'Masterpiece' WW2 TV series that fans say should be shown 'in history classes'

Fans have been left speechless by a TV series that they have described as perfect, outstanding, and a must-watch. A Small Light, which has a flawless 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, is a miniseries about "the inspiring, real-life story of Miep Gies, who played a critical role in hiding Anne Frank and her family during the Nazi Occupation in Amsterdam".

While the show tells of a tragic story, fans were impressed by how gracefully and beautifully it was done. Others also crowned it the best show they have ever watched, attributing this to the acting, writing, and production.

On Rotten Tomatoes, one viewer said: "Like a lot of other Jewish people, I'm at a point in my life where I'd rather watch a show about Jewish joy instead of another Holocaust story.

"I've just seen so many in my day. I'm so glad I let my bias down to watch this show because it is truly one of the best Holocaust retellings of all time. It's truly a story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things and reminds us these are not just people from storybooks."

A Small Light stars Bel Powley, Joe Cole, Amira Casar, Billie Boullet, Ashley Brooke, and Liev Schreiber, who were praised highly for their work.

Critics particularly highlight Bel Powley, who played Miep Gies, one of the Dutch citizens who hid Anne Frank, her family and other Dutch Jews from the Nazis.

The critics' consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads: "Bel Powley's arresting performance burns bright in A Small Light, a sensitive portrait of heroism in the face of all-encompassing tragedy."

Another viewer, who was also particularly impressed by the actress, wrote: "Bel Powley is absolutely stunning! What an actress! I'm speechless..."

A second wrote: "Beautiful. Everything about this was perfect. Every character felt well written and not flat, even the Nazis, which is a breath of fresh air in these types of shows and movies."

Other fans urged that the TV show should even be shown "in all history classes", with one in particular noting that, despite being "very familiar with the story of Anne Frank", A Small Light revealed details they were "unaware of".

A Small Light premiered on National Geographic on May 1, 2023, and was then released on Disney+ and Hulu the following day. Now it is available to stream for free on the streaming service U.