There are manywarmovies that military experts praise for realism. However, just as many TV shows do an excellent job of touching upon the true cost of war. Conversely, since the realities of war are so intense, there are some series that omit the harsher aspects. The toll war takes on the psyches of the soldiers and, most prominently, how many civilian lives are lost are at the forefront of many of these narratives. Bycentering on the individual experiences of people paying the everyday price of war,the realities feel more immediate and impossible to ignore.
Many of these series feature thebest TV show battle scenes, as the violence of infamous clashes is frequently portrayed on television. However, it’s not just the big bombastic moments that make these projects memorable. The quieter, more intimately devastating moments typically hit the hardest in these narratives, as this is more relatable to most people watching the shows. When watching these series,the clearest takeaway is that everyone involved in war is a human being and that war strives to rob them of their humanity.
All The Light We Cannot See
Cast
All the Light We Cannot See is a historical drama set in occupied France during World War II. The Netflix original series stars Aria Mia Loberti as Marie-Laure, a blind French teen who connects with a German soldier named Werner (Louis Hofmann). All the Light We Cannot See also stars Mark Ruffalo, Hugh Laurie, and Louis Hofmann.
Netflix’s adaptation of Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel,All The Light We Cannot See, had a tough job crafting a screen iteration of this harrowing human story. Chronicling the parallel stories between the teenagers, Marie-Laure (Aria Mia Loberti), who lives in France, and Werner (Louis Hofmann), who is recruited to the German army,All The Light We Cannot Seedoesn’t shy away from the desperation of their situations.Using non-linear storytelling and exploring how emerging technology changes both war and resistance, it’s a powerful tale.
WhileAll The Light We Cannot Seewasn’t as praised as the book, it’s still a moving addition to the genre.
Many of thebest shows, likeAll The Light We Cannot See,look at different aspects of World War II, as there’s a lot to unpack from this period of history. Since so much has been written about WWII, there are a lot of avenues that TV series can go down since most viewers are aware of what’s happening behind the scenes. WhileAll The Light We Cannot Seewasn’t as praised as the book, it’s still a moving addition to the genre.
Generation Kill
Based on the book by Evan Wright, Generation Kill is a 2008 war drama that retells Wright’s story by recounting his experiences as a reporter during the beginning of the Iraq War.
Based on Evan Wright’s 2004 book of the same name,Generation Killunpacks a more contemporary war,showcasing the way conflict has evolved. The series boasts incredible performances from an all-star cast featuring Alexander Skarsgård as Staff Sergeant Brad “Iceman” Colbert, with many of the actors playing real-life members of the Marines that Wright accompanied on their missions. Though the political situation surrounding the invasion of Iraq is extremely fraught,Generation Killlimits itself to only discussing the here-and-now realities of the men in the battalion.
Tackling recent conflicts is something that film and television are often hesitant to do, as it’s easy to take firm stances on wars from long ago. The moralities and situations in a project likeGeneration Killare murkier, and the series does a great job of leaning into this uncertainty. Like many other miniseries about war,Generation Killis closer to a long-form movie rather than a series,with every episode inextricably linked and extensive character studies against a visceral backdrop of violence.
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The Pacific
A companion piece to the WWII miniseries Band of Brother, The Pacific chronicles the lives of three Marines in the 1st Marine Division and their actions in the Pacific Theater of the Second World War. Based on the lives of real men who fought in the war, The Pacific focuses on some of the war’s most well-known battles, such as Guadalcanal and the Battle of Iwo Jima. James Badge Dale, Jon Seda, and Joseph Mazzello star as the three main focuses of the series.
After the smash-hit success ofBand of Brothers, it was clear that there was more to explore through the miniseries format about the experience of U.S. soldiers in WWII. Following the experiences of three Marines fighting in the Pacific Theater of Operations,The Pacificlearned from some of the criticisms ofBand of Brothersand limited its main cast so the audience could better connect with the protagonists. Overall,The Pacificdoes a great job of differentiating itself from its predecessorand justifying its existence.
