Dominic West and Sienna Miller Battle It Out in HBO's Slick, Ruthless Drama 'War' | Review

Published Oct 1, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT

War, HBO's latest anthology series, takes place in the courtroom, with the first season focusing on a high-profile divorce. Like any great legal firm, a team of top talent has been assembled, with The Wire legend Dominic West and Oscar nominee Sienna Miller leading an ensemble cast in a story with as many twists and turns as you would hope. Can this first case whet appetites for more, or will it be thrown out by the judge?

What Is HBO's ‘War’ About?

Set predominantly in London, War tells the story of the breakdown of a marriage between Morgan Henderson (West) and Carla Duval (Miller). Morgan is a tech mogul who made his fortune from an ethical social media platform, while Duval is a famous international film star. When they were first together, Carla was the higher earner while Morgan was just starting in his career, but their fortunes have since reversed. The reason for the decline in their marriage is Morgan’s infidelity, something that is confirmed when Carla sets up a “honey trap” and commissions young actress Flora Munroe (Rose Williams) to sleep with Morgan and take a photo as evidence.

Carla takes this to her lawyers at Taylor & Byrne, who are at first appalled by the ruse (which will be viewed dimly by the court) but ultimately confident that it is enough to negotiate a divorce that gets her more than their outdated prenup would grant. Morgan sees Carla photographed with her lawyers, and enlists his team at the Cathcarts firm when he becomes suspicious that a legal battle is on the horizon. Both teams use every underhanded tactic they can think of to get the upper hand, with several pawns caught in the middle of this bitter unraveling.

HBO’s ‘War’ Delights in Playing Dirty

Image via HBO

It’s fun to watch powerful people be nasty, as many hits in TV history have shown. War's entertainment value lies in its ruthlessness, its sleek aesthetic, as well as a cast who can be shockingly blunt without even breaking a sweat. Morgan says at one point to St. John Smallwood (Pip Torrens), his gruff and remorseless legal advisor: “I do love it, the way you talk to me with such disdain. So refreshing.” Admittedly, Torrens is a lot of fun as Smallwood cuts through the bluster and approaches the case like an attack dog, alongside the grandstanding “Queen Bea,” Beatrice (Nina Sosanya), his fellow partner at Cathcarts.

On Carla’s side, British acting legend Celia Imrie plays Budgie, a legal doyenne who advises husband-and-wife professional partners Serena (Phoebe Fox) and Nicholas (James McArdle). Less willing to bend the rules but still aware of how to maneuver them, their bright, modern glass offices contrast with the wooden, old-school environment of their rivals. The show excels at drawing the battle lines and keeping you aware of what side each character is on. It also has some excellent flourishes, such as the end of Episode 1, where a shocking turn occurs at a movie premiere. In terms of “watercooler” TV moments, War has the recipe to elicit more than a few gasps.

Dominic West and Sienna Miller Make Great Opponents in 'War'

Image via HBO

West and Miller fulfill their roles in War with style, fitting the profile of many high-profile couples whose break-ups have made headlines, without ever feeling like an impersonation of a real-life tabloid scandal. Both have moments that showcase their on-screen presence, and speeches that demonstrate just why they were cast, but they also beautifully display the contrasts in their characters.

West’s Morgan is a charismatic, charming tech mogul with a keen mind for business but a weakness in moral situations. He goes toe-to-toe with the cynical lawyers and makes sure his lust for power hides in plain sight beneath the pleasantries. At the other end of the ring is Miller’s Carla, a woman used to hiding her feelings behind a camera-friendly grin. While undoubtedly more glamorous than her soon-to-be ex, there’s a bruised ferocity to her actions, which include setting up Morgan in the first place. She glides seamlessly into the performance required by her legal team, and never falls flat when delivering one of the show’s long and explanatory monologues.

For the most part, West and Miller are the two magnetic poles around which the rest of the cast gravitate, but when called to show their worth, they steal more than a few moments. It’s just a shame the scripts don’t allow them to flesh their characters out more.

After a Few Episodes, ‘War’ Feels a Little Empty

About halfway through, it becomes clear that War is more about tactics rather than people. Morgan and Carla's backstory is never explored, at least not in any way that is emotionally engaging. The show's supporting characters, such as Johnny (Archie Renaux), a working-class lawyer who is manipulated into being a mole for Morgan’s camp, are only discussed in terms of their achievements or income, rather than their feelings. This is a cold world we are entering, and after a while, it’s difficult to find a side to root for.

Most of the show's characters have little to recommend them as people, and they almost relish the downfall of a relationship and the chance to score points over their respective adversaries. The weaponizing of Johnny and Flora, two people almost punished by the series for their working-class backgrounds, never really feels judged, nor does Morgan and Carla's manipulation of their son Gabriel (Aran Murphy), who is dismissed by his own mother as spoiled and earns little sympathy when his parents' split causes him to act out.

It’s not just that War feels reluctant to get under the skin of its characters; it’s that it fails to see the use of it. Anything that isn’t a turning point in either side’s case is seen as extraneous, almost as if St. John or one of his callous cohorts are deciding the narrative they inhabit. It’s difficult to know what kind of conclusion the show is trying to draw, other than that divorce is messy, painful, and expensive. It’s hard to think of any viewer that would be surprised by that.

Ultimately, War doesn’t say anything particularly deep about human relationships, class, or society. The first season simply feels like rich people fighting over money, which makes for fun television but isn't as thought-provoking as similarly-pitched shows like Industry. Those who like a sneak peek into the misdeeds of the rich and famous will get a vicarious thrill, but when all is said and done, War only works on the surface, when something more cerebral would have been far more compelling.

War premieres October 1 on HBO.

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  Morgan Henderson

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  Carla Duval

Pros & Cons

• The show boasts great dialogue.
• The season has some fun twists and turns.
• Dominic West and Sienna Miller make for solid leads.

• The story is emotionally vacant.
• The show has nothing conclusive to say about the world it portrays.
• The meeting room stand-offs can become repetitive.