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Season 1 – The Undeclared War

Play trailer 1:42 Poster for Season 1 – The Undeclared War Jun 2022 Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Set in a post-pandemic 2024 in the run up to a British general election, a leading team of analysts buried in the heart of GCHQ secretly works to ward off a cyberattack on the country's electoral system. Saara Parvan is a young student getting work experience in the malware department when a security breach leads to a high-stakes first day at the office. She's quickly thrust into the center of an escalating data war with Russia that has dangerous implications extending far beyond cyberspace.
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The Undeclared War — Season 1

The Undeclared War — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

While The Undeclared War isn't as convincingly brainy as it purports itself to be, it satisfies as a well-acted and visually dynamic cybercrime thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Scott Bryan BBC.com 09/26/2022
Not a Must Watch
It isn't a must-watch, but I still find it very informative. Peter has worked on this for years researching it, and of course GCHQ is quite a cryptic organisation. To provide us a bit of insight he did a lot of research. Go to Full Review Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune 08/22/2022
2/4
This is a surprisingly weak entry in Kosminsky’s career in docudramas and dramas of all kinds. The story engine powering “The Undeclared War” needed a tuneup long before the actors got to the set. Go to Full Review John Anderson Wall Street Journal 08/17/2022
This isn’t an actor’s series, really -- aside from Mr. Pegg, the cast is a delivery system for the plotline. But Mr. Rylance brings a bit of the blood to a smartly clinical, cynical, and all-too-believable story. Go to Full Review James Croot The Post NZ 08/24/2022
A slick, solid drama that... extrapolates increasing modern-day concerns into a near-future nightmare, while grounding the story through Saara’s own family crisis, The Undeclared War works best when focused on the rapidly unfolding political crisis. Go to Full Review Matt Roush TV Insider 08/19/2022
This is not meant to be background viewing. Go to Full Review Joel Keller Decider 08/18/2022
In a lot of ways, the story feels more along the lines of 24 or Homeland, where the main couple of characters will get an inner life but the rest of them will be one-dimensional functionaries. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Brian K @Briankeith3 Dec 6 A promising story and generally very good -- if heavy on melodratic acting -- cast is let down by an uneven screenplay, including slow developments (very British or Canadian), nonsensical coincidents and odd relationship diversions. See more Hershey L @RT23180006 01/04/2025 I just finished season 1 and I was at the edge of my seat on the final episode. I really enjoyed this series, perhaps because I am no coder and don't understand how this hacking works, but unfortunately, it shows that these are all happening right now in the digital age. The power of manipulation through data stealing, leaking and AI, which is scary. Hope to see the 2nd season soon! See more Melinda P @RT49494148 06/10/2024 Boring. Well into episode 1. Dialogue wooden. Techno-wizards clacking at their keyboards like so many data entry clerks. Someone compared it to Line of Duty in intensity. Sorry? See more Chavel D @RT49389525 04/06/2024 Very Good Show with a Great Storyline. I really hope it gets renewed. See more chanz h @RT37903851 12/19/2022 Great thriller. Good story line. See more Robin H @RT16578982 10/31/2022 Brilliant nail-biting stuff about cyber warfare that is all too believable, and obviously written by someone who knows their techno stuff. The tension builds through every episode. But then it does that unforgivable thing of ending with a cliffhanger!! And no Season 2 to follow. Of course if we ever get Season 2 we will watch it, but that is no excuse for such trickery and dishonesty. See more Read all reviews
The Undeclared War — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Hannah Khalique-Brown

Saara Parvin

Alfie Friedman

Gabriel Davies

Charlie J. Tinson

GCHQ Analyst

Aysha Kala

Amina Parvin

Edward Holcroft

James Cox

Andrew Rothney

Rich T

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jun 30, 2022 A young intern's first day at GCHQ coincides with a major cyberattack on the UK; to win her superiors' trust, she breaks ranks to analyze the malware code without permission and uncovers a greater threat missed by others. Details Episode 2 Aired Jul 7, 2022 Saara befriends John, a veteran GCHQ staffer, and seeks help from Gabriel in decrypting a message in the virus; Danny signs off on Saara attending a cyber conference with US agent Kathy, aware that Russian intelligence will also be there. Details Episode 3 Aired Jul 14, 2022 Vadim takes a covert job to assert his independence and starts an affair with a co-worker; the FSB notices his talents and coerces him to work on the cyber weapon project, putting his allegiances to the test. Details Episode 4 Aired Jul 21, 2022 Marina moves to London for a new opportunity; Danny is unconvinced by information Saara shares from an anonymous source; Saara's hand is forced when Kathy informs her that GCHQ is about to reveal the names of the FSB coders. Details Episode 5 Aired Jul 28, 2022 Crowds take to the streets to protest the general election result; a data leak threatens the UK's relationship with its allies; Saara is devastated to learn the identity of a mole inside GCHQ. Details Episode 6 Aired Aug 4, 2022 As the true extent of Russia's interference with the UK becomes clearer, Saara and Vadim realize that only an act of ingenuity and extraordinary bravery could uncover the hidden level in the malware code and prevent a war. Details

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The Undeclared War — Season 1

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The Undeclared War — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Peter Kosminsky
Executive Producer
Noëlette Buckley, Colin Callender, Peter Kosminsky
Screenwriter
Peter Kosminsky, Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson, Amelia Spencer
Network
Peacock
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Jun 30, 2022