‘Transatlantic’ Review: Netflix’s Miniseries Tells a Beautiful Story of Resistance

World War II must be one of the most common settings in fiction. There are countless novels, video games, and, of course, movies that take place during this very chaotic period of time. The setting has become a perfect place to set stories about basically everything. You can have love stories, inspiring stories, terrifying stories, and yes, even conspiracy stories, and they would all make sense in one way or another. However, it doesn’t matter how good a setting can be; it can also get stale. Transatlantic, the new Netflix WWII series that arrives this weekend, faces that challenge.

Transatlantic is a miniseries developed by Anna Winger and Daniel Hendler. The series is based on the novel written by Julie Orringer, titled, The Flight Portfolio. The series tells the true story of the Emergency Rescue Committee, an organization responsible for finding safe passage for refugees out of occupied France. The series stars Gillian Jacobs, Lucas Englander, Cory Michael Smith, Ralph Amoussou, Deleila Piasko, y Corey Stoll. The series follows the members of the ERC as they try to save as many lives as possible from the German forces that reside in France.

From the first couple of episodes, you can tell that Transatlantic was made with love. The production values feel and look quite solid. We are contented with an incredible number of gorgeous sets and even prettier locations. France has always been a striking country. Its many landscapes are the thing of poems and songs. So, it isn’t surprising when the show focuses on them, and you just want to go there. Not in times of war, of course, but right now, as that country has never looked as beautiful.

If the production values are insufficient, then the casting is another reason to watch the show. The cast is composed of mostly unknowns on this side of the pond, but that doesn’t mean the actors are not up to par when they need to pull off very hard performances. Gillian Jacobs is definitely the biggest name on the roster, and that should tell you something about the names we have here. This is not to say that Jacobs is a bad actress; she is fantastic and brings charisma and sweetness to her role, but she isn’t a household name.

Outside of Jacobs, the entire cast is filled with breakthrough stars. Englander is a tour de force and manages to be both handsome, mysterious, and vulnerable. The same happens with Smith, who takes on the role of a very by-the-book character who often slips into very dangerous territory by just being who he is. Piasko, on the other hand, doesn’t only have the looks and the presence to be a movie star. Her charisma will make you follow her to the end. While Amoussou will simply win your heart every time he comes on screen.

On the other hand, the story might be simple, but it is also very effective. The simplicity of what is happening on screen makes each dangerous moment feel like cutting the tension with a knife. The sad moments will also strike you like a punch in the belly, but the victories will be as sweet as your favorite dessert. Stories don’t have to be complicated or profound. Still, they need to have compelling characters and good structures in order to work and take the audience on a ride to another world where they will experience another life.

The series also has a very well-structured plot. This is felt in the way the different storylines merge. In today’s TV environment, you can see that many shows start developing storylines but never go outside their comfort zone or take the risk of focusing on the conclusion of those storylines. That is not the case here in Transatlantic. There is a clear end goal, which is the same as in the novel, so that feeling of progression is always there. You will not feel like the characters are treading water toward the finish line.

In terms of visuals, Transatlantic isn’t exactly a state-of-the-art showpiece. The cinematography is functional and sometimes chooses to go for a very naturalistic feel. The result is shots that sell the moments well enough, so they can have an impact, but you will not get to find many frames that will stay in your mind. There are a couple, but the show focuses mostly on telling its story through the characters. The visuals are only there to support that element. The costume design shines, though, and every character has a fashion statement.

Transatlantic might end up being one of the best TV series from Netflix this year. It is charming and has tons of passion, and the cast is phenomenal. And yet, this show will certainly pass under a lot of people’s radars because it isn’t an action thriller or something that could be labeled as fun. Which it is. It is a lot of fun in its own kind of way. If you are just curious about the show, don’t hesitate and give it a chance. Fans of historical fiction shows and movies will surely love it.

In the end, Transatlantic offers an amazing story, a fantastic cast of actors delivering solid and powerful performances, and very solid production values. It might not be for everyone, but those who take the leap of faith will not regret it. If only most of Netflix’s productions could be this good. Then the world would be a better place. We can only hope this show succeeds enough to take its cast and creative team to the next level, as they clearly deserve it.

SCORE: 9/10