War is a legal drama, but it is also a slow-motion battle royale between two law firms. One represents the husband, one represents the wife, and both are playing to win. The show introduces Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne as the dueling firms in the messy divorce of Carla Duval (played by Sienna Miller) and Morgan Henderson (Dominic West).
Cathcarts & Sons is the elder statesman. It is a London institution with a storied past and deep pockets. Its partners wield power, and they are ready to use it. The firm is led by partners St. John Smallwood (Pip Torrens) and Beatrice Ubosi (Nina Sosanya). Smallwood has a caustic wit that burns anyone who crosses him, while Ubosi’s intimidating presence has earned her the nicknames “Queen Bea” and “Her Majesty.” The firm also fields David Schill (Miles Jupp) and Suzie Levitniik (Kartanya Maynard).
Taylor & Byrne is the scrappy newcomer. Founded by married couple Nicholas Taylor (James McArdle) and Serena Byrne (Phoebe Fox), the firm is hungry for recognition. They expect a child together, and they want Carla’s case to rocket them to legal stardom. But the case could also tank them financially. Their sleek offices are not cheap to maintain.
Serena used to work with Beatrice at Cathcarts, which gives her an extra chip on her shoulder. That history adds pressure to the case. Taylor and McArdle are not alone. Their team includes associates Michael Stefano (Nick Mohammed) and Nora Okafor (Akiya Henry), both only briefly introduced in episode 1. Barrister Budgie (Celia Imrie) and training associates Saeed Masood (Shaheen Jafargholi) and Molly Giordano (Emma Laird) round out the group.
The newest addition to the Taylor & Byrne team is junior associate Johnny Warren (Archie Renaux). But as episode 1 ends, it is revealed that he does not really work for Taylor & Byrne. He is a mole for Cathcarts, hired to send them any information about Carla’s case. It is a dangerous move by a clearly bloodthirsty firm. The question now is whether Taylor & Byrne will play dirty in response. Will they try to match Cathcarts’ level of ruthlessness, or will they attempt to keep as much of a moral high ground as they can in the midst of a dirty divorce?
The Two Firms Compared
| Firm | Representation | Leadership | Nickname |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathcarts & Sons | Husband (Morgan Henderson) | Smallwood & Ubosi | Queen Bea, Her Majesty |
| Taylor & Byrne | Wife (Carla Duval) | Taylor & McArdle | None given |
Key Facts
- Show: War
- Network: HBO, HBO Max
- New episodes: Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET
- Carla Duval: played by Sienna Miller
- Morgan Henderson: played by Dominic West
- Johnny Warren: revealed to be a Cathcarts mole
The show sets up these firms as competing forces with their own histories and nicknames. The mole twist adds a layer of betrayal. The question now is whether Taylor & Byrne will play dirty in response.
For viewers trying to keep track of the cast of characters, the guide makes the early chaos easier to follow. The firms are full of partners with their own agendas, and the show expects viewers to remember who works where and why. The guide helps with that.
War premieres new episodes Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
Source material: “From Cathcarts and Sons to Taylor and Byrne, heres your guide to Wars rival law firms,” Mashable.
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