If a slow paced laid back detective mystery isn't your thing then stay away but otherwise enjoy . Beautiful scenery with good acting and interesting stories. Emilia Fox is always a joy to watch with a good supporting cast . Some reviews say its slow and boring but i would say its very laid back but keeps you interested . Didn't see too may holes in the plots or any goofs in the series . Some subtitles but only when they speak Italian so its easy to follow .
71 Reviews
Finally, an enjoyable series - mystery without gore
ritakc-4689320 May 2022
No blood & guts. No sad, dark heroes or heroines. Just good characters, multiple mysteries, comic relief and hints of romance! And, a strong feminine lead, family and Italy! I'm hoping for lots more episodes and seasons. Pleeeeeeze??
Nice stories set in beautiful Italy.
Avidviewer-0284720 May 2022
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.
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.
Above Average Mystery
laurelhagen2 May 2022
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.
Created my account just for this show
mallory-4335320 May 2022
What a thing of beauty. Writing, acting, set,cinematography, all excellent! So refreshing to see something intelligently written. Head and shoulders above so much of the garbage on TV today. And filmed in Italy. Now I really want to go back.
A Pleasant Midsomer Italian Style
tm-sheehan14 July 2022
My Review - Signora Volpe Streaming on Acorn TV
My Rating 7/10
My Review - Signora Volpe Streaming on Acorn TV
My Rating 7/10
Think of Midsomer Murders set in a beautiful hill town setting in Umbria in what seems the ideal setting for an intriguing mystery crime sleuth series .
Umbria the word conjures up undulating olive groves, early Renaissance frescoes and for those lucky enough to holiday in the region drinks by the villa pool at sunset.
However as our heroine Sleuth Sylvia Fox ( Italian translation Volpe) soon discovers Umbria has a reputation for organised crime gangs and corruption .
Sylvia played by the delightful Emilia Fox is disillusioned by her MI6 spy job in London so she takes a sabbatical to visit her sister Isabel Vitale and attend the wedding of her niece Alice and when introduced to Alice's betrothed circumstances take a dramatic and dangerous turn.
There are 3 episodes in this pleasant easy to watch series the first concerning the murder of a woman floating in a lake and the disappearance of Tommaso the man Silvia's niece is to marry .
The second is the discovery of a woman's body at an archaeological dig . Is it one of 2 women who mysteriously disappeared in very different circumstances years ago from the village ?
The third episode involves the arrest of a Russian politician's son who is accused of murdering a fellow student.
While a really pleasant experience to watch I thought Signora Volpe was lacking in credibility at times .
The idea that this attractive spy gets to use all her spyware and martial arts skills in such a short time on holiday is a far cry from the talented DCI Barnaby and his deputy solving village murders.
I wasn't surprised to read later that this series is written by Rachel Cuperman and Sally Griffiths, who worked together on Midsomer Murders . Signora Volpe has all the familiar style of Midsomer however I can't see it being the successful franchise that Midsomer was , perhaps another series may be being considered?
Emilia Fox is so appealing as Sylvia Fox however I kept thinking her character is very similar to Dr Nikki Alexander and I had difficulty separating the two characters at times .
Tara Fitzgerald is also delightful as Sylvia's sister Isabel Vitale her edgy artistic personality adds a bit of spice to the dialogue in what is an enjoyable series that's worth a look and a tonic for a cold winters day .
My Rating 7/10
My Review - Signora Volpe Streaming on Acorn TV
My Rating 7/10
Think of Midsomer Murders set in a beautiful hill town setting in Umbria in what seems the ideal setting for an intriguing mystery crime sleuth series .
Umbria the word conjures up undulating olive groves, early Renaissance frescoes and for those lucky enough to holiday in the region drinks by the villa pool at sunset.
However as our heroine Sleuth Sylvia Fox ( Italian translation Volpe) soon discovers Umbria has a reputation for organised crime gangs and corruption .
Sylvia played by the delightful Emilia Fox is disillusioned by her MI6 spy job in London so she takes a sabbatical to visit her sister Isabel Vitale and attend the wedding of her niece Alice and when introduced to Alice's betrothed circumstances take a dramatic and dangerous turn.
There are 3 episodes in this pleasant easy to watch series the first concerning the murder of a woman floating in a lake and the disappearance of Tommaso the man Silvia's niece is to marry .
The second is the discovery of a woman's body at an archaeological dig . Is it one of 2 women who mysteriously disappeared in very different circumstances years ago from the village ?
The third episode involves the arrest of a Russian politician's son who is accused of murdering a fellow student.
While a really pleasant experience to watch I thought Signora Volpe was lacking in credibility at times .
The idea that this attractive spy gets to use all her spyware and martial arts skills in such a short time on holiday is a far cry from the talented DCI Barnaby and his deputy solving village murders.
I wasn't surprised to read later that this series is written by Rachel Cuperman and Sally Griffiths, who worked together on Midsomer Murders . Signora Volpe has all the familiar style of Midsomer however I can't see it being the successful franchise that Midsomer was , perhaps another series may be being considered?
