The BBC's acclaimed World War One period drama, 'The Crimson Field', has been praised by viewers as 'truly remarkable' and compared to Downton Abbey. You can stream all six episodes now.
A Standalone Series Worth Watching
If you are searching for your next period drama fix, this could be the ideal choice. The standalone series offers six 'inspiring' episodes that can be binge-watched.
The British television drama first aired on the BBC in 2014. Although it was never renewed for a second series, viewers continue to discover it and heap praise upon it. The show has fans 'hooked' as they follow the lives of medical staff and patients during the harrowing times of the First World War.
Setting and Cast
The series is set in a fictional field hospital in France at the height of the conflict. It captures the essence of the era while bringing to life the stories and people behind this historic event. For many, the ensemble cast propels the series forward, with familiar and fresh faces delivering 'remarkable' performances.
The cast includes Rupert Graves as Major Edward Crecy, 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 say that it shares 'a lot in common' with Downton Abbey, exploring similar themes in a 'unique' fashion. The review said: '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
Despite the show's creator, Sarah Phelps, reportedly mapping out four additional series, it was axed after just one season due to poor audience figures and budgetary constraints. Phelps is credited with penning more than 90 episodes of EastEnders, alongside numerous BBC adaptations, including Great Expectations and Oliver Twist.
Phelps took to social media to break the news that the show would not continue, confessing she was 'gutted'. She said: 'Gutted doesn't even touch the sides of how I feel.'
'The Crimson Field' is available on Amazon.
