The Crimson Field

I am really loving this series, and hoping it not only is renewed for a second season but is picked up in the US. The portrayals of each character are great, and we see them as they are revealed layer by layer. Also like that they are not black-and-white, cardboard people, but layered and ones we grow to care about and respect. The sets and action are true to the time period, well devised and shown. Crossing my fingers to see more... I find Richard Rankin's portrayal especially good. He is a doctor who is more progressive that many of his "superiors" but also from a lower social class than most, so he fights a double battle. The support he receives from the Lt. Col. Roland Brett (head doctor played by Kevin Doyle) and Brett's own struggle with what's good for the patient vs. the Army wanting to put men back out in the field is well-portrayed. I'm liking very much the lives of the nurses and VAD's. Oona Chaplin is Kitty, a VAD with a secret and spectacularly shows the emotions boiling under her very controlled surface. The other nurses and VAD's all have their own secrets and these are slowly being revealed. All in all, excellent series. Hoping to hear the BBC has renewed it soon.

I posted a version of this review in episode 1 reviews but I have expanded it somewhat as it is also an accurate review of the series and all episodes I have watched thus far.

I thoroughly enjoyed the premiere episode of The Crimson Field as well as all subsequent episodes. I am on pins and needles waiting for the season finale to see how many plot points can be wrapped up yet still leave us wanting more. It is an intriguing and refreshing premise to watch a show focused mainly on how women cope with the realities of a front line field hospital in WWI. It is a period deserving of special attention during this centenary year. It is also a period that has become more familiar to general viewers through Downton Abbey(Season 2) and The Crimson Field almost seems a logical progression from some of the events exposed in that drama.

I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the characters of The Crimson Field develop under the deft and expert writing of Sarah Phelps' scripts. The work of the directors, Richard Clark in particular with episodes 3&4, have shown a lot of finesse in crafting an hour of TV that tugs on your heartstrings and effortlessly draw you into the world and the struggles of the inhabitants living and working so close to the front lines.

The early promise in the performances of relative newcomers such as Oona Chaplin (Game of Thrones) and Richard Rankin has been more than fulfilled. There is one episode yet to go but I am already convinced that a second season is absolutely required. Viewers will not be ready to leave the world and characters so expertly portrayed after a single season.

The Crimson Field has been such an amazing series to watch and I cannot believe the final episode is tomorrow! The actors have done a brilliant job, contrasting drama and humour well! Sarah Phelps has created such a different and fresh look on the role that women had to play in World War One. Each episode changes your feelings about each character and the many stories taking place within the general story makes it that much more enjoyable to watch. Every character have different qualities that are either subtle or obvious meaning that each week of the series, when new characteristics are shown, new characters become your favourites and your old favourites become your least. Because your opinions change, and even though the general story is carried on and romances/relationships between the characters are continued, plots to each episodes are different making the show never boring. Definitely recommended and I will be so upset if I hear the BBC haven't renewed it.

The Crimson Field is an extremely well written drama about a WWI field hospital. It doesn't focus on the war & fighting, so don't look for that. This drama focuses on the nurses, doctors, patients and volunteers. Sarah Phelps has written episodes that leave you intrigued and emotionally involved in the characters; your heart will break for them and you will find yourself rooting for love to win in the end. The actresses and actors do an amazing job portraying their characters, a better cast couldn't have been chosen! My personal favorite episodes thus far are 3 & 4, directed by the talented Richard Clark. I am desperately hoping BBC announces that season 2 will be filmed.

BBC One needs to be much more attentive to highlighting the work that is being accomplished in this show, to draw in a much wider audience. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching The Crimson Field. It has been a delight to be introduced to so many actors and actresses who are so very talented. To be able to portray each story line, to actually get the underlying feelings and angst across in each episode in such a short time is difficult under the best of conditions. Some of the best stories from history are those of people who were not in the lime light, as that is how you get the best "feel" for how "real" people dealt with "real" life without boring the viewer to tears. The story line is quite believable, and the interaction between and amongst the principle characters is quite spot on. Modern viewers who are easily disappointed by "not enough action" or "not enough gore" or something equally compelling need to remember that, during this period, things were much simpler and people were still functioning around stereotypes and clichés. News from the rest of the world was *not* instantaneous as it is now, therefore watching a period piece with hindsight is really quite unfair to all involved in the production. To be able to portray so much within a short period of time requires all involved to be succinct and on-point ... which this series is. Now it needs to be available in the US *and* we need to have at least another 3 seasons to be able to properly follow these story lines to their conclusions.