Emilia Fox is so appealing as Sylvia Fox however I kept thinking her character is very similar to Dr Nikki Alexander and I had difficulty separating the two characters at times .
Tara Fitzgerald is also delightful as Sylvia's sister Isabel Vitale her edgy artistic personality adds a bit of spice to the dialogue in what is an enjoyable series that's worth a look and a tonic for a cold winters day .
Love it! Want more!
bknb0230 May 2022
Really annoyingly unlikely behaviour
alanfisher20013 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The setting in Italy was the best part, all done with a yellow filter to show she was abroad. The other parts like picking up murder weapons, sitting in a garden pretending she was birdwatching whilst finding a dead body and then giving no reasonable explanation. The character Sylvia played by Fox seems to swan around in a superior way whilst giving the Italian police offhand responses and then spends her time giving people half the story, not finishing conversations and keeping everyone in the dark. The behaviour seems to make no sense, she manages to aquire guns whilst on holiday, no idea how, surely she can't go running around as a holidaymaker with a gun. The only thing she didn't do thankfully was speak any Italian, although she seemed to understand it well enough. Whilst following her niece in the car she suddenly appears wearing a wig, where on earth did that come from? The whole thing seemed barely believable.
A thoroughly enjoyable mystery series.
Sleepin_Dragon19 November 2023
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.
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.
Beautiful scenery, great mystery but feels like it's Dr Nikki
rosemaryandthyme3 May 2022
Firstly I have to say Emilia Fox looks stunning with her amazing English rose complexion, she's just a delight to watch. The Italian scenery is beautiful and so much more appreciated after being locked away for the last two years - definitely a sight for sore eyes and I feel I'm on holidays. The mystery is reasonably interesting so far. The only issue I have is her character was quite hot headed and hard nosed at the start, but then she morphed into sweet Dr Nikki Alexander. Honestly at times I felt I was watching the good pathologist. Now I know she's a fine actor as I've seen her play bad guys in the past so she has a good range. I just can't help seeing Nikki. Anyway small issue, I am enjoying the series.
... an unexpected-surprising little-gem
bjarias13 July 2022
... exceptionally well done little three-part mini-series... Emilia Fox plays a top notch spy role... entire cast is excellent... with location settings that are beautiful along with production values of a very high quality... really do hope they keep this all going into the future.
Milktoast Entertainment
zorroaca12 May 2022
Emilia Fox ls outstanding as well as well as Tara Fitzgerald who plays her sister. Most of the other actors are 2nd rate. The production work is well done but the scripts are run of the mill Hallmark type. Pretty good build up... but the endings so far have been flat. Overall... a mixture of serious and silly.
A light fluff piece set in a beautiful landscape
qui_j28 August 2022
This is a female fluff piece with the lead actress playing a female James Bond Super-Spy. Although middle aged, there is little that she cannot accomplish single-handedly. She can overpower men, is a sharpshooter and an amazing driver and mechanic. In short, there is nothing she cannot do and her skills approach that of the Bionic six-million-dollar woman! The star of the show is the stunning Umbrian landscape of mountains and beaches. The cast seem to be comprised of faded actors, plucked from both Italian and British series. The plots are silly, almost at the level of "Under the Tuscan Sun" interspersed with bits of silliness. If you are a fan of this genre, light fluff with a female Superwoman at the helm, then this is for you!
Senora Volpe knows how to pack a ... suitcase!
riarose-7762729 May 2022
I'm enjoying this - I don't think too deeply about what could be real and what isn't. I just watch it for pure entertainment. I think what's very funny though, is the amount of wardrobe changes that Sra. Volpe has in the first episode. Why in the world would she would bring so many changes of clothes (and shoes!) for what was probably planned as a long weekend? Just one of those things that makes you go hmmmm...
Beautiful Anglo Italian thriller
wrxsti541 August 2022
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.
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.
If you love Italy
ysqbmjgd6 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
If you love Italy, especially the beauty of the Perugia and Umbria regions, you'll be enchanted by the settings and compositions of the scenes in this series. The series could otherwise be described as a British soap with a spy-detective plot running through it. The protagonist, Ms Fox (Senora Volpe in Italian), makes a decision to retire early from MI6 and move to a small town in central Italy where she still draws on her intelligence service resources to solve crimes and mysteries. She also seems to have an extensive wardrobe of fashionable clothing at her disposal, as any self-respecting MI6 operative must have. There is also the budding of an implausible romance between Ms Fox and the local head of the Carabinieri, just to add the touch of a love angle. And last but not least, the creators have placed the story squarely in the solid chick flick genre by having Ms Fox buy a tumbledown old farm house to renovate in the "Under the Tuscan Sun" tradition.
Love this show, hope there are many more to come
trulyjudy-0281222 May 2022
Signora Volpe is refreshing. Having watched many mysteries and dramas, this show offers something new and a little different. It has the perfect balance of beautiful Italy, excellent writing with interesting and original plots, likeable characters, and a strong female lead (Emelia Fox is made for this role). And a sprinkle of romance. I can't wait for the next season!
