Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks, Ellie Haddington, Tazmin Outhwaite, Lars Eidinger, Charles Aitkin, William Armstrong, Radeck Belchnerowski, Andrew Bennett, Paul Benzing, Fiona Button, Alexandra Clatworthy, Emma Colohan, Richard Dilane, Robert Donnelly, Jodie Hay, Daniel Hill, Jeremy Swift, Colin Stinton, Andrew Tieman, Rupert Vansittart.
Despite being a policeman of the highest impeccable order there are some things that do irritate and upset Christopher Foyle, having to deal with a high ranking Nazi in the care of MI5 would probably rank near the top of his list, just one below being made to look like an aged dinosaur who doesn’t embrace the new world by being lied to by his superiors.
The final episode of Foyle’s War, Sunflower, sees the deceit and double standards that crept into British and American intelligence after the war and the round up of so called former Nazis in the new cold war against Communism, come home to roost as a valuable ‘asset’ is spotted working as a lecturer in the University by a man he thought he had killed and so begins the descent into madness for one and the run for cover by the other.
The series finished on a strong high note with this episode, adventurous and hard hitting, something that Sunday night television sometimes shies away from in fear of upsetting people before they trudge their way back to work on the Monday morning. The distaste in Foyle’s face, perhaps the best reason why Michael Kitchen has been so popular in the lead role is his acting ability to be able show the scorn for those that used the war as an excuse for their misdeeds, was palpable throughout the episode.
Scornful of the plot by a colleague’s attempt to keep Karl Strasser, portrayed with just the right hint of unrepentant menace by Lars Eidinger, under British possession, distrust of the landlady Brenda Stevens played with her usual grace by Tazmin Outhwaite and the loathing of his superiors, especially the superb Ellie Haddington as Hilda Pierce. Michael Kitchen gave it his all but as the car drives away and his friend Sam Stewart asks, “Where to Sir?” The pained expression on his face spoke more words than Anthony Horowitz could have ever written. This is a man whose decency has been sorely tested, his empathy ground down and all because the sides have changed and the wrong devils are now in charge.
Sunflower was compelling viewing and surely one of the best episodes in the long running series.
Ian D. Hall