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It’s redundant to say that the fighting in the Pacific was vastly different from that in Europe, butThe Pacifictakes this common knowledge and makes it fresh. The horrors that the men inThe Pacificface aren’t limited to the heat of battle, asthe way conflicts play out in the air and at sea involves new terrorsbeyond the audience’s imagination. WhileBand of Brothersis still considered the definitive WWII TV series,The Pacificis a must-watch show for those interested in this period.
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Shogun
Shōgun, released in 2024, is set in Japan during 1600 at the onset of a significant civil war. It follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga as he battles political adversaries on the Council of Regents, while a European ship mysteriously appears in a nearby fishing village, complicating the tides of power.
Hulu’s smash hit TV seriesShōgunimmediately made waveswhen it was released on the platform, and critical and audience response has not diminished since it first premiered. Based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell,Shōgunfollows the story of Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), who uses his influence and the arrival of John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) to leverage additional power and control. While the warfare inShōgunis different than most depictions on television, it still presents a searing portrait of the cost of conflict.
Shōgunis unique among other shows that touch upon war because it elevates the minutia of every decision.
Shōgunseason 2 has been confirmedafter its success at the Golden Globes and the Emmys and the demand for further additions to the story.Shōgunis unique among other shows that touch upon war because it elevates the minutia of every decision. This demonstrates how all these pieces are instrumental in determining the outcome of who will seize power. The way war is waged is almost unrecognizable compared toShōgun, but the fictionalized series is closer to how power was won for most of human history.
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MAS*H
MAS*H is a drama-comedy series set during the Korean War, centering on the lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they navigate the challenges of wartime medical service with humor and resilience.
It may seem strange to includeMASHin an article about the horrors of war, butthis dramedy series ended up being one of the most timely explorations of warof the latter half of the 20th century. It might have started as a comedy, butMASHquickly transcended its roots, taking on the true atrocities that the doctors on the front lines were facing. ThoughMASHwas set during the Korean War, it was a clear commentary on the contemporary conflict in Vietnam and was vehemently opposed by so many Americans.
If anything, the lighter tone thatMASHtook on and the hijinx of its characters is a clear response to having to work and fight in the face of unimaginable cruelty.
Themost rewatchableMASHepisodesbroke boundaries in terms of serious subject matter, as the series finale directly interacted with violence and unforgettable trauma. If anything, the lighter tone thatMASHtook on and the hijinx of its characters is a clear response to having to work and fight in the face of unimaginable cruelty. The balance between devastation and humor is something that few TV shows likeMASHwere able to achieve.
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The Liberator
The Liberator is a 2020 animated drama series that follows a diverse and resilient group of soldiers from the 157th Infantry Regiment as they lead the Allied invasion of Italy during World War II. The series combines live-action and animation to depict their courageous journey on the battlefield.
Though the 2020 miniseriesThe Liberatorwas widely overlooked by many contemporary audiences and critics, this visually astounding project deserves reevaluation.The Liberatorincorporates themes of tolerance and acceptance into its central conflictof WWII. Based on the real experiences of the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division, this division was integrated, seeing men of different backgrounds and creeds working together, unlearning prejudice as they helped to liberate Europe.
Using its unique animation style was a great choice forThe Liberator, as it helped to distinguish the series among the many stellar shows that focus on WWII. While some critics complained that the story was too familiar,The Liberatorworked hard to strike a new tone and bring the book to life.The Liberator: One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey, by Alex Kershaw, served as the inspirationfor the show. Though not perfect,The Liberatordoesn’t pretend to be anything other than a faithful retelling of a well-known story.
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Tour of Duty
Tour of Duty is a drama series set during the Vietnam War, focusing on a single combat infantry platoon led by Sgt. Zeke Anderson (Terence Knox). The show delves into the personal and professional struggles of the soldiers, providing a realistic portrayal of the complexities and challenges of wartime service. The series ran from 1987 to 1990 and is noted for its gritty depiction of the Vietnam conflict.