Sour Risotto ala Fox in Perugia
jhns-5475627 September 2023
Emilia Fox stars and produces this supposedly sweet and soft crime story. Seemingly harmless and fluffy stories are filled with beautiful scenes and unshaved men. The episodes have a vast array of local persons but none of them are particularly intersting and genuine. All have a perfect and fluent ability to speak english just like that. The episodes have lots of plot holes and unnecessary scenes.
The.plots are thin and are quite banal and unoriginal. I cannot avoid to make references and feelings that this is just anaother way to use old and used scripts in a different setting. The Italian sentiment and flavors re only a coating.and not used in full.
Emilia Fox is givins us a performance that repeats her character in the Silent Witness. She is not able to provide answers to the questions raised by her personal experiences and thoughts. Her facial expressions remain the same throughout.
Recommended for lazy afternoon watching.
The.plots are thin and are quite banal and unoriginal. I cannot avoid to make references and feelings that this is just anaother way to use old and used scripts in a different setting. The Italian sentiment and flavors re only a coating.and not used in full.
Emilia Fox is givins us a performance that repeats her character in the Silent Witness. She is not able to provide answers to the questions raised by her personal experiences and thoughts. Her facial expressions remain the same throughout.
Recommended for lazy afternoon watching.
Very Nice and Pleasant
vintagegeek3 May 2022
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.
Deus Excessive Machina
walker4-15 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Typical Midsummer Murders type of production.
Emilia Fox still looking good in spite of her age although cracks are beginning to show.
Excessive use of Deus ex Machina which spoils it.
Nice landscape. Italian gigolos.
"The series follows Sylvia Fox (Emilia Fox, Silent Witness), an attractive and intelligent woman in her 40s, who, to the casual observer, appears to lead quite the unremarkable life. When asked about her work, she answers with vague references to an unspectacular career in the Civil Service. Which is only very slightly true - because until recently, Sylvia was a high-ranking British spy."
Emilia Fox still looking good in spite of her age although cracks are beginning to show.
Excessive use of Deus ex Machina which spoils it.
Nice landscape. Italian gigolos.
"The series follows Sylvia Fox (Emilia Fox, Silent Witness), an attractive and intelligent woman in her 40s, who, to the casual observer, appears to lead quite the unremarkable life. When asked about her work, she answers with vague references to an unspectacular career in the Civil Service. Which is only very slightly true - because until recently, Sylvia was a high-ranking British spy."
It's ok, not great.
Stutex31 May 2022
I agree with others who say they can't see Emelia Fox as a spy. She is miscast in this show because she makes a much better forensic pathologist, but that's another series.
The one thing that bothered me the most about this show is how ALL of the Italians speak fluent English, and how Sylvia just approaches random characters and starts speaking English to them and expects them to understand. Even the older characters understood and spoke very good English. In a small Italian village, this is not reality. In one scene, an Italian counselor is talking to a young, Italian boy. Both spoke English with an Italian accent. It didn't make sense.
Another thing is how she manages to insert herself into all of the police investigations. They treat her like she's one of the police investigators, providing info about what's going on. Since when do the police share information or consult with a foreigner??
Normally, I can suspend reality to a degree when watching a show, but this one was had its limits.
The one thing that bothered me the most about this show is how ALL of the Italians speak fluent English, and how Sylvia just approaches random characters and starts speaking English to them and expects them to understand. Even the older characters understood and spoke very good English. In a small Italian village, this is not reality. In one scene, an Italian counselor is talking to a young, Italian boy. Both spoke English with an Italian accent. It didn't make sense.
Another thing is how she manages to insert herself into all of the police investigations. They treat her like she's one of the police investigators, providing info about what's going on. Since when do the police share information or consult with a foreigner??
Normally, I can suspend reality to a degree when watching a show, but this one was had its limits.
I love everything about this.
aufo-9128112 May 2022
Fine series of individual mysteries starring English characters set in beautiful Italian countryside
trpdean24 August 2022
Emilia Fox plays Sylvia Fox, a burnt-out MI6 agent in London whose only personal life is sleeping with her former husband and being ambushed by people (including her husband) at work. She travels to the beautiful Umbrian countryside to attend the wedding of her painter sister's (Tara Fitzgerald's) daughter - and finds herself both falling in love with the beauty and slow pace of Italy - and getting involved in murder mysteries (at first, her niece).
It's a very good series - there is conflict presented by the Italians in the town, conflicts due to the irritations presented by dealings with her own sister - it's evident that the sisters played by Emilia Fox and Tara Fitzgerald aren't bosom friends, and conflicts presented by the MI6 people - and former husband back in London ("when are you coming home?").
It's heavy on the beauty of the Italian countryside - which is impressive :)
It's a very good series - there is conflict presented by the Italians in the town, conflicts due to the irritations presented by dealings with her own sister - it's evident that the sisters played by Emilia Fox and Tara Fitzgerald aren't bosom friends, and conflicts presented by the MI6 people - and former husband back in London ("when are you coming home?").
It's heavy on the beauty of the Italian countryside - which is impressive :)
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