One of the most crucial jobs of any war-themed piece of media is to show accuracy (especially if it’s about a historical conflict) and brutality. These are typical conventions of the genre, and it’s basically what makes the war genre what it is. There are a lot of war movies out there that really give it a solid go, but some of them just don’t do it properly. It isn’t that they’re not good; it’s just that they miss out on some of their potential in their depictions of historical events.
This is true for TV shows, too, although every so often, one comes by that absolutely nails it. War isn’t quite as common in the medium of television as it is in cinema, but still, there are some war TV shows that do a better job of things than a lot of movies do. These seven shows in particular do a much better job of showing their conflicts of focus at a level that even some war movies couldn’t attain.
7
‘Rome’ (2005–2007)
Rome, as the name implies, is about Ancient Rome, more specifically about the time when the Roman Republic was in its final days, in the First Century BCE. The conflict explored in the show is Caesar’s Civil War, where Julius Caesar began orchestrating a war between the last Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. The viewpoint is pretty narrow, centring on two fictitious soldiers whose lives become intertwined with the rapidly-changing political and social environment of the waning Republic.
This series is extremely gruesome, depicting the nastier aspects of war that most movies would never dare show. Ancient warfare wasn’t so pretty either, and this show isn’t afraid to show it. If you’re a fan of ancient warfare movies like 300, or just a fan of Ancient Rome in general, this is a show that has to be seen to be believed, as there are a lot of similar movies that try to do what Rome does, but just can’t pull it off.
6
‘The Pacific’ (2010)
The Pacific is a miniseries set in the same universe as the famous Band of Brothers, only this time, it takes audiences to the Pacific Theater of the War, which was a whole different ball game than the Western Front. Gone are the simple villages and wide-open plains of Western Europe, instead replaced by the jungles and swamps of East and Southeast Asia and Oceania. Instead of the primary adversaries being the Third Reich, the Allied troops instead find themselves facing the Japanese Empire, with an enemy that has mastered the art of guerrilla warfare.
Easily the best war-themed TV show of the 2010s, The Pacific showcases the brutality of the Second World War and takes viewers on a journey through some of the most famous and deadly battles of the Pacific Theater. This ranges from the Battle of Peleliu in present-day Palau to the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. This series is truly essential, and does a better job of portraying some of the lesser-known battles than many war movies could ever hope to.
5
‘Generation Kill’ (2008)
In a lot of instances, shows or movies about the Iraq War don’t really work, mainly because it’s such a touchy issue with American audiences, even to this day. However, there are still a few diamonds in the rough. In any case, Generation Kill was an ambitious project because it was based on the Iraq War, and was released while the conflict was still ongoing, leading to a lot of controversy at the time. But that doesn’t mean it’s bad, as today, it is seen as one of the greatest miniseries ever made.
The miniseries is based on a non-fiction book by Evan Wright, a journalist who served as a war correspondent during the conflict. Much of the series follows his personal experiences in the nightmarish conditions, with some of the soldiers portrayed representing real American service members. Overall, it’s a series that garnered a lot of controversy due to the sensitive political climate surrounding the American Invasion of Iraq, but it’s totally worth it, as it does a better job of portraying conflict than a lot of war movies do.
4
‘Barbarians’ (2020–2022)
Barbarians is set in the early days of the Common Era, in the First Century, when the newly-formed Roman Empire began to wage war on the Teutonic tribes in present-day Germanic countries. Though it only lasted two seasons, this German original series was met with critical acclaim as it showcased the Roman conquests of Germania from both sides. Not only are the Romans depicted here, but so are the Teutons, who, while less organized and disciplined than the Romans, really put up one heck of a fight.
Barbarians even depicts the famed battle of Teutoburg Forest, in which the Romans were routed, and the Teutons came out on top, really giving the Romans a complete and total ass-kicking. This series has great action, drama, and even a little bit of romance, and blessedly shows a conflict that sadly doesn’t see much recognition in the modern day. It’s refreshing to see events from over 2000 years ago unfold right in front of the audience’s eyes, and it leads to an experience that gives many war movies a run for their money.
3
‘The Last Kingdom’ (2015–2022)
The Last Kingdom is set in the Middle Ages, centering on the repeated and frequent Viking raids on the British Isles, which threw the various kingdoms into turmoil. Spanning five seasons and one special feature-length episode, the series depicts numerous large-scale battles between the Vikings and the Saxons, even in the very first episode. As with many similar TV shows of the era, the violence is extremely graphic and bloody, and doesn’t shy away from showing anything.
The Last Kingdom might be mostly fictitious, but it has roots in real-life events, with many of the characters based on true historical figures. No one is truly safe in the show, either, as it follows the trend of killing off pretty much anyone they can, regardless of how the audience feels about the particular character. Overall, it is a series that shows the shocking brutality of Medieval England, with a stunning amount of visual accuracy, a job it does better than a ton of war movies out there.
2
‘Shōgun’ (2024–)
Hulu and FX’s Shōgun is an adaptation of James Clavell‘s novel of the same name, and was met with unanimous acclaim from both critics and audiences alike. Reception was so good, in fact, that the planned miniseries was expanded, with a second season well on its way. The show opens up with the inception of the Edo Period in Japan, a time marked by political turmoil, constant civil war, rebellion, and upheavals, usually involving the various noble clans.
The story of the novel, and by extension, the show, is pure fiction, with completely made-up characters and plotlines. However, the characters do draw inspiration from real historical figures, though their names are different. In any case, this series was a massive success, not just due to its political drama, but also due to its stellar action and narrative about cultures coming together against all odds to fight a common enemy. This series is a must-see, as it’s better than a lot of war-themed samurai movies out there.
1
‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)
Following the success of their hit 1998 film Saving Private Ryan, director Steven Spielberg and actor Tom Hanks decided to expand their horizons a bit and produce an unrelated, yet similar miniseries, which became Band of Brothers. This critically acclaimed war miniseries follows a similar storyline to the film, in that it is set on the Western Front of the Second World War, following events from the D-Day Invasion of Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge, focusing on many of the greatest and bloodiest battles in between.
Band of Brothers is widely cited as the greatest war TV show of all time, and for good reason. The gruesome violence doesn’t leave anything up to the imagination, and it effectively shows the heroism and sacrifice made by the Allied forces in a crusade against evil. But above all, the series stays true to its title, showcasing the camaraderie and importance of brotherhood amongst soldiers, which is why it’s indisputably much better than most war movies out there.