Tour of Dutytackles the Vietnam War, one of the most controversial and costly wars in recent history. Premiering in the late 1980s, not too long after the conflict ended,Tour of Dutyfaced many hardships in terms of ratings and continuation,as season 1 was such an intense exploration of this period of history. ThoughTour of Dutyseason 2 was closer in tone to a typical action drama, season 1 was more similar to the realities of war.
Though it’s often overlooked,Tour of Dutyhelped pave the way for future television series focusing on Vietnam.
While there are some campy and dated elements ofTour of Duty, it doesn’t just focus on the war effort. It touched upon the conflicts soldiers faced in their interpersonal relationships.Tour of Dutyis an interesting time capsule of when the Vietnam War was still fresh in the general public’s memory. However, the series didn’t shy away from focusing on real events that unfolded during the war. Though it’s often overlooked,Tour of Dutyhelped pave the way for future television series focusing on Vietnam.
Tour of Duty (1987–1990)
Rome
Rome is a historical drama television series that aired from 2005 to 2007. The show is set in the 1st century BC and follows the lives of two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, as they navigate the complexities of ancient Roman politics and warfare.
The kind of war depicted inRomeis unlike most other conflicts shown on television,as the historical accuracy can’t be as certain since the series takes place so long ago. However, based on what accounts and records there are, there’s reason to believe thatRomeis as close to realistic as possible. While there’s an element of fun and escapism inRomesince it takes place so long ago, this doesn’t detract from how brutal and visceral the series is.
Romepositions itself as a war series, a political thriller, and a character study all in one,as the central characters are foot soldiers in the great Roman army. TheTV show has fast-paced action and fight scenesand had the potential to go on for several more seasons despite being canceled after season 2. The biggest takeaway audiences might have while watchingRomeis not how much the world and war have changed but how much it hasn’t and how it continues to affect people with limited resources the most.
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Das Boot
A sequel to the 1981 film of the same name, Das Boot is a war drama series that expands the narrative into a suspense-filled, multifaceted drama set during World War II. Viewers are taken on a harrowing voyage with the crew of U-612, a German U-boat, as they navigate the ocean’s depths amidst extreme political conflict.
The 1981 filmDas Bootis considered a revolutionary achievement in war cinemaand was later released as an extended miniseries. However, the recent reinterpretation of the story, the 2018 German TV seriesDas Boot, is quite different from the original movie and the book it’s based on. Focusing primarily on German U-boats during WWII,Das Boottakes the viewer on a far-reaching journey throughout its seasons, expanding its scope and touching upon the different perspectives of everyday soldiers in the German army.
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There have been criticisms ofDas Boot, asit touches upon a specific niche of the army and is more concerned with warfare and the experiences of men in submarinesrather than the on-land atrocities of the Holocaust. However, as the series progresses, more moral conflicts and the different avenues of war in Europe are exposed, broadeningDas Bootin an exciting way. In terms of cinematography and visual execution,Das Bootis a credit to television.
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Band of Brothers
Band of Brothers is a 2001 HBO miniseries chronicling Easy Company’s experiences from paratrooper training to World War II’s end. It portrays their participation in pivotal battles such as D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, based on Stephen E. Ambrose’s book and first-hand accounts from surviving members.
Perhaps the most famous depiction of war on television of the 21st century,Band of Brothersis well remembered for its incredible performances and the bond that’s portrayed between the men of East Company.Beginning with their initial training and following the unit all the way through D-Day,Band of Brotherssees the ensemble cast put through every horror imaginable. They’re key players in some of the biggest conflicts of WWII, allowing the series to show delicately crafted battle sequences.
Though the bravery and heroism of these individuals take center stage, the violence and horrible nature of the invasion aren’t shied away from inBand of Brothers. The series is critically acclaimed and has instantly connected with audiences since it first premiered in 2001, losing none of its potency as the years have progressed. As far as TV shows aboutwargo,Band of Brothersis still considered one of the strongest projects in history.
Band of Brothers (2001)
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