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A Family at War: ...Yielding Place to New (1972)

Final Review of this Great Series

I didn't want to review each episode one-by-one -- that would take too much effort. So this will sum up the whole series.

It's magnificent! Three years and fifty-two episodes, every one of which is well-written, acted, and directed. Sure, some are better than others, but in its totality there is almost nothing like it - - only the original "Upstairs Downstairs" can challenge it. The more recent "Downton Abbey" is definitely inferior. The much more recent "Seaside Hotel" has a lighter tone but covers some of the same ground, with fewer episodes and not quite so many compelling characters.

The main family, having five children, was well suited to the story of a middle class family living through six years of war. We feel for all of them. Five of the young men go off to war with various results. All are realistic. We care about the struggles of the men and those left behind. We see how the "other half" lives via Sefton Briggs. We see the reactions of in-laws and friends. But in the end it is Edwin who is the main character.

To modern viewers (2023 and later) the filming quality may be an issue. Yes, it looks dated. No HDTV here. But the quality of the story more than makes up for that.

Minor criticisms: Tony and Robert are not as fully fleshed out as the others. Some of the dialog seems a bit unrealistic to me, as I can't imagine saying such revealing things to siblings. But that's just me.

A great strength is that many of the people who filmed this and wrote it lived through WWII. That brings an authenticity that later generations can never have. Almost every episode is absorbing.

Now, I'm an American, not a Brit. Ignoring that, there is another big appealing aspect for me in "A Family at War". I'm in this movie. No, not literally, but I am the newborn baby near the end. That's my cohort, and these people are my parents and grandparents. This series is like reliving their lives.

This is great history wonderfully told.

A Family at War: Flesh and Blood (1971)

A strange episode

D-Day approaches. Everyone knows it, nobody knows just when or where. So you would think this episode would center on the three young men in the services, their preparations and anxieties, their wives and girl friends.

But no! Yes, we do focus on Tony, but he has a new girlfriend we have never seen before. She lives with a pair of inn keepers we have never met before. We learn that she has a young child, and we learn about the child's father, who we never heard of before.

It all marks a startling discontinuity. My wife and I looked at each other, "is this the right episode? Who are all these people? What the heck is going on?"

It all makes sense in its narrow little way, but good heavens, was this necessary?

A Family at War: The Things You Never Told Me (1971)

Deeply moving

I'm surprised no one has reviewed this yet. On the one hand, yes, it was filmed 50+ years ago. I suppose this delightful series is largely forgotten now, and even the actors who played the younger folks on it are mostly departed. Still, this is such a moving episode, and many episodes of Upstairs Downstairs from that era have been reviewed, that I do find its neglect surprising.

Many of the episodes of this wonderful series are worth reviewing, and perhaps I will get around to doing that, now that my wife and I have discovered it, almost by accident. If you are put off by the thought that it must be awkward to watch after so many years, put that aside!

As for this installment, it is superbly written and acted. The characters of the Porter family have been drawn wonderfully throughout the preceding episodes, and here it comes to fruition. I will say no more about the plot. By all means, watch and enjoy.

Midsomer Murders: Dark Secrets (2011)

Very good but flawed

Neil Dudgeon was very good. I enjoyed the interplay with his wife. It's very well written, and I liked how the subplots intertwined.

The social services investigator provided some comic relief, not too overplayed. Some people here have complained about the ending, but I actually thought that was very good.

I would have rated it higher (I gave it a 7) but for a few plot holes.

• How did the investigator (Gerry Dawkins) get on to the connection with the moon? He may have spoken to the father (William Bingham) but he knew nothing about it. Otherwise why print out a map of the far side of the moon?

• What's with the little slip of paper with the coordinates on it? How did it get there? Furthermore Barnaby just happens to pick up a book that contains it? Oh come on.

• The most serious: In 1975 the parents were about 43-45 years old. They had a traditional conservative upbringing. I find it very hard to believe that people of that age would go head-over-heals into the late 60s cultural revolution. And yes, I was there.

Midsomer Murders: Master Class (2010)

One of the Stranger Stories

Renowned pianist Sir Michael Fielding runs a school for talented young piano players. We meet four such, headlined by the very promising Zoe Stock. At least two parents are working behind the scenes to see that their child gets an unfair advantage in the competitions.

