The Crimson Field

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 is brilliant.

I usually don't watch shows like this because it tends to be too gory for me but there is some violence and some gore but it isn't over the top. I throughly enjoy the characters because you can hate them one episode and love them the next!

It's a sympathetic show and also a very realistic portrayal of what the time would have been like.

I think that anyone who watches this would thoroughly enjoy it because of how well the actors and actresses portray their parts, the suspense and excitement will capture in the first episode.

I would recommend! I look forward to this every week!

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.

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.

The Crimson Field has been such a beautiful series, at times reducing me to tears, all the actors have done a brilliant job in bringing the story alive. I really hope that there is another series or 3! I feel there is so much more for all the characters to tell. We have had a glimpse into what it would have been like 100 yrs ago, the V A D's , nurses and surgeons worked wonders in such difficult conditions. All the actors deserve credit, I wan't to hear all their stories, and the fizzing will they /won't they romance between Tom and Kitty has kept us on tender hooks! The writers have done a wonderful job, Sarah Phelps has real talent in making us believe anything that she writes.