This is the second of the four films in the British made-for-TV series based on the Horatio Hornblower novels of C. S. Forester. Neither it nor its two sequels can compare with the first, but this episode is still a delight, particularly by television standards. The Fire Ship, called The Examination For Lieutenant in the UK, involves Hornblower's first command and his prospects for promotion. Like the first, it is full to the brim with action and tension between the characters. Lavish sets and costumes fill in the gaps and make a highly entertaining swashbuckler.