Against this basic backdrop we meet in addition a priest and nun who seem to know something no-one else does, the strange and intense daughters of Sir Michael, and a somewhat odd proprietor of a local bar. What does he know about the events of 18 years ago?

After an attempted murder fails, two of the characters really are murdered. What is going on? Zoe seems to be in the center of it.

This is a strange, and some would say, contrived, plot. While I was piecing together a lot of it, I certainly didn't anticipate the odd twist at the end. Is it too much, just too unlikely? You decide! In any event, definitely recommended. Don't miss it.

Three Pines: The Cruellest Month - Part 2 (2022)

Ridiculous Ending

I like the books by Louis Penny so was drawn to give the series a try. Alfred Molina is good as Inspector Gamache. His three assistants are a pretty good representation of the corresponding characters in the books.

As for the plot of these two episodes (3 and 4), they are not like anything I've read in the books. Maybe it happens in later books, but I have seen nothing about indigenous people. Ruth does not have a duck.

I was moved to write this review because of the utterly ridiculous ending. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but a grizzly bear appears in a very unnatural way. Are the writers trying to be deeply symbolic? It doesn't work. It's just silly.

What a shame they couldn't end it realistically.

Foyle's War: All Clear (2008)

The War is Over, But Not the Anguish

I love Foyle's War. It is one of the best serials ever on television. My wife and I first watched it between about 2010-2012 here in the U. S. on P. B. S. It is great to be rewatching it now, 2024. I find that I have no memory whatever of most of the episodes.

Here, we are in May of 1945. Everyone knows the war is about over and the Germans must surrender, but it seems to keep dragging on. Foyle is ready to retire, but has been roped into being on a committee to oversee the expected celebrations as soon as the final peace is declared. Also on the committee is a U. S. Army major who Foyle met a few years earlier when he oversaw the construction of an air base. The major seems older, worn out, and preoccupied by something.

Also on the committee is a thirty-something man, a British army veteran, who seems to be very anxious, to the point of mental illness, and a doctor who is concerned about him. We see that at his home this nervous man is being harassed by odd letters and papers posted on his door. Before long both the doctor and the nervous man are dead.

There are two other threads, wonderfully interwoven, about a soldier returning home to his wife who has not seen him for four years, and Milner's pregnant wife about to give birth. The stress and strains of war are everywhere.

As usual everything is extremely well done. But I was disappointed in the ending. As in a few other episodes, Foyle confronts the person he has deduced to be the murderer, on the murderer's territory. Foyle is alone. Doesn't he want backup when he confronts a violent person? He explains his deductions and the murderer immediately confesses. Really?? It's that simple? I don't buy it. It's not realistic. I would have rated it a 9 with a better ending.

Midsomer Murders: They Seek Him Here (2007)

Random chaotic mess

In all the years since 1997 my wife and I were aware of the existence of this series, but for whatever reason never got around to watching it. About six months ago we decided to start, and have been delighted with the episodes: the production values, the clever plots, the general setting in the English world of smallish villages, the wonderful acting, the charming milieu. We have worked our way up to season 10, concentrating on the episodes that have the best rating here.

For whatever reason we decided to give this one a try. What a mistake! From the opening horrific scene, which turns out to be part of a movie being filmed, we were put off by violence and unpleasantness. I have never seen so many unpleasant characters in one 90 minute program. There are frequent abrupt scene changes, frequent scowling interchanges between unsavory personalities, wimps, and bullies.

The basic plot element of a working guillotine being used on a movie set seems dubious at best. There is a secondary plot of unpleasant people scowling at each other pursuing a fake robbery.

Symptomatic of the chaos, near the end when Barnaby and Jones are in their office thinking over the likely suspects, suddenly an attractive young female officer appears to help the discussion. Who is this?? She has about thirty seconds of screen time and some good dialog before disappearing back to oblivion. WTF?

Shame on the producers and writers. What were they thinking?

Midsomer Murders: Dance with the Dead (2006)

Very enjoyable episode

The scene opens with an apparent suicide of two young people huddled together in the back of an old car. Evidently the car exhaust is being piped into the interior and they are probably dead. Meanwhile, some beautiful romantic music is playing on a CD player in the car.

