‘Masterpiece’ BBC period drama receives 10/10 reviews from fans left ‘in tears’

The BBC period drama has been widely praised by fans online who have been binge-watching the series on repeat

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Fans have been left ‘in tears’ over BBC period drama(Image: BBC/Nick Briggs)

BBC’s beloved period drama, The Crimson Field, has fans glued to their screens, watching it on repeat. Inspired by Lyn Macdonald’s 1980 book, The Roses of No Man’s Land, this World War I series is a hit among history buffs.

Available on Amazon Prime, the historical drama takes viewers back to northern France, following the lives of volunteer nurses and medical staff. Viewers witness the team dealing with the horrors of war, healing the wounded, and overcoming personal challenges and societal expectations.

With staff numbers dwindling, the volunteers are desperately needed, but some view these women as threats rather than lifesavers, making their daily struggle to keep the war machine running even more challenging.

For nurses Kitty Trevelyan (played by Oona Chaplin), Flora Marshall (Alice St. Clair) and Rosalie Berwick (Marianne Oldham), the battlefield’s carnage is something no training could have prepared them for.

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Despite receiving rave reviews, the show was cancelled after just six episodes(Image: BBC/Todd Antony)

However, the hospital soon welcomes Sister Joan Livesey (Suranne Jones), a spirited nurse with a mischievous streak, bringing a breath of fresh air, reports the Express.

The war drama was filmed in London’s heart, transforming the Historic Dockyard Chatham and HMS Gannet into the Port of Boulogne, France. Dyrham Park also appeared throughout the six-episode series as a French hotel ahead of the centenary special.

The creator of the BBC series Sarah Phelps expressed her delight about her TV programme before filming commenced. She enthused: “I am bouncing off the walls with excitement at having such an extraordinary talented cast, bouncing off the walls.”

Regrettably, the programme was axed after one series due to the disappointing critical reception as well as budget constraints affecting other BBC productions despite Phelps planning four additional series based on it.

Despite its premature end, the series and the book have received widespread acclaim from fans online, with one viewer commenting: “Makes WW1 come alive. Each episodes deals with a different problem at a field hospital. It’s humanism is extraordinary.”

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The series follows a group of volunteer nurses in the heart of northern France(Image: BBC/Todd Anthony)

Another enthused: “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.”

A third agreed: “Sarah Phelps has written a new perspective on WWI that is intelligent, humorous, compassionate and poignant. While it is from the point of view of nurses and VAD’s in WWI, the experiences of the soldiers who are their patients and that of the other men on staff, are given equal attention.”

Meanwhile, some viewers were swift to criticise the broadcaster for cancelling the war series after it was promised a fourth series. One user wrote: “Moving, unflinching drama, The Crimson Field brought forth the best – and the worst – of those dedicated to saving the lives of the British fallen and shattered of World War I.

“A brilliant series with a standout cast and a potential for worldwide viewer impact, the BBC made a huge mistake in cancelling this masterpiece.”

Another fan enthused: “Watching it for a 2nd time. Wonderful acting, great storylines. So much better than some of the other rubbish people watch. So sad no 2nd series. Bad decision BBC.”

A fourth added: “I am absolutely gutted that there isn’t a series 2 and 3. I thoroughly enjoyed this series. The acting was great. People’s feelings came out, I was hooked.”

LINK WATCH FULL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuqWHcrhg34&list=PL-iSrZgqQEGY03tDS5iQLvuqjM4tvDRhG

SOURCE: MIRROR