With its unique viewpoint of World War II, Transatlantic places a slick, old Hollywood spin on the historical rescue network Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC). Like the novel it's based on, the miniseries takes real-life ERC members and writes them into love triangles and affairs to keep interest in the team, occasionally name dropping the famous European intellectuals helped by the committee. The glossy treatment of their wartime efforts prove to be absolutely stunning, if a bit broad. While the show can occasionally feel spread thin over its multiple storylines, the series uses classic Hollywood charm to remind viewers of the multiple refugee crises all over the world, through the one crisis everyone can recognize.
Synopsis
Two Americans and their allies form a scrappy rescue operation in 1940 Marseilles to help artists, writers and other refugees fleeing Europe during WWII.
Storyline
World War II. With Germany occupying parts of France, the Emergency Rescue Committee publicly arranges safe passage for European intellectuals… While running an underground rescue network for thousands of refugees.
TLDR
Lucas Englander had us at “We just had oysters…”
What stands out
It was possible that the lush treatment of the historical rescue network can easily be lost through the multiple plotlines, refugees, and namedrops, but the series is grounded by its selected ERC members. Varian Fry’s curt frustration keeps the viewers aware of the stakes. Mary Jayne Gold’s idealism wins over viewers, even if it’s informed by her rich city girl background. Her fictional love story with Albert Hirschman feels electric with his charm and quick wit. These characters feel so real through the efforts of Cory Michael Smith, Gillian Jacobs, and new leading man Lucas Englander.
