When last we saw our royal Norwegian pals, Martha and the kiddos were preparing for their Atlantic crossing to America (hey, that’s the name of the show!) and Olav and King Grandpa were enjoying the indifferent comfort of their hosts, the English royal family. So far, in Episode 3, not much has changed. In Scotland, Olav inspects, and then dismisses for the day, a brigade of young Norwegians who are, I’m assuming, the incipient satellite Norwegian resistance.

Last week, we watched as Norway pretty much fell to the invading Nazis, so it’s probably not a surprise that this episode is starting off… intensely. Florence the Ambassador, who for some reason didn’t evacuate with the rest of the group, approaches what appears to be the smoking ruins of a city. Meanwhile, in the woods, Olav and other survivors stumble around trying to establish who’s still standing. Olav finds a discarded armband that he seems to immediately recognize as belonging to his dad, and clearly fears the worst, but so far, so good: King Grandpa is still alive, if shaken.

Every season, the Drama After Dark team gathers ‘round the (currently virtual) conference room table to watch the latest and greatest in all things drama. This month, our colleagues at MASTERPIECE are bringing us Atlantic Crossing, a historical dramatization of the relationship between US President Franklin Roosevelt and Norwegian Crown Princess Martha set against the backdrop of WWII. I’m here to recap the show as it happens. Our story begins in the lush green hills of the Hudson Valley in 1939. “But wait,” I hear you cry. “This is MASTERPIECE we’re talking about — shouldn’t we be in Derbyshire or something?” Prepare yourselves, friends: we’re not in the proverbial Kansas of the English countryside anymore: we’re in the good old US of A, and we’re making our way across New York state on a train.

There’s only one episode left for Mags and Thorny to make up and the kiss a bunch? Preposterous. Alas, the only way to get that sweet sweet romantic payoff is to actually start the episode, so on with the show!

The description for this episode on BritBox is “Thornton is heartbroken and humiliated, but at least the strike is over,” and if that’s not a big pandemic mood in all the worst ways I don’t know what is! Anyway, as you can imagine, things are not great for our guy Thorny after he got turned down hard by Mags last week. And TBH, this isn’t even a Pride & Prejudice situation where he was being a jerk and has to deal with the consequences; this is a “sorry bud, she’s just not that into you” moment.

When last we left our protagonist, she was getting into an alleyway altercation with a certain grumpy mill owner, and we were all pretending we weren’t super here for it. This week kicks off with Thorny and his mom surveying the situation at the mill. Workers slacking off get reprimanded, but even Thorny’s Mom isn’t a complete tight-ass when it comes to sick kids, allowing the kiddo in question to keep her job if she can get one of her siblings to the mill to take her place for the day. Being provisionally helpful? In this economy? We love to see it, and so does Thorny, who’s not afraid to trust his mom’s business instincts.

Our show starts where many others would end: a wedding. And lest you think that Pinterest is to blame for the current situation vis-à-vis nuptial insanity, we find out that the reception we’re witnessing would make even a Kardashian blush.

Every season, the Drama After Dark team gathers ‘round the (currently virtual) conference room table to watch the latest and greatest in British dramas.…

When last we saw our intrepid lady detective, she was meeting with potential murder suspect/frenemy Moses in the latest of her ongoing efforts to respect her own safety without getting unjustly benched for the crime of being a woman. Alas, before we can get an update on THAT situation, it’s time for a flashback starring Papa Mars, and let me tell you, it’s a doozy. An unknown assailant, again in the creepy gas mask, is sat across from Papa Mars in his offices. The man forces our Dadtective to drink a glass of (presumably) poison at gunpoint. If that wasn’t enough inducement, the murderer also tacitly threatens to harm Victoria Mars if Papa Mars doesn’t drink up.

Every season, the Drama After Dark team gathers ‘round the (currently virtual) conference room table to watch the latest and greatest in British dramas.…