For viewers who've read anything about the early 40's, this will be a very tough watch. If you've invested time studying the era, you'll probably be furious with this interpretation. Jews and dissidents on the run in Vichy France seem to have unlimited resources, plenty of wine and art supplies and lots of time for Da-Da and impressionist inspired parties. Oh, and cars. Lots and lots of extremely expensive cars. Add in the lack of moral ambiguity and almost insane...make that improbable bravery of the good guys and the keystone cops antics of the bad guys and this series could make lots of viewers wonder what all the fuss was about regarding the NAZIs. Oh, and this is another one of those 'sensitive' shows that rarely even hints at the fact that the 'Nazis' were German and 'the Reich' was Germany. A personal sore point with me. - There are two major 'escape' plots in the series that are so far-fetched that the writers don't even bother to explain how they could be pulled off. But they are. Against all odds and all that we know to be possible. These aren't just James Bond type capers, these are bonified ridiculous plans that we see getting completed, though the actual steps that are required to make things happen simply aren't revealed. Because they couldn't. - So, the series is historically inaccurate...and I'm being too kind here...and there's almost a childish approach to the story line which I need to point out is solely under the control of the writers and producers and, I've yet to mention, some of the casting just doesn't work. The main female and male leads didn't live up to their assignments and that really hurt the watchability quotient. - All in all not the best effort from NETFLIX with this one though some of the cinematography is handled well and the period costumes are stunning. Two 'chuckles' regarding that last comment. First, for folks on the run, these refugees certainly have the crispest, well-ironed looking clothes imaginable and the female lead has only two small suitcases with her when she leaves Marseilles and yet seems to be able to pull close to twenty full outfits...including an opera gown...out of them.
Review of Transatlantic
