This series from the BBC and on Epix is amazingly true to history, although you might not believe it when you watch it. At the beginning is the blurb “based on a true story“, and that “the events depicted which seem most unbelievable… are mostly true“.
And that’s accurate. I knew a lot of the history of the founding of the SAS but still had to occasionally double-check and yes, those most crazy moments are true.
It’s from the creator of Peaky Blinders which had its ups and down but overall was a solid series. I think this is better.
There are several moments that will click with any special operator. I was pleasantly surprised watching the first season because special operations tend to get blurred into some sort of James Bond thing of super-human creatures with no humanity or flaws. These men are definitely human, warts and all. But we also recognize those we served with who had more than a few screws loose, but are exactly what you want in this type of unit.
Dominic West appears every so often as the twisted British spy master in Cairo. The rest of the cast is excellent, but be warned. Due to the real, bloody history, don’t grow attached to any character. They are all expendedable.
There are times when the series get very deep into the psyche of soldiers who do terrible things. Because it is war and war is terrible. William Tecumseh Sherman would approve.
Recommended.
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