The car is so old that I at first thought this was a flashback to several decades ago. But no, turns out that a man and his son (the person in the backseat) were enthusiasts of WWII era vehicles. Very sad.

But wait -- the scene is discovered the next day, but only the young man is there. What happened to the young woman who was entwined is his embrace?

This was an enjoyable mystery, as there were a good number of characters and situations. We have a 45-or-so-year old couple who can no longer stand each other, a quirky dance teacher, a younger woman with a three-year old child, an odd middle aged postmaster, a woman who runs a kennel, and a 50-something photographer with lecherous interests.

I was able to guess the culprit, as a crucial clue was shown briefly fairly early on.

I also loved the WWII era vehicles, the elderly woman pining for her lost brother, and the 1940s dance theme. Well done!

Midsomer Murders: Last Year's Model (2006)

An Enjoyable Episode

This is an unusual episode. We are presented with a murder that happened 10 months ago, with the supposed culprit arrested then. She (supposedly) murdered her best friend because both were in love with the friend's husband. She has been in jail and the trial is about to start. Barnaby had arrested her.

There are flashbacks to tell us a lot of the story. We meet the families of the accused and the victim. There is an elderly "Miss Marple"-like character who is a key witness. Slowly a second plot develops with a real estate agent and the local news reporters.

Compared to many episodes, it is not exceptionally complicated -- and that is good! We see Barnaby begin to have doubts about the arrest he made. We meet a potential love interest for Barnaby!

The ending is very satisfying. Definitely worth a watch!

Foyle's War: War Games (2003)

A Disappointing Episode

On the whole I loved watching Foyle's War fifteen years ago when it ran on PBS here America. I don't think I saw them all, so it has been rewarding to watch them again, all of them, now that it is easy to get them on streaming services.

The one was disappointing. The basic plot was good and should have been developed better. As it is, there are stereotypical characters and too too convenient plot contrivances.

Early on, a secretary is murdered by being tossed out a high window. Much later we meet her father. He happens to be a barrister who also met Sgt. Milner earlier in a totally unrelated scene. Weird; unnecessary; makes no sense.

A group of kids are able to sneak into an estate and happen to find and walk off with a valuable document. They toss it onto a big pile of other papers they are collecting for the war effort and Foyle is able to find it quite easily.

Similarly, a valuable box that is a second "MacGuffin" is hidden in a clever spot but is found quite conveniently. It's just too pat.

The "bad guys" are so bad it's almost laughable.

I hope the next episode will be more realistic.

Foyle's War: The German Woman (2002)

A good start, but could have been better

I was a fan of this series when most of the episodes were shown on PBS (here in America) around ten years ago. My wife and I loved the shows we saw then. I am sure I didn't see them all, so now that it is easily possible to do so with streaming services, my wife and I are starting at the beginning.

I am sure we did not see this one before. The plot is excellent, the acting excellent, the production values great. The basic idea of following the exploits of a police detective during war-time England is intriguing.

I must say, concerning this episode, that I'm a bit disappointed. I don't want to give any spoilers, but after about an hour, I was zeroing in on the main culprit, and I was right. But I envisioned a much more interesting scenario. I found the final resolution a bit too simple. Also, the side plot, introduced very early, about the music professor who was interred, had too pat a resolution.

Still, we are looking forward to seeing many more episodes in the months ahead.

Midsomer Murders: Hidden Depths (2005)

"The Sting", Midsomer Murders version

This highly rated episode strikes me as highly unlikely -- to put it mildly.

"The Sting" is a classic movie starring Newman and Redford in which an elaborate scheme is produced to swindle a rich man out of a lot of money. The authors of this episode of Midsomer must have been inspired by that.

But the rather unlikely swindle is only part one here. Some might call the murders in part two creative, but I call two of them off-the-wall bizarre. No one would go to such lengths for revenge in real life, especially when they are risking being discovered and ruining the whole point. Producing the machinery involved would be nearly impossible.

But if you can get past the unreality, you will find a uniquely entertaining episode.

Midsomer Murders: Destroying Angel (2001)

Not very good at all!

