Home Fires

Set in a rural village circa 1940, just as Britain is sending off its young (and sometimes not so young) men to fight in World War II, this PBS-aired Masterpiece-aired series is about life on the homefront, focusing on the women—from wives and mothers looking to fill their lonely days by contributing something to the war effort, to community leaders taking charge of the shift to a wartime society. Samantha Bond stars as Frances, who challenges Joyce (Francesca Annis), the elitist upper-class leader of the Women's Institute, transforming the organization from an exclusive social club into an open communal society that is devoted to supporting the war effort in every way, from sending letters to the boys on the frontlines, to increasing food production, to creating an air raid shelter. The series, inspired by Julie Summers' book Jambusters, presents a large canvas of characters and issues, some of which feel familiar (a young woman working in the war office has an affair with a married officer), while others are less predictable, taking on themes of chauvinism and class division. Emphasizing how the communal effort overcame conflict to foster acceptance, understanding, and mutual respect, this is a handsomely-made series with convincing period detail and a fine cast. Compiling all six episodes from the 2015 first season, this is recommended. (S. Axmaker)