World War II with Tom Hanks Review: A Monumental Documentary on One of History’s Greatest Conflicts
Tom Hanks fronts a new 20-part documentary series on the Second World War, introducing it as the largest event in human history and a conflict that changed everything for everyone. The series positions itself as an ambitious, sweeping account of the war, inviting comparisons with ITV’s landmark 1973 documentary The World at War, which ran for 26 episodes and became a defining history series for generations of viewers.
Despite its scale, the series is presented as less epic than expected. The review suggests that the subject matter is so vast that even 20 episodes cannot fully contain it. Major events such as Hitler’s rise to power, the German advance through the Ardennes in 1940, and the Dunkirk evacuation are covered quickly, forcing the programme to compress complex history into a brisk overview. As a result, the series is said to feel more like a summary than a deep historical exploration.
A central criticism is that the documentary reflects the style of factual programming made in the 2020s rather than the richer, more immediate method of older documentaries. The World at War benefited from extensive interviews with eyewitnesses, many of whom were speaking publicly for the first time. In contrast, this new series relies heavily on historians, academics and podcast personalities who appear as talking heads between archive clips. The review argues that these contributors often repeat or paraphrase what the narration has already explained, rather than adding substantial new insight.
The format is described as predictable and repetitive: archive footage, narration, then expert commentary, repeated throughout. Even when some contributors are effective, the overall structure is said to create a monotonous rhythm. The production style is also criticised for looking plain and conventional, resembling a standard low-budget documentary rather than a visually distinctive landmark series.
The strongest element, according to the review, is the archive material. The programme makes use of extensive historical footage, including some newly discovered clips, giving viewers a vivid sense of the war as it unfolded. It also draws on German and Russian broadcasts from the period, allowing the series to show how different sides of the conflict presented the same events. This gives the documentary a broader perspective and helps restore the atmosphere of the era.
Even so, the review concludes that the series does not significantly challenge established interpretations of the war. It is not presented as a documentary that will surprise historians or deliver major revelations. Instead, its main value lies in making a huge historical subject accessible to audiences who may not be familiar with the older classic series.
In the end, the documentary is described as useful but limited: a solid introduction for viewers with only basic knowledge of the Second World War, but not a work that fully captures the scale, complexity or emotional force of the conflict.