I don't know why this episode is so highly rated. It is very rushed and confused.

It should have been at least twenty minutes longer so we could come to grips with the bewildering number of characters. Many times as the show went on some character would be mentioned, such as "Annie" or "Suzanna" and I really had no idea who that was, so fast did the characters appear, or how they related to someone else. I still don't know who some of them were.

There were too may murders and too many murderers. The motivation of at least one was hard to understand.

I will say there were some good touches of humor.

Midsomer Murders: Death's Shadow (1999)

A great great episode

I agree this is one of the best Midsomers, and compares well to just about any detective series.

In the beginning we see a group of school boys doing something. It's not clear what is going on, and it's not clear why there is an adult there. Is that one of the boys grown up? Is this a flashback? We'll find out later.

Soon a 40-ish year old man is brutally murdered, even though he is terminally ill. There follows another brutal murder. There are red-herrings, as usual, though it is so well done we can't be sure what is a red herring and what is not. There is an intriguing side plot with daughter Cully and a famous producer, and another side plot as Barnaby and his wife are about to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. It all comes together with a resounding and satisfying conclusion, complete with HItchcockian reference.

A superb job! Don't miss it.

Midsomer Murders: Written in Blood (1998)

Excellent but could have been better

As others have written, I too am amazed at the quality of this 100 minute television program. It is better than almost any other episode of any other mystery series that I have ever seen -- and I'm 70 years old.

But there is a problem keeping it from being even better. One of the subplots (of course there are always subplots) suddenly takes an utterly bizarre and totally unnecessary twist. It is a ridiculous distraction. I don't want to go into any more detail, but, good heavens: what were they thinking? It's as if in the middle of a Star Trek episode Kirk, Bones, and Spock sat down on the bridge to play strip poker for ten minutes. Whaaaa????

Also I didn't like the very last scene. The comeuppance to the villain is rather stereotypical. But that is minor and easily forgiven given the excellent and very creative main ideas.

The Shell Seekers (2006)

Really good for the first 160 minutes.

This is a well-acted, well-directed, beautifully photographed three-hour drama.

The scenes that flashback to WWII, about 40 years earlier than the main action, are especially good. Maximilian Shell is very good as the artist father. Maisie Dimbleby, who plays Penelope around age 25, is a delight to watch. All of the action between 1940 and 1945 is believable, engaging, and heart wrenching. It's a pure delight. I was thinking, wow, this is going to rate a 9 or 10.

The problem is the characters and scenes from 1982. Both male love interests are weak characters. Cosmo, Olivia's boyfriend, conveniently drops away. Later, the character of Danus is poorly developed and rather stereotyped. The son, Noel, is one-dimensional. Daughter Nancy (at age 41) is not much better.

Sadly, the last twenty minutes made me drop my rating to 7. I would do 7.5 if I could.

Still, it's a good vehicle for Vanessa Redgrave, and an appealing story. I like the symbolism of the shell.

Deadwater Fell (2020)

A well-acted disappointment

I love British mystery series. I loved David Tennant in Broadchurch. I was prepared to really like this one. I liked the first couple episodes a great deal. Nice and puzzling, good group of characters. Lovely scenery, great acting.

But it is ultimately disappointing. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I was hoping for something more imaginative. Guess I'll wait for the next Nicola Walker series -- those have all been great!

Unforgotten (2015)

Brilliant and superb, but Season Two is a little hard to believe

Like most other reviewers here, I am blown away by the quality of acting and writing. All the main players are excellent.

Season Two was gripping and puzzling. It reminds of the Lew Archer detective stories of Ross Macdonald. A crime a generation ago reverberates to the present affecting the lives of those who were barely born then.

Spoiler Below!

But I have a problem with the ending. I love the idea of each person murdering someone else's abuser. But it is hard to see how Marion could have done it. She was an average height and weight 20 or 22 year old woman. David Walker was at least 190 pounds. How does she get him into a suitcase, into a car, down to that park, across the lawn to the river? And why didn't she remove his watch and pager?

Similarly how does Colin fake the hanging? How does he actually kill Marion's father? And Sara somehow kills her man, gets his boat, takes it out somewhere and abandons it? Really?

