HBO Max has seen a shift in its top-performing content, as the recently launched legal thriller War makes a significant impact. For weeks, sci-fi offerings like Lanterns and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe held the top spots, but this new drama is proving to be a formidable contender, climbing to third place on the platform after just one episode.
Set in modern-day London, War explores the tumultuous divorce of a powerful billionaire, Morgan Henderson (Dominic West), and an A-list actress, Carla Duval (Sienna Miller). Their marriage, fraught with betrayal and distrust, unravels spectacularly, drawing in two cutthroat law firms, Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne. These legal teams are depicted as even more vengeful than their clients, determined to secure a decisive victory and dictate the scale of the fallout.
The series, created by George Kay, has been described by Collider as a blend of Showtime's The Affair and USA Network's Suits, hinting at its focus on complex relationships and intricate legal maneuvering. Its immediate success suggests a strong appetite among viewers for sophisticated dramas centered on wealth and power, often compared to the likes of Succession.
While the show has garnered generally positive reviews, critical reception has been varied. War currently holds an 83% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Collider's Victoria Luxford praised the show as a "vicarious thrill" but found it ultimately "too shallow." In contrast, Dani Kessel Odom of ScreenRant lauded it as "Shakespearan," while Aramide Tinubu of Variety found the series "thoroughly captivating."
With its eight-episode first season releasing new installments on Thursdays, War is expected to continue its upward trajectory on HBO Max, solidifying its place as a compelling new addition to the streaming landscape.