A Preview of ‘Signora Volpe’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Something that is genuinely fascinating about stories that explore someone’s second act in life, is that so many of them are… cliché in nature. Because when you settle in to watch or read a story in this vein, you pretty much have an idea of what it is going to be about. In that, it will revolve around a person that has either suffered great loss or great heartbreak, and they realize that this tragedy is their wakeup call to live life to the fullest and enjoy every single moment that comes their way. Which in turn motivates them to drop everything and move to their dream location and live it up, and most likely, they’ll immediately find love in their new home and find peace and that’s the end of the journey. One that is painfully predictable and quite frankly, isn’t indicative of what the second act looks like at all.

Because our reasons for wanting to make changes in our lives, vary from person to person. For some… it is about chasing a dream that they gave up on long ago and for others… it is about simply living life and taking part in experiences that they have always wanted to enjoy. Or in the case of the new Acorn TV series, Signora Volpe, we become eager to make a change when we realize the path, we’ve walked… isn’t quite as fulfilling as we once thought it was. An exploration that this show accomplishes by introducing us to an MI6 operative named Sylvia Fox… who comes to realize that spy work isn’t quite giving her what she needs anymore and that motivates her to take a little time away from the spy business and spend time with her family in Italy for her niece’s wedding. 

Which is where this story truly begins to shine. For once Sylvia arrives in Italy, she is able to really reflect upon her life and her career and what she has sacrificed in the name of it and the greater good of the world and that leads to some powerful moments. The kind that audiences can relate to since Sylvia ponders upon a lot of the concerns we have about our lives in this type of momentary crisis and that brings about an intimate character study. One that really challenges Sylvia like never before and the viewer for that matter as well. Since it takes us to task and asks us if we’ve really looked at our lives in an objective manner as Sylvia has and well, this part of the journey, really does offer up a game-changing and honest examination of what the second act looks like and why we choose to make that change.

But of course, one cannot simply expect a spy to just… abandon a lifetime of training and surrender their lives to everyday whims, and since Sylvia cannot just leave it all behind… the audience is treated to quite the twist in this story. One that involves Sylvia’s desire to use her skill set to investigate people and crimes that appear to be impossible to solve or unique in nature, and that most certainly keeps the story interesting and fresh and original. Since Sylvia thrives in helping people in her second act and well… that makes this one of the most unique ‘starting over’ stories to ever hit the market and while those two elements alone could have carried this series from beginning to end… it still has more wonders to offer its audience.

In that, it’s grand and sweeping in its adventures and takes the time to show off the beauty of Italy through and through. Not to mention, it knows how to have a little fun and it also features heartwarming and quirky moments and of course… it features some magnificent acting. For Emilia Fox is perfectly cast as Sylvia and her vast skill set as an actor and the earnest manner in which she approaches this role, gives Sylvia incredible depth and realism and she is counterbalanced nicely by Jamie Bamber, who plays Sylvia’s ex-husband Adam, and the rest of cast, which includes veterans Giovanni Cirfiera and Tara Fitzgerald, and really… all these elements, make this series a must see.

Because it really is original and refreshing and if our spoiler-free preview here has done enough to pique your interest… then good news, you don’t have to wait all that much longer to enjoy this series. For Signora Volpe makes its debut on Acorn TV on Monday, May 1, 2022, and we certainly hope you check it out and that you check back with us for more pre-release coverage as well. Since we have interviews with Jamie Bamber and Emilia Fox to share with all of you before this stunningly magnificent series hits the airwaves come next Monday.

As an added bonus, here is the trailer for the show and a sneak peek clip!

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Trailer

Sneak Peek Clip