The new HBO series War from creator George Kay feels like it’s doing for the inner workings of high-powered law offices what Succession did for the inner workings of media companies. By taking on a high profile divorce between a social media mogul and an actress, we get a look not only at the disillusionment of marriage between two elites, but also at the elite lawyers who represent them. The backstabbing, double-crossing, and intrigue in this 8-episode series aren’t always the most exciting, but there is definitely enough to keep you tuning in each week.
Morgan Henderson (Dominic West) and Clara Duvall (Sienna Miller) have been having marriage difficulties for a while. Clara suspects Morgan of cheating on her and remarks to her co-worker and friend Flora Munroe (Rose Williams) that she should try to trap him to prove his infidelity. The plan works, but before Clara can file for divorce, Morgan serves her with papers at the premiere of her newest film.
Morgan hires the prestigious Cathcarts & Sons, a ruthless firm that has stood the test of time. Meanwhile, Clara hires Taylor & Byrne, led by two attorneys who left Carthcarts and have something to prove.
Taylor & Byrne is led by Nicholas Taylor (James McArdle) and Serena Byrne (Phoebe Fox). The couple is married and is expecting their first child. They are facing off against their former bosses, Beatrice “Queen Bea” Ubosi (Nina Sosanya) and St. John Smallwood (Pip Torrens). These two organizations will stop at nothing to get the best results for their clients.
The wild card that helps War rise above what might otherwise be a fairly straightforward courtroom drama is the addition of Jonathan “Johnny” Warren (Archie Renaux), a young upstart lawyer who is returning to London from New York, where he left under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Trying to find a way into the more established Cathcarts, he allows himself to be a mole with Taylor & Byrne, creating some of the most compelling moments in the series.
While the opening few minutes of War are filled with excitement and a torrid affair, it slows down a good bit in the first few episodes. It takes a while to introduce us to all of the many, many characters in the series, and while things happen, it is less entertaining than it will be once events really start to unfold.
The series is an interesting look at the ways that marriages can start to fall apart, even when there isn’t a ton of animosity between the parties. There is clearly still some sense of connection between Morgan and Clara throughout the show, and it is fascinating to watch how each of them weaves in and out of the other’s life. It also shows how what you’re willing to acquiesce to through the process changes as the other person asks for more. What starts as a fairly amicable process turns far uglier as the series progresses, addressing not just the way that their relationship disintegrates, but how it brings their son (Aran Murphy) into the fray as well.
But the real fun is definitely with the lawyers, because as much as this is a war between a couple getting a divorce, it’s really a war between two competing law firms. Nina Sosanya and Pip Torrens have some of my favorite exchanges throughout the series, providing the bulk of the humor. James McArdle and Phoebe Fox have a more difficult time pulling laughs as they are trying to keep their firm from going under and are weeks away from adding to their family, but even they have some great moments, especially as they begin to realize how Johnny has been undermining them through the process.
In addition to a brilliant main cast, War also has an astounding supporting cast of clerks and aides. If I wish anything different about the show, it would be for folks like Patrick Fabian, Rosa Escoda, and Nick Mohammed to have a bit more screen time. The way that we see these characters clawing for just a little bit more power is fascinating, and there are moments when I wish it had leaned into the soap opera of it all and let them be pettier, rather than going through all of the court proceedings.
While War is a dialogue-heavy show, it is still very well shot and edited. Directors of photography Oli Russell and Oliver Curtis allow us to luxuriate in these gorgeous dark mahogany rooms at Cathcarts, and then open us to a light, airy space at Taylor & Byrne. It is accompanied by a delightful score that never feels intrusive, but underlines what is happening onscreen.
Even with a slower start and a tendency to get bogged down in legal minutiae, there is a lot to love about War. And if you decide that it’s not for you, well, you’re not married to it.
War is now streaming on HBO Max.
Learn more about the show at the IMDB site for the title.
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