User reviews

Robina finally gets to meet her daughter in law when Harry takes Kasia home, but it's a slightly frosty start, Harry gets a shock when Lois turns up with the baby.

I had all but forgotten about this show, looking back, it was way back in 2019, pre Covid, as such I struggled to remember lots of it, I certainly remembered Harry, Kasia and Robina, I'm sure the pieces will fall into place as it develops.

I'm glad they stuck with it, and brought it back, the first series was impressive, this second has a lot to live up to, I thought this first episode was solid enough, maybe I'd just forgotten too much of it.

Credit for having people speaking in their native languages, it made a big difference.

Best scene had to be Kasia giving the moron in The Cafe exactly what he deserved.

Loved the music and visuals once again, I thought it looked great, amazing to see how much the cast gave changed over the years, Jan in particular.

Jonah Hauer-King was the standout as Harry for me, and I really did enjoy his interactions with his pompous mother Robina, although time does seem to have softened her a little in her attitude towards Jan.

It's something of a mixed bag, but has its moments, the lack of familiarity after four years hasn't helped.

6/10.

World on Fire belated returns for a second series. The world being in shutdown was the reason for the delay.

The action has moved to 1941 and Sean Bean lives up to his reputation. His pacifist character has died off screen.

Translator Harry Chase (Jonah Hauer-King) has returned home with his firebrand Polish wife Kasia (Zofia Wichlacz.) His mother Robina (Lesley Manville) is as waspish as ever.

No wonder Harry does not hang around long. His former flame Lois shows up with his child. Harry is off to North Africa.

Peter Bowker the writer has expanded the story for the second series. There is a British Indian army unit fighting the Italians. Only they seem to have more dangerous missions as they are seen to be expendable.

In Berlin, a teacher is horrified that young schoolgirls are selected to breed with SS officers. Marga is keen to do her bit for the Aryan race. Her parents are afraid to express dissent in case she reports them.

Like the first series it has the soap opera elements. I do think Sean Bean and Helen Hunt are missed here. I wonder if it was budget cuts, the north African scenes certainly looked a lot like CGI.