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World On Fire

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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73

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	Your Score
7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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World On Fire

Now Playing: World On Fire

World On Fire

Series Details & Credits

PBS | BBC One | Release Date: April 5, 2020

Summary: Set 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 loverSet 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 Fallou (Parker Sawyers).

[Premiered originally on BBC One on 29 Sep 2019 and in the US as a part of PBS's Masterpiece on 5 Apr 2020]… Expand

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

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Recent Episodes

tbd
S2:E6. Episode 6
Air Date: November 30, -0001
tbd
S2:E5. Episode 5
Air Date: November 30, -0001
tbd
S2:E4. Episode 4
Air Date: November 30, -0001

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

73

Positive:

14

Mixed:

4

Negative:

0

Critic Reviews

90

CNN

Brian Lowry

Apr 5, 2020

Season 1 Review: If not a light escape, it makes for a beautifully made, extremely soapy "Masterpiece" series. Read full review

83

Colorado Springs Gazette

Terry Terrones

Apr 1, 2020

Season 1 Review: “World on Fire” hits the ground running and doesn’t let up. While it might take a bit of time to grasp everything onscreen, once you do you’re in for an emotional and jaw-dropping ride. Read full review

80

i Emily Baker

Jul 17, 2023

Season 2 Review: In the wrong hands, World on Fire could well be very boring – the Second World War is not exactly new narrative territory. But Bowker makes both the grand narratives and the minutiae equally vivid and stirring, and it becomes impossible not to be enraptured by at least one of them. Read full review

70

Boston Globe

Matthew Gilbert

Apr 2, 2020

Season 1 Review: 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. Read full review

70

The New York Times

Mike Hale

Apr 3, 2020

Season 1 Review: 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. Read full review

67

IndieWire Kate Erbland

Apr 6, 2020

Season 1 Review: The dense episodes — seven in total, each stretching nearly an hour — do eventually give way to satisfying character development and fresh complications. Read full review

60

TV Guide Magazine Matt Roush

Apr 6, 2020

Season 1 Review: 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]

SEE ALL 18 REVIEWS

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7.0

User Reviews

10

rayjay

Apr 13, 2020

Character driven drama set during the events leading up to WW2, and the impact it has on these people. Very well done.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

8

Tv_Series_Lover

May 6, 2020

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 toHistorical 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!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

4

ksb797

Jun 15, 2020

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.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Seasons & Episodes

73

Series Overview
Season 2

70
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: October 15, 2023
- tbd
  S2:E6. Episode 6
  Air Date: November 30, -0001
- tbd
  S2:E5. Episode 5
  Air Date: November 30, -0001
- tbd
  S2:E4. Episode 4
  Air Date: November 30, -0001
- tbd
  S2:E3. Episode 3
  Air Date: November 30, -0001
- tbd
  S2:E2. Episode 2
  Air Date: November 30, -0001
- tbd
  S2:E1. Episode 1
  Air Date: November 30, -0001
Season 1

74
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 5, 2020