The Halcyon - Episod... Apr 2026

The hotel acts as a neutral zone where American journalists, Nazi sympathizers, RAF pilots, and the working-class staff (like housekeeper Lilian and porter Feldman) intersect.

This essay focuses on the 2017 ITV historical drama The Halcyon , specifically looking at its opening episode and overarching themes of wartime London as established in the first season. The Halcyon - Episod...

The series uses a "medias res" approach, opening with the hotel's 50th-anniversary celebration, which is interrupted by a bomb, highlighting the constant threat of destruction. The hotel acts as a neutral zone where

Set in 1940, ITV’s The Halcyon (created by Charlotte Jones) offers a "upstairs-downstairs" perspective on the Second World War through the lens of a bustling, five-star luxury hotel in the heart of London. The series, which has been compared to Downton Abbey and Mr. Selfridge , centers on the premise that a premier hotel must maintain its glamorous veneer while acting as a refuge and microcosm of society under siege. This essay examines how the first season balances the elegance of 1940s high society with the gritty realities of the Blitz, arguing that the hotel itself serves as a crucial character representing resilience and adaptability. Set in 1940, ITV’s The Halcyon (created by