Ep 1. Eve of the War

It is the year 1940, and the Channel Islands, located between England and France, have fallen into German hands. In "Island at War" season 1 episode 1, titled "Eve of the War," we are introduced to a cast of characters who are living on the island during the opening days of the occupation.

The episode starts with the Germans beginning their takeover of the island, and we see the locals greeted by soldiers and tanks rolling into the towns. Among the people we meet are farm owner James Dorr (played by James Wilby), his wife Felicity (played by Clare Holman), and their teenage daughter Angelique (played by Saskia Reeves). We also meet Agnes Le Roux (played by Hermione Norris), who is the German translation coordinator for the local newspaper, and the owner of the newspaper, Philip Doughty (played by James Cosmo).

As the Germans start to take over the island, tensions between the locals and the occupiers begin to rise. James Dorr becomes increasingly concerned about the safety of his family and his workers, and he starts to take action to protect them. Meanwhile, Angelique becomes fascinated with the German troops, and she starts to develop a friendship with one of them, Oberleutnant Ulmann (played by Philip Glenister).

As the episode progresses, we see the different ways that the locals are coping with the occupation. Some are trying to keep their heads down and go about their lives as normally as possible, while others are actively resisting the Germans. There are scenes of people hiding radios and other contraband, and we even see a group of locals plotting to blow up a German ammunition depot.

Throughout the episode, we also get glimpses of the German perspective. We see the German soldiers trying to make the best of their situation, and we see how they are struggling to maintain their sense of pride and order in a foreign land. There are also scenes of the German officers discussing their plans for the island, and we get the sense that they are there for the long haul.

As the episode draws to a close, a German officer is shot by an unknown assailant. This sets off a chain of events that will have long-lasting consequences for the island and its inhabitants. We see tensions between the Germans and the locals escalate, and we get the sense that things are going to get much worse before they get better.

Overall, "Eve of the War" is a strong opening episode for "Island at War." It sets the stage for what is sure to be a gripping and dramatic series, and it introduces us to a cast of characters who are both sympathetic and complex. The episode does a great job of showing us the different perspectives of the people living on the island, and it leaves us eager to see how their stories will unfold in the episodes to come.