Life On The Homefront... "Foyle's War"

Foyle's War (2002)
N/R

Starring Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks, Anthony Howell

Created by Anthony Horowitz

The Story:

It's 1940 and World War II is in full swing.  Detective Chief Superintendent Foyle (Kitchen) had requested a transfer to join the war effort, but was denied.  Instead, he is going to have to keep the Hastings Police on the south coast of England safe from crime.  Given a driver (Weeks) and a wounded veteran (Howell) to round out his team, Foyle soon comes to realize that crime doesn't stop just because war has engulfed the region.

Well, this was certainly a step in the right direction compared to Downtown Abbey.

I have only watched the first episode, and there were some slow spots, as the show seems to run just a bit long.

It seems like a slightly shorter run-time and the show could be tightened up considerably.

However, things actually happened during the entire running time of the episode unlike Abbey.

That said, it is an interesting concept: a police procedural set at the onset of World War II, in one of the regions most affected by war.

I definitely won't be marathoning this anytime soon, but I can see dusting off an episode now and again if I've got nothing else to watch.

The dilemma:  it seems like I've ALWAYS got something else to watch.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: Seemed to be a B- range... but I'm going to end up with a C+.  It means well, but I'll have to see if it tightens up in a 2nd episode.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Definitely no to a purchase, but I will probably watch a few more episodes.

I Just Don't Get The Fascination With "Downtown Abbey"

Downtown Abbey (2010)
N/R

Starring Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt,

Created by Julian Fellowes

The Story:

We are introduced to the Crawley family who live in Downtown Abbey, and the servants who work there  to keep the house and Crawley family running smoothly.  It opens the day after the Titanic sinks, and the heir to the fortune goes down with the ship.  Whatever will the Crawley's do?

I'm not sure, but I can tell you this much...

zzzzZZZzzzzzZZZzzzzZZZZ

I don't know what the rest of the world sees in this show, but color me unimpressed.

Don't get me wrong:

The actors, great job.
The sets are absolutely gorgeous.
The period piece, marvelous.

The story?

ZzzzZZZzzzzZZzZZzzZzzz

I was completely underwhelmed for almost the entire running time of the first episode.

Things heated up, barely, we're talking candle heat, not space heater or fireplace heat at the end with the shocking revelation of one of the servants and the honor that Mr. Crawley showed to the former comrade in arms now servant.

But alas, way too little, much too late.

There's no way, nor reason, why I would want to come back for more.

You can argue that "it gets better" or "I'm being too harsh", but that's my judgment for the show, and I've got a million and one other things I can watch next, so why come back to something I found to only be so-so, at best?

Nah.

Available to stream free for Amazon Prime members.

Final Grade: C-... maybe lower!
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No to both, thank you though.