It would be a bit more believable if two of the conspirators committed each crime. That way the third one would have an alibi. But Colin swears to his husband that he had nothing to do with the murder of David Walker.

Finally, would a trio of 20-22 year olds really have the guts and expertise to pull all this off?

Spring 1941 (2007)

Superbly moving.

This is one of the best holocaust dramas I've ever seen, maybe the best. Superbly acted, plotted, directed, photographed. Engrossing, emotional. I loved the flashbacks and "flash forwards", if that's the word. Every character is believable, and you feel for every one. The last five minutes are truly excellent.

The Last Place on Earth (1985)

Well done but not historically accurate

Yes this is an excellent television show. Yes it's a gripping series. The problem with it as history is that Huntford's book was a hatchet job. Scott wasn't such a fool. The truth is far more nuanced. I urge everyone to read the wikipedia article on Scott. Scott's expedition would have been a success except for the extraordinarily bad weather of that spring. There is more in the article about recent scholarship on the decisions he made. He was neither grand hero nor blundering fool. Learn the truth. This TV series is unfortunately a hatchet job on Scott.

The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco (2018)

A god-awful mess

I strained to give it three stars.

Terribly written dialog. Incoherent. Hampered by pseudo-mathematical garbage. The plot and dialog lack continuity. The characters seem to have been chosen to represent stereotypes. "Let's throw in an oriental." Very disappointing. Surely the worse thing I've ever seen on PBS.

The Crown: Moondust (2019)

Disappointing and biased

It was very good in some ways. The portrayal of a man (Prince Philip) facing a mid-life crisis was very good and well-acted. I liked the scene in the jet as he takes control and soars above the clouds -- very reminiscent of a scene in "The Right Stuff."

However, the portrayal of the US astronauts was an abomination. They were shown as childish technicians, if that. This is utterly unrealistic. The writers of this episode set them up as straw men. They were portrayed as if they were about 25 years old. In reality they were 39. Prince Philip was only 9 years older!

Even worse, the strong implication was that there was really no point in going to the moon, since all we found was a bleak dry barren terrain. What utter nonsense! Of course that is what the moon is like! That had been well understood for at least 100 years, maybe 150.

So having met these "immature" astronauts, Philip decides the cure to his disenchantment is to be found "inside" rather than "outside." This is an incredibly simplistic duality. Let me assure him and everyone else, the people who are motivated by scientific exploration are every bit as inspired and deeply internally motivated as anyone.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Careless Kitten (1965)

A very good episode

This is based on one of the best of the original Perry Mason books, from 1942. The writers of the TV show changed a few things, but it is remarkably similar in basic plot.

A lot happens. Indeed, it's almost too much for the 50 minutes or so of a TV episode. The basic story is that ten years earlier wealthy Franklin Shore disappeared mysteriously. Just about everyone is convinced he is dead, but widow (?) Matilda won't have him declared dead and the will probated. This upsets Franklin's brother, Gerald, who could use the money he would inherit.

Then one night niece Helen gets a phone call -- from Uncle Franklin! He's not dead! He wants Helen to meet him but tell no one. However Helen does tell Gerald who gets Perry Mason to come along to the meeting place. They find a note from Franklin saying to go to a certain place and meet someone else, a Mr. Leech. They go there but find him dead.

Meanwhile, the family cat has been poisoned! Later that night Matilda reports she has been poisoned! The next day Helen and her boy friend are shot at by someone hiding in a dark bedroom. That is an amazing a mount of action - -almost too much.

The story is unusual in that there is never a court room scene, and no one is ever arrested. Perry unmasks the murderer at a group meeting where Hamilton Burger is also present, much like an old Agatha Christie story. Hamilton Burger is not an antagonist in this story at all.

This is a well done, well plotted mystery story. It differs from the original book in that in the book Hamilton Burger is not so friendly. He accuses Perry and Della of hiding a witness, and arrests Della. Della goes on trial!

Highly recommended -- but the book is better.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Fiery Fingers (1958)

Pretty good episode, but the book is better

The acting and direction are good. But the original book by the same name is a lot more interesting. It has lots more time to develop a more complex plot. The writers of this episode cut it down drastically. "Fiery fingers" meant a lot more in the book.