Rise of the Nazis: Dictators at War; Bel Air; The Millionairess and Me

“This three-part series rises above its faults, because the subject is so immense — Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union, a conflict that cost 20 million lives or more. Though the central focus was on Hitler and Stalin, and the global cost of their demonic megalomania, other characters were strongly sketched — such as the Soviet diplomat Vyacheslav Molotov, who found himself dodging RAF bombs in Berlin with Nazi foreign minister and braggart Joachim von Ribbentrop. ‘If Britain is defeated,’ Molotov asked sarcastically, ‘why are we in this air raid shelter?’”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“Despite the dramatic voiceover it was mostly a classy documentary showing how it was “General Winter” — ie Russia’s brutal weather — that helped in defeating Hitler, together with his own arrogance. He hadn’t bothered to equip his soldiers for the minus 30C weather because he thought it would be over by winter. Where have we heard that before?”
Carol Midgley, The Times

“It is the story of the Eastern Front, a three-part history documentary in which historians and military experts give their considered views on the campaigns of Hitler and Stalin. It is knowledge-building programming, yet it stands out because there are so few series of its type on this channel.”
Anita Singh, Telegraph

“There were some telling anecdotes, and I particularly liked Hitler’s foreign minister Ribbentrop telling Stalin’s emissary Molotov how Britain had been defeated, even as the RAF bombed Berlin above them. But ultimately this could have been on Radio Four, presented by Melvyn Bragg and called In Our Time.”
Gerard Gilbert, The i

“With an hour an episode and no jokes to make, Bel-Air has all the time in the world to fashion drama about race, class and coming-of-age, but it ends up being less layered and guileful than its source material.”
Jack Seale, The Guardian

“The best thing about it is Jabari Banks, who had huge Will Smith-shaped shoes to fill but brings his own charisma to the role. He is required to turn in a “deeper” performance. The question is: will fans of the original want a serious version not playing for laughs?”
Carol Midgley, The Times

“It’s not perfect – the tone is uneven for a start – but some interesting avenues are opening up. And, as far as gritty teen dramas go, Bel-Air is more The OC than Euphoria.”
Gerard Gilbert, The i

“Having spent the entire film talking past one another, it was no great surprise The Millionairess and Me should conclude on an unsatisfactory note. [Martin] Read and [Amanda] Cronin toddled into the sunset, each convinced their world view was the only one that mattered.”
Ed Power, Telegraph