User Reviews

I think this was the best episode to date, I watched most of it with a sunken feeling in my stomach, some of it was uncomfortable to watch. I don't buy this soap opera thing that several have mentioned, it isn't. There were some harrowing scenes, the on board attack, looked amazing, and had a real impact on those involved, the appearance of the Russian Soldiers at the Polish family home, and the scene where The Nazis catch up with Ludwig.

There were some relatively smaller issues, the story surrounding the pregnancy love triangle isn't gripping me, but the relationship between Robina and little Jan has me enthralled, I am loving Lesley Manville in this, it's interesting to see how the frosty, cold mother is warming to the young boy.

The production looks fabulous, the scenes at sea particularly look fantastic. I can't really find much fault. Excellent. 9/10

The show is growing on me more and more and I am grateful that I can binge watch it. There is something that is taking me out of it and it's not just this show, but lots of shows and movies. I'm deep into it and then I see that someone has pierced ears! It's like seeing someone with a Beatles tattoo. I know it may be somewhat small but It pulls me out of the story and right back here. Does anyone else ever feel that way? I wonder. I just saw Harry with piercings and I have to ask why they don't just have it covered by the makeup people? It's so easy to do and it only takes about 30 seconds. Anyway, I just wanted to say that and maybe some day they'll change that. :)

By far the best episode yet, as it concentrates on the main story and does not get sidetracked with peripheral issues.

Although World on Fire aspires to be a cross generational, world spanning World War 2 epic.

The third episode shows its soap opera underpinnings. It is more Winds of War.

Douglas Bennett might still be selling his anti war newspapers. He then finds out that HMD Exeter where his son Tom is serving has been attacked. Douglas nervously waits for bad news.

Tom, a bit of a ducker, diver and a troublemaker. He is now rescuing crewmates, some of them who he has fallen out with, others who he taken money from for various silly bets. An incident that leaves him changed.

The cold aloof Robina Chase finds her maternal side looking after young Jan, mistaken for a german at the school he is being sent to.

The soap opera side is more in regard with Harry. A second lieutenant serving in France. He bumps into Lois who has arrived to entertain the troops. She is in no mood to entertain him.

There were some shocking scenes. A farmer's family being slaughtered by Russian soldiers for giving refuge to the Polish escapees. Kasia now being used to lure young Nazi soldiers to their deaths.

It does look like a sumptuous production. The naval scenes had good use of CGI.

There is a lot wrong with this drama series but this episode really underlines the failure of the writers to properly research the history of the Second World War. Tom Bennett, the waster who decides to join up after the outbreak of war, is shown as being a crew member on the HMS Exeter at the Battle Of The River Plate in December 1939. There is no way that a raw naval recruit could have been aboard that ship just a couple of months after joining the Royal Navy! It was already fully crewed and stationed in the West Atlantic before the outbreak of war. The ship did not return to Britain for repairs and new crew replacements until February 1940. Similarly, it is highly unlikely that Harry Chase would have been a commissioned officer in the BEF in France just a couple of months after joining the army. The BEF consisted mainly of regulars and reservists in 1939 - not new recruits. This is sloppy story-writing on the part of the makers of World On Fire.