The World Wars: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings

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4.1	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings

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The World Wars

Now Playing: The World Wars

Season Details & Credits

History | The History Channel | History Channel | Season Premiere Date: May 26, 2014

Summary: Narrated by Jeremy Renner, this three-part, six-hour miniseries covers World War I and World War II by utilizing reinactments, interviews, as well as commentary from political figures such as Sen. John McCain, British Prime Minister John Major, and Gen. Colin Powell, to illustrate the experiences and decisions that went into the wars.

Genre(s): Movie/Mini-Series, Documentary, Educational

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E4. A Rising Threat: Extended
Air Date: March 29, 2020
tbd
S1:E3. Never Surrender
Air Date: May 28, 2014
9.4
S1:E2. A Rising Threat
Air Date: May 27, 2014

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Alessandra Stanley

May 27, 2014

It’s a smart, imaginatively made and unusually sweeping look at what happened to the world from Sarajevo in 1914 to Hiroshima in 1945, or as Churchill put it, “one story of a 30 years’ war.” Read full review

Ray Rahman

May 23, 2014

The lush narrative style is alluring, but when Adolf Hitler starts to feel like a pulpy Batman villain, you'll suspect this isn't the most insightful account available. [30 May/6 Jun 2014, p.111] Read full review

Nancy DeWolf Smith

May 23, 2014

The World Wars has a few annoying habits, including pared-down descriptions that can be depressingly inane. Read full review

Joanne Ostrow

May 23, 2014

Nobody will accuse it of being ponderous or academic. It's expensive-looking and shallow but long. Read full review

Mary McNamara

May 27, 2014

There is much to like and learn from the miniseries. Alas, executive producer Stephen David and his creative team seem intent on getting in their own way, cluttering up the inevitably fascinating narrative (offered here by Jeremy Renner) with all manner of clunky historical reenactments, hyperbolic characterizations and a soundtrack that should be shot for treason. Read full review

Brian Lowry

May 23, 2014

A three-part, six-hour undertaking that proves fitfully interesting despite its offputting narrative approach. Read full review

Alasdair Wilkins

May 27, 2014

This impulse for larger-than-life storytelling does mean that The World Wars is terminally superficial. Read full review

User Score

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User Reviews

zig16

Jun 9, 2014

This is an excellent way to inform the unwashed what happened during that time. Most lower rung intelligence idiots have no idea the loss that occurred back then, and should be reminded of the facts. The upper rung intelligence snots who have disdain for anything that isn't produced by theThis is an excellent way to inform the unwashed what happened during that time. Most lower rung intelligence idiots have no idea the loss that occurred back then, and should be reminded of the facts. The upper rung intelligence snots who have disdain for anything that isn't produced by the BBC or HBO, also need to understand that not everyone is a queer thinker like they are.
If this is the way to get people to realized that 100 million people died in a fruitless disaster then I call it a success.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

frank36695

May 28, 2014

There are many historical errors, as pointed out by others It is quite unsatisfying and glossed over for anyone familiar with the period and the events portrayed.

Hitler is often shown as a dwarf surrounded by subordinates that tower over him. He was 5'9", which was average for thatThere are many historical errors, as pointed out by others It is quite unsatisfying and glossed over for anyone familiar with the period and the events portrayed.

Hitler is often shown as a dwarf surrounded by subordinates that tower over him. He was 5'9", which was average for that time. This rather obvious misrepresentation is not necessary.

Overall I found it tedious..… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

irjebiv

May 28, 2014

I signed up for an account just to have my say on this show. I had to turn it off during the second episode because it was just so wrong and full of outright falsehoods. I can't believe this is a History Channel production and it is really disturbing that the commercial authority onI signed up for an account just to have my say on this show. I had to turn it off during the second episode because it was just so wrong and full of outright falsehoods. I can't believe this is a History Channel production and it is really disturbing that the commercial authority on "history" would release this with so many errors and outright lies. I am now worried that this is what people will actually begin to think is true.

I am giving the show a 2 because it was pleasant to watch (at first). The WWI scenes were nicely depicted even though the tanks were wrong. The image of a young MacArthur casually walking across the battle field is exactly how I envisioned it. However, the gross negligent errors later will quickly put everything about this show in question, and the History Channel's credentials as well.

This is not nitpicking. These are atrocious mistakes. The Germans really had B-17 bombers in the 1939 blitzkrieg of Poland? Did the Germans really have Soviet T-54s (a 1950/60's era tank) during the blitzkrieg of France in 1941? This show actually says the Germans attacked straight through the Maginot line and won because of "blitzkrieg"!!! No mention of bypassing static defenses and cutting off the BEF and mobile French forces that were NOT sitting in the impenetrable Maginot Line. This show didn't even mention the British and French pact to go to war with Germany should Poland be attacked. It made it look like Churchill pressured Chamberlain into declaring war after the fact! MacArthur was not a 5 star General during the 1930's depression! This isn't just nitpicking small details like "they got the wrong rifles", these are very substantial errors and my fear is people will think this is the truth! Now that I've seen this I have to question the History Channel's authority to release or publish anything on history at all. Their credibility is gone as far as I'm concerned.

