---
title: "War: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/war/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/tv/war"
critics_score: 74
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# War (2026): what the critics said

Critics' score 74 from 8 reviews: 6 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative.

Most critics have a good time with War. Six of the seven reviews are positive, and the praise clusters in two places: the plotting, which is described as intricate, fast-moving and full of precisely paced twists, with George Kay’s storytelling singled out; and the performances, above all Dominic West and Sienna Miller as a couple whose affection survives a vicious divorce. Several reviews call it froth and mean it as a compliment: a palate-cleanser, stylish and addictively entertaining.

The reservations are about depth. The AV Club finds the central relationship underdeveloped, The Hollywood Reporter says the series falters when it reaches for deeper sentiment, and Vulture thinks it grows silly and moralising, with the character of Johnny a hard man to spend time with. The spread is wide for a consensus this warm. IndieWire’s Ben Travers is the lone dissenter, finding the series dull and its legal battle uninvolving, though even he credits West’s earnest performance.

## The Guardian — Lucy Mangan

Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 2 October 2026. 

Mangan calls the series massive fun and an ideal palate-cleanser. She particularly praises its intricate, fast-moving legal plotting and strong performances.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/oct/02/war-review-george-kay-sienna-miller-dominic-west)

## Variety — Aramide Tinubu

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2026. 

Tinubu finds the series thoroughly captivating, with tension and twists that build into an intricate legal drama. She particularly praises Dominic West and Sienna Miller’s convincing portrayals of a couple whose affection persists beneath their bitter divorce.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/tv/reviews/war-review-hbo-dominic-west-1236894071/)

## The AV Club — Saloni Gajjar

Rating B+. 1 October 2026. 

Gajjar finds the series a frothy, stylish legal drama with plenty of thrills, though it has room to grow. She praises the lawyers’ tangled schemes and the sleek visuals, while faulting the central couple’s underdeveloped relationship.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/war-review-hbo-dominic-west-sienna-miller)

## Radio Times — Gareth McLean

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 September 2026. 

McLean presents the series as a dazzling, thoroughly entertaining legal drama. The high-profile divorce battle is singled out as its central draw.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/war-review-sky-dominic-west-sienna-miller/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2026. 

Han finds the series an addictively entertaining legal drama, though it falters when reaching for deeper sentiment. She praises George Kay’s deft storytelling and the precisely paced twists and turns.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/war-review-dominic-west-sienna-miller-george-kay-hbo-1236713678/)

## Vulture — Jackson McHenry

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2026. 

McHenry finds the series familiar but entertaining, praising its brisk plotting and strong ensemble. He criticizes Johnny as insufferable and poorly conveyed, and says the drama grows silly and moralizing.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/war-hbo-review.html)

## IndieWire — Ben Travers

Rating D+. 1 October 2026. 

Travers finds the series dull, meaningless, and unable to make its legal battle or characters compelling. He praises Dominic West’s earnest performance, but says the character’s clichéd flaws undermine it.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/war-review-hbo-divorce-drama-sienna-miller-dominic-west-1235218766/)

## Collider — Victoria Luxford

Rating 5/10. 1 October 2026. 

The critic finds the series entertaining but emotionally vacant and ultimately shallow. She praises the leads and sharp dialogue, while faulting the show for failing to develop its characters or say much about its subject.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/war-hbo-review-dominic-west-sienna-miller/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/war.md