptation of 'Taken at the Flood' how the character of David Hunter was written.

However, "Bleak Midwinter" has a lot to recommend. Have always admired the visual detail that went into 'Foyle's War' and how high quality the production values are, with beautiful costumes, the evocative way the characters are made up, the look of the houses and cars, pretty locations and authentic-looking scenery. The music is in keeping with the mood and doesn't overpower the drama while still making an impact.

Writing is intelligent, sophisticated and thought-provoking, establishing Foyle's personality with so much depth already and providing some tense and heart-tugging moments. The story has its issues, but is still compelling and never dull. It does require full attention as ever, and is mostly very clever and intriguing, pacing itself deliberately but as ever with a lot happening things don't feel dull and there are some nice twists and turns.

All the conflicts, social/ethical themes and how the period is portrayed are handled beautifully and tastefully and there is a real sense that war itself is a central character. Milner is developed very well here and one really feels sorry for him, even when one is not that desperately sad to see his wife go.

One thing that wasn't picked up by me but now is and admired hugely is the tackling of what was seen as truths but some really misconceptions and seeing British during the war in a new light. This was a bold move and dealt with a lot of honesty and tact. The background information is so well researched and is every bit as interesting as the mystery itself. The character tensions were also handled very well and added a lot of intrigue.

Michael Kitchen is truly superb as Foyle, subtle, intensely determined, commanding and above all human. One of the most interesting television detectives there's ever been and Kitchen has rarely been better. Honeysuckle Weeks is charming and loyal, with some nice touches of subtle humour as ever, and Anthony Howell is wonderful.

Support acting is mostly solid, though few are outstanding. Ron Cook and Paul Jesson give two of the better performances overall, though Gavin Brocker's performance could have done with more subtlety.

Altogether, pretty good but didn't wow me and a slight disappointment. 7/10 Bethany Cox

There are actually three plots at work here, all of which are interesting. First of all, Milner's conniving wife shows up after two years and demands that he take her back. Remember, she rejected him because of his war injuries. Soon after a row with him, she is murdered on the street. Of course, he is suspected. Secondly, there are bad things going on at a munitions plant that is mostly populated by women. A young lady who has been shacking up with a questionable character, falls asleep on the job and blows herself up. The next issue involves that very young man who has an agenda of his own. He is incredibly evil and reckless. There are factors that make this less than suspenseful, but, of course, we want to see justice done.

The works manager places great stress on the fact that the factory workers are searched so that they cannot take any metallic objects into the production area for fear of causing sparks, yet he wanders in and out with a fob watch and chain.

A young woman working in a Munitions Factory tragically loses her life, when she begins her shift, feeling ill, and loses concentration. Milner's problems begin when his estranged wife appears.

It's a great episode, I thoroughly enjoyed it, great story, great characters and a superb production as always.

There is a real sense of humour running throughout, it contrasts very well with the heavy storyline. I have never forgotten that explosive scene, as you watch her standing over the equipment, you just know something awful will happen.

The story is multi layered, and intelligent, so much happening, it's a great story for Milner in particular, and the Turkey, you can't help but laugh at the way Sam and the desk Sergeant stare at the doomed bird.

Gary Brocker and Sian Brooke are perfectly cast, both are excellent. Anne (it's only Sonia) Beach gives a lovely performance, but I would argue that the standout is the wonderful Liz Fraser of Carry on fame.

It's an excellent episode, 9/10.