Dear American Public, please enjoy this show for it's art and cgi war scenes only as it is beautiful, and they got Churchill down to a tee, but do not accept any of this show as real facts. Indeed, if I were a teacher I'd assign this show for my class to discover each and every falsehood and outright lie, and for extra credit, for them to find any actual truth in the entire series.

How could this get past editors, or even the guy who gets everyone coffee? How could this be published under the History Channel's name without anyone noticing these things? I guess this explains why the channel's format is dominated by Pawn Stars, moonshine runners and alligator hunters. Disgusting...… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

coltsrevenge

May 29, 2014

Signed up just to say almost exactly what irjebiv did. I thought I was disappointed in the HC for switching over to a mostly "reality series" based lineup, well they slapped me and other old school HC fans in the face on this one. And what was up with some of Hitler's generals? They lookedSigned up just to say almost exactly what irjebiv did. I thought I was disappointed in the HC for switching over to a mostly "reality series" based lineup, well they slapped me and other old school HC fans in the face on this one. And what was up with some of Hitler's generals? They looked like they could've been members of Pink Floyd! Here's a tune for your WW2 extras History Channel...'Shave and a haircut, two bits!'… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

brucefk

Oct 15, 2014

This History Channel has no right to its name. Swamp rats and pawn sharks are not history. The World Wars is certainly not history either. It is especially bad with regards to WWI. There's no mention of the French at all. You never see a French soldier or civilian, which is strangeThis History Channel has no right to its name. Swamp rats and pawn sharks are not history. The World Wars is certainly not history either. It is especially bad with regards to WWI. There's no mention of the French at all. You never see a French soldier or civilian, which is strange since most of WWI was fought by the French in France. The series would have us believe that generals MacArthur and Patton won WWI which is complete junk. The U.S. commander, General Pershing was never mentioned, but rather discarded with the entire French nation. Finally, at the treaty of Versailles it is alleged that the Japanese were badly treated which caused them to switch sides in WWII. This misses that the Japanese wanted an anti-racism clause which was rejected by the racist Americans and British. The entire series is designed to lie to Americans and make them think they saved the world twice and the biggest saviors were the two right wing generals. General Eisenhower is also not mentioned. He's put on the rubbish heap together with the French and General Pershing. We are supposed to watch this and worship Patton and MacArthur as the two military men who single-handedly saved the world twice, all alone with no French, no Eisenhower, no Pershing, nearly no British, no Canadians and no real history. It is really terrible stupid stuff.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MegsDad

Jun 23, 2014

Hurrah,,, the US saves the World once more,, dear oh dear,, can you guys ever get off your rather rotten ivory tower?
I guess one only has to see who funded the show to see how the bias plays such an important role in a show that should have been amazing.
Such a shame,, this was a missedHurrah,,, the US saves the World once more,, dear oh dear,, can you guys ever get off your rather rotten ivory tower?
I guess one only has to see who funded the show to see how the bias plays such an important role in a show that should have been amazing.
Such a shame,, this was a missed opportunity and The History channel seems to have become the latest Fox news,, so sad.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

nrn

May 30, 2014

I did not watch the first two episodes, only the one on WWII. Perhaps the first two were better. I thought that the WWII segment was the absolute worst history I have ever seen. I would flunk a high school student who wrote such. I realize the challenge of telling the story of WWII in anI did not watch the first two episodes, only the one on WWII. Perhaps the first two were better. I thought that the WWII segment was the absolute worst history I have ever seen. I would flunk a high school student who wrote such. I realize the challenge of telling the story of WWII in an hour or less, but this effort was over dramatized with imagined conversations, mentioning only two U.S. generals - MacArthur and Patton - and making the war in Europe out to have been a personal contest between Patton and Hitler. From what I read elsewhere many of the film segments were inaccurate as well. It essentially discounts the war at sea and in the air - aside from Midway. It gives false impressions of how we (Patton) just marched up Italy and how until the Bulge we just advanced across France from the moment we landed in Normandy. I frankly think the WWII segment is so badly done that it is worse than nothing in terms of educating the public about WWII. The choice of commentators - including Cheney and Rumsfeld was truly curious. I wonder if Douglas Brinkley is not embarrassed that he took part in the program! I would give this program no stars - a definite thumbs down!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

SEE ALL 17 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

62

Series Overview
Season 1

62
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: May 26, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E4. A Rising Threat: Extended
  Air Date: March 29, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E3. Never Surrender
  Air Date: May 28, 2014
- 9.4
  S1:E2. A Rising Threat
  Air Date: May 27, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E1. Trial by Fire
  Air Date: May 26, 2014