As this episode of World on Fire begins, the soldiers drive through the Sahara Desert in Egypt. Once Harry Chase (Jonah Hauer-King) arrives, he says hello to Stan Raddings (Blake Harrison). Joe and George come over to greet him as well. Stan gives Harry an update and says they haven’t seen much action yet. The Italians fly over every afternoon. Stan believes they just want to show them they know where they are. They talk about Kasia who is safe in England. Jan hangs out with Robina Chase (Lesley Manville). Kasia (Zofia Wichlacz) interrupts before stepping out of the room. Robina believes Jan will relax more once her court case is over. She urges Kasia to shape up.

Tom (Ewan Mitchell) and Lois Bennett (Julia Brown) go to their father’s gravesite. He says they’ll get a stonemason to put dad’s name under mom’s name during his next leave. When Lois says she needs to get away from there, Tom asks her not to because she is all he has now. Lois confesses that she wanted to die in that house and didn’t run when it started coming down. Henriette (Eugenie Derouand) learns that they must be checking everyone’s papers again. She watches a man get drug out by soldiers because there are discrepancies in his papers. Then, she learns that her brother is there with a wound on his head. Henriette reminds him she helps resistance fighters and British airmen and not silly students.

Nevertheless, she is going to help him. Gordon (James Backway) talks to Grzegorz and others about losing a second man this week. David tries to make light of the loss so Stephen tells him that was in poor taste. Henriette tries to help her brother escape. They enter a room and lock the door. Henriette retrieves a gun as a soldier tries to get inside. Once he steps away, they try to escape. He goes into the basement and gets stopped by soldiers. Henriette worries that they’ll shoot him. Gordon complains about David (Gregg Sulkin) joking about the soldiers they’ve lost. Harry tells the other soldiers that today is going to be different because they’re on the front foot.

They intend to move to position one, secure Bardis, and clear the way for the next regiment. Rajib and the sappers will help ensure they don’t get blown up along the way. Rajib (Ahad Raza Mir) talks to Harry about fighting the Italians in Ethiopia. Although they didn’t want to be there, the lower classes will do a lot for three square meals and a little money to send home. Of Harry’s past experiences, home has been the bloodiest. Rajib believes his men will have him home in no time. In Berlin, Marga (Miriam Schiweck) receives a letter from the man she will wed. Gretha (Johanna Gotting) visits even though Marga doesn’t want to see her. Gretha says she brought cake and she’d like Marga to explain things to her.

Marga thinks it is an honor because they must keep the German race pure. She says it isn’t her baby because it’ll belong to the Reich. Gretha believes it is wrong and that Marga has been brainwashed. Marga thanks her for the cake and makes her leave. Lois arrives and tells Kasia that she is sorry for being so early. Kasia tells her that she looks exhausted before asking if she has time to sit for a while. Once they sit down, Lois admits it feels like her life is happening to someone else. Lois doesn’t think it is grief. They discuss having something to live for and what they’ll do now. Kasia believes they’re both going to find a way to get away. Lois asks if she thinks it is unforgivable for her to go.

Kasia says she may never forgive herself, but she isn’t trying to tell her what to do. Harry and his men get into a firefight with the Italians. They eventually manage to convince the Italians to surrender. James Danemere (Mark Bonnar) visits Robina who says the War Office told her to expect him after Christmas. He is there to see about the Polish refugee. James goes to his room. Henriette gives a package to Albert Fallou (Parker Sawyers). There is a picture of her brother in it and it asks whether he has seen him. Albert calls her over to tell her that the boy is there. He encourages her to leave. The more she gets involved the more she will risk getting caught. Henriette says Luc is there so they have to get him out.

Marga invites Gretha to come with her to speak to Frau Ley. Once they get there, Gretha tells her not to be nervous because they’ll tell Frau Ley she changed her mind together. When Frau Ley comes out, Marga tells her she is sorry for what is about to happen. Gretha is taken away by two men. Stan and the men find wine. Harry is told to take care of his wound. Then, they learn that a sandstorm is coming. Gretha is interviewed and told that Marga alleged she wanted to sabotage government activity. She is accused of being involved in other activities. Gretha denies that. They question who put such ideas in her head. They admit that they’re more interested in Herr Trutz than her parents.

Gretha insists no one helped her, but the men do not want to believe her. They want a name. David meets Grzegorz at a pub. Grzegorz introduces David to his friend Lois. Once she joins David, she tells him that she is bad luck. David suggests he is the good luck she has been waiting for. Lois isn’t interested. David ends up spending the night with Connie. She admits Lois has always been unpredictable, but it has been worse since her dad died. Kasia wakes up and listens to talking in the other room. Gretha remains locked up. Joe and George talk in the tent about being sitting ducks. They can’t see anything outside because of the sandstorm. One of them tries to walk outside and use string to avoid getting lost. Henriette finds Luc.

Before she can speak to him, Albert runs into her and reminds her that he told her to run. They know Luc is a radical so they’re going to be watching him. Albert asks if she’ll promise to leave and never come back if he can get Luc out of there. As Gretha is taken out, she sees that Trutz has been brought in. He yells that they do what they must to survive. James plays chess with Jan. James gives him advice while they’re playing. When Robina enters, she talks to James about Kasia’s issue. He offers to help, but Robina isn’t sure there is anything he can do. James says he specializes in legal matters so he may be able to help if she wants to take him into her confidence. Lois sees a sign asking for women to work for the auxiliary territorial service abroad.

Stan is glad to be out of the sandstorm. Harry confirms they’re in Egypt. Joe went for a dump in the night and never came back. Harry goes searching for him and finds Joe’s body covered with sand. Lois speaks to Robina about her plan to travel abroad. Lois doesn’t think she can tolerate staying around. She thinks Robina should help her because she knows what it is like not having maternal feelings. Robina believes she insulted her, but Lois just wants her to understand how she feels. Albert introduces himself to Luc and says they’ll try their best to get him out of there. James comes over to speak to Kasia about her legal issue. He has already taken care of it for them. Kasia doesn’t like that he told Jan about the importance of guile and deceit.

She knows it would take more than a stranger beating him at chess to corrupt him though. Harry admits they’ll lie about Joe dying in battle. James helps Robina set up a Christmas tree for the holidays. They discuss the possibility of Lois going away. James isn’t sure she has a choice since she has a ready-made mother in waiting. Stan tells the others it is Christmas Eve. David and the pilots learn that enemy planes have been spotted 15 miles out. Doris joins Connie for the night. David watches a plane catch fire and explode. Lois drops the baby off with a note. Robina watches her leave through the window.

 

World On Fire Review

The second episode of World on Fire’s second season fell in line with the first. The series has potential because the cast is decent, the time period could be compelling, and the camerawork is consistent. Despite that, World on Fire might be a little too ambitious with so much going on. The story is really bogged down because the characters don’t have a lot of development.

It is just crammed full with a lot of characters and stories that aren’t that interesting. I’ve never felt the intensity on or off the battlefield and not even during the dogfights. The series is more of a dull soap opera that lacks emotion. Truthfully, it is hard to genuinely care about any of the characters or stories although Marga’s is slightly more interesting than the rest.

This episode scores a 5.5 out of 10. Recaps of World on Fire can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here.