Signora Volpe

This is a new series about an MI-6 agent named Sylvia Fox who retires to Italy near the home of her sister which is in the Perugia area. Emilia Fox stars along with Jamie Bamber and Tara Fitzgerald. Most of the cast are very good Italian actors who speak English. Giovanni Cirfiera plays the local Carabiniere captain who suspects that there is more to Sylvia Fox than her cover story that she was a boring British civil servant.

I like the scripts, my favorite episodes were 1 & 3. Shame the episodes weren't 90 minutes each instead of 60 minutes, maybe with season 2. Italy is beautiful, it's really a character of its own in this series. The direction could be better, we watch Sylvia Fox do a lot of walking and jogging when we could have more story. It moves at a good pace, it didn't bog down.

It's a blend of spy craft and detective work, similar skills that Sylvia uses along with her suppressed Glock 26 pistol. A nice combination of the two occupations that can lead to some very interesting story lines in future seasons.

I look forward to a season 2 of "Signora Volpe" which means Mrs. Fox.

All I can say about Signora Volpe is wow! Set in a small village in Umbria, Central Italy, it is beautiful at every level; from the beautiful lead ex MI6 spy Sylvia Fox (Emilia Fox) and dashingly handsome local police captain Capitano Riva (Giovanni Cerferia), the beautiful Italian countryside, the immaculate designer uniforms of the Italian police, the beautiful villas and cobbled stone streets of the village to the long cast of talented and passionate Italian actors.

Sylvia leaves her hectic and stressful senior position with the SIS in London originally to attend the wedding of her niece in Italy where her sister Isabel (Tara Fitzgerald) is married to local doctor Matteo Vitalie (Matteo Calomogno) but falls in love with Italy and buys an old villa that needs extensive renovation. Soon her skills as a top world-travelled spy still with excellent connections, even amongst the Italian police and intelligence agencies, comes in handy to solve local crimes.

The plots are taut and exciting all against such a beautiful backdrop. A very compelling and watchable, adorable series.

At the very beginning of the episode I was skeptical of the storyline going into a Jason Bourne scenario with a main character I didn't find appealing mainly because she seemed so hot-headed. Fortunately, the show quickly progressed where the main character takes a holiday in stunning Italy to visit her niece who is about to be married. Emilia Fox's attitude softens as she visits her family but she senses something isn't quite right with the soon-to-be-groom. At this point the show became an interesting mystery. The scenery and location is spectacular, however, the peach colored diffused natural light is outdated and unnecessary (think Under the Tuscan Sun). I say give it a try to see if it's your cup of espresso.

Sylvia Fox is disillusioned with her life as a spook in England, ready for a break, she switches London for Umbria, and moved close to her sister, trouble has a nack or following her wherever she goes.

Very enjoyable mysteries, whodunnits with a twist, don't expect Midsomer Murders or Vera, the show is more along the lines of Mallorca Files and Father Brown, a little lighter, easy viewing, sometimes a little amusing. I enjoyed the lot.

It's testament to the acting skills of Emilia Fox, they she's able to make Sylvia completely different to Nikki, at no point did I think of Silent Witness, she's terrific throughout, as are the supporting cast, Tara Fitzgerald is perfect casting as her sister.

One of the best things about this series, as you'd expect to be, the visuals, Umbria is truly one of the most remarkably beautiful places in Earth, and they don't miss a chance to show it off.

I'm looking forward to the second series, and of course the new series of Silent Witness.

9/10.

This was very a entertaining first episode. Emilia Fox was great as usual. The scenery of Umbria adds a terrific backdrop for everything. A good selection of English and Italian players. Almost all familiar. This is a first rate production.