HBO anthology series War launched on Sky Atlantic, starring Dominic West and Sienna Miller as a high-profile London couple navigating a nasty divorce. The eight-part drama sparks a ruthless battle between rival legal firms Cathcarts and Taylor & Byrne in what one character predicts will be the biggest divorce trial in British legal history.
There were 105,002 divorces recorded in England and Wales last year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Created by George Kay, known for his work on Lupin and Hijack, the new HBO drama War arrived on Sky Atlantic on a Friday, anchoring its first anthology season around a single, high-stakes split.
Morgan Henderson and Carla Duval Face a Brutal Public Uncoupling
The central marriage under the microscope belongs to tech billionaire Morgan Henderson, played by Dominic West, and A-list actress Carla Duval, played by Sienna Miller. Morgan made his massive fortune from Zephyr, a social media networking platform, while Carla’s film career is facing a natural Hollywood downslide. As the series opens, both recognize their marriage has soured. Things accelerate rapidly when Morgan accepts a Pioneer of the Year award at a dinner without Carla and spots a stranger in the crowd.
That stranger is Flora Monroe, played by Rose Williams. Her encounter with Morgan is no accident. Carla orchestrates the honey trap to secure proof of infidelity before launching legal proceedings. The retaliation is swift.
What the f*** did I do?
Dominic West as Jimmy McNulty in The Wire, cited by NPR
West brings a familiar brand of indignant bafflement to his new role. Reviewers note that his character shares DNA with his past performances, struggling to see his own fingerprints on his marital wreckage. Meanwhile, Miller portrays Carla with an elusive shapelessness, though both actors ground the high-drama spectacle in genuine moments of humanity.
Cathcarts and Taylor & Byrne Wage War Across London Law Offices
The bitter uncoupling sets off a cutthroat contest between two contrasting legal outfits in London, a city widely recognized as the global capital for high-net-worth divorces. English courts hold a reputation for financial generosity toward the weaker party, drawing international clients and spawning an elite industry of forensic accountants and specialist firms.
The Opposing Legal Teams
- Cathcarts: An old, established firm characterized by dark-wood interiors and traditional power. Morgan is defended here by the terrifying St. John Smallwood, played by Pip Torrens, and Beatrice Ubosi, played by Nina Sosanya.
- Taylor & Byrne: A younger, glass-walled upstart firm run by married attorneys Nicholas Taylor and Serena Byrne, played by James McArdle and Phoebe Fox. Carla hires them to secure a major piece of the considerable marital assets.
The legal teams show little interest in preserving any amicable bond left between the former spouses. Cathcarts lawyer Beatrice Ubosi echoes that sentiment, promising that her firm will be total and utter filth if the opposition pushes back.
Johnny Warren and the Heavy Costs of Elite Legal Combat
Weaving between both firms is Johnny Warren, a fast-talking young lawyer played by Archie Renaux. Having fled a firm in Manhattan to return to London, Johnny takes a job at Taylor & Byrne while secretly acting as an inside man and double agent for Cathcarts. His desperate scramble for stability ties the opposing legal machines together, though his loyalties leave him vulnerable in a world populated by ruthless operators.
Behind the fictional spectacle lies an expensive reality. Top divorce solicitors command hourly rates reaching £1,200, while barristers can charge £10,000 per hearing. According to Office for National Statistics figures highlighted by The Guardian, couples who divorced in 2025 had been married for an average of 13 years — the longest duration recorded since ONS data collection began in 1963. Jess Knauf, director of client strategy at Mediate UK, notes that a 13-year marriage typically entails shared homes, pensions, and children, meaning older separations carry significantly more financial entanglement.
While critics point out that the eight-part series suffers from an overpopulated ensemble that leaves gifted supporting actors like Celia Imrie and Nick Mohammed with sparse material, the show’s velocity keeps viewers hooked. HBO has already renewed the anthology series for a second season, which is set to star Marisa Tomei and Kelly Macdonald in a brand-new case.
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