If you are searching for your next period drama obsession, look no further than this standalone series you can devour across six inspiring episodes. The British television drama 'The Crimson Field,' originally aired on the BBC in 2014, and despite never being commissioned for a second series, viewers continue to discover it and heap praise upon it.
Why Viewers Are Hooked
The programme has audiences utterly hooked as they follow the unfolding lives of various medics and patients during the turbulent times of the First World War. Set within a fictional field hospital in France at the height of the conflict, it brilliantly captures the spirit of the period while breathing life into the stories and individuals behind this momentous historical chapter.
For many, it is the ensemble cast that truly propels the series forward, featuring numerous fresh and recognisable faces delivering some remarkable performances. That cast includes Rupert Graves as Major Edward Crecy, alongside Oona Chaplin as Kitty Trevelyan, Hermione Norris as Grace Carter, Suranne Jones as Sister Joan Livesey, and Kevin Doyle as Lt Col Roland Brett.
Viewer Reviews
One viewer left a review on Rotten Tomatoes, saying: 'I rate The Crimson Field with Call the Midwife and Downton Abbey. It is British drama at its best with a fantastic cast of those some of you may remember from other shows. However, there is no stereotype in their roles from previous shows. Truly remarkable acting.'
Another review on IMDb added: 'Within the first minutes of watching this series I knew that I was hooked. It gives an honest representation of life in the war hospitals of Northern France during the First World War. While many depictions of wartime focus on the absolute patriotism of those involved, this series shows that lines do get blurred when individual, real people are involved.'
The reviewer went on to note that it shares a lot in common with Downton Abbey, exploring similar themes in a unique manner. The review explained: 'Where D.A. explores the realities of hierarchy in early 20th-century British society, The Crimson Field does the same with the ranking within the army and hospital camps.'
Behind the Scenes
The show was released in 2014. Despite reportedly having four additional series planned by the programme's creator, Sarah Phelps, it was axed after one series owing to disappointing viewing figures and budget constraints. The programme's screenwriter Sarah Phelps has written more than 90 episodes of EastEnders, alongside numerous BBC adaptations, including Great Expectations and Oliver Twist. Phelps turned to social media to confirm the programme would not continue and confessed she was 'gutted.' She said: 'Gutted doesn't even touch the sides of how I feel.'
Period drama fanatics can watch all six episodes of The Crimson Field, streaming now on Amazon Prime.
