SummarySet during World War II, the drama written by Peter Bowker follows the lives of British Army translator Harry Chase (Jonah Hauer-King); his Polish lover Kasia (Zofia Wichłacz;, Lois (Julia Brown), his girlfriend in Manchester; American journalist Nancy Campbell (Helen Hunt); American surgeon Webster O’Connor (Brian J. Smith) and his lover Albert ... Read More
Created By:Peter Bowker
World On Fire
Season 1 Premiere:
Sep 29, 2019
Metascore
Generally Favorable
73
User score
Generally Favorable
6.4
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
All Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
73
78% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
22% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Apr 5, 2020
90
If not a light escape, it makes for a beautifully made, extremely soapy "Masterpiece" series.
Oct 16, 2023
80
Like Season 1, there are a few times when the coincidences that put everyone in the right place at the right time can strain credibility. But somehow, the series never feels like it's trying to do too much, even when it is obviously straining VFX budgets to the limit.
User score
Generally Favorable
6.4
71% Positive
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
12% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
18% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Apr 13, 2020
10
Character driven drama set during the events leading up to WW2, and the impact it has on these people. Very well done.
May 6, 2020
8
Historical dramas are always my favorite ones but World On Fire has a different perspective about WWII which makes the show more interesting. I do like the idea of having ordinary people in front during these dark period of history because it shows the effects on these people. We get used to see the war strategies, politics in these kind of period dramas. However while watching World On Fire you see how it becomes difficult to survive and/or think of simple daily decisions in your life. Yes it might be a little bit soapy because of the love storylines but even in the war this is part of the life. I am really looking forward to see the next chapter of these characters' lives!
Apr 6, 2020
80
It’s true that not every story line gets equal attention or succeeds equally well, and it does take a little while for authentic characters to emerge from artificial scene-setting. But emerge they do, and my growing desire to peek at the end — as a TV critic, I have that power — was a sign that I had become deeply invested in their fates.
Apr 3, 2020
70
The themes and outlines of “World on Fire” are firmly middle of the road — you imagine a good share of the audience watching it over tea and a biscuit — but Bowker has worked conscientiously to make the manifold subplots a little different from the norm for World War II dramas.
Apr 2, 2020
70
It’s an ambitious and broad look at the onslaught of war and the ugliness — as well as the occasional heroism, but mostly the ugliness — that it ushered in.
Jul 19, 2023
60
I'm not sure how many viewers will stick it through six episodes, which is a shame, because it gets better as the series progresses, the finale making a clear nod to another series. Luckily the performances of Wichlacz, Manville and Jonah Hauer-King as Harry are enough of an incentive to keep watching for now. And here's another: Mark Bonnar will be in it soon.
Apr 6, 2020
60
The ambitious seven-part Masterpiece series World on Fire covers a lot of ground in its first season, but it still can't help feeling like every World War II drama you've ever seen. [30 Mar - 12 Apr 2020, p.8]
Sep 22, 2023
4
Disappointing. Good production as usual, but none of the characters are terribly appealing, making it difficult for me to care what happens to them. Maybe it gets better -- I'm only 2 episodes in -- but I'm not terribly inclined to continue.
Jun 15, 2020
4
This is right down there with other duds, such as the much too long, Mr. Selfrage, and the more recent hugely disappointing so-called Jane Austin adaptation, Sandition.
