'Atlantic Crossing' Arrives On This Side Of The Pond In April

Masterpiece's usual spring and summer schedule is clearly feeling the effect of the coronavirus pandemic, as delays across the pond affect the arrival of several expected series. World on Fire Season 2 and the next round of Baptiste are both still delayed, with the latter penciled for fall and the former still uncertain. But never fear, as the series arriving instead, Atlantic Crossing, has both World War II and the Netherlands/Scandanavian roots.

Since Masterpiece's inception, many of its wartime dramas have focused on the Second World War. Even series like The First Churchills (which aired during Masterpiece's premiere season back in 1971) was inspired by the wartime prime minister. Masterpiece's tenth season had ITV's Danger UXB, the switch to Mobile Masterpiece Theater in Season 26 included Breaking the Code, a drama about Alan Turing.

At first glance, Atlantic Crossing seems to be another period piece set during the last "good war," but it's not. First off, it's not a British production at all, but Masterpiece's first co-production with Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, together with Danish and Swedish public broadcasters, DR and SVT. Moreover, it's not about how the British bravely survived, but a less considered area of the war, the Scandanavian block of Sweden and Norway.