The beloved war drama has been branded the 'best of the best' and it's available to stream on Amazon Prime and NOW.
A Gritty Miniseries for War Drama Enthusiasts
TV lovers have heaped praise on a tense war drama, branding it 'the best of the best' and claiming no other show or film compares to it. The series in question is ideal for fans of the beloved 2001 American war drama miniseries, Band of Brothers. So, what is it? It's the seven-part TV miniseries Generation Kill, which was produced by HBO and first aired from July 13 to August 24, 2008.
Based on a True Story
It's based on Evan Wright's 2004 book of the same name, which charted his experience as an embedded journalist working with the US Marine Corps' 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The large ensemble cast features Alexander Skarsgård, Jon Huertas, James Ransone, Lee Tergesen (who played Wright, though the characters only ever refer to him by nicknames), and many more.
Critical Acclaim and Realism
The series was lauded for its grittiness and focus on the absurd reality for the Marines who had to deal with intense boredom and turbulent combat against the backdrop of misguided bureaucratic choices made by those in charge. These often inept decisions and poor communication lead to the troops feeling frustrated and confused, all while having to contend with constant supply shortages. The show also highlights the rapport between the Marines and the dark humour they used as a coping mechanism during such difficult, demanding, and uncertain times.
Created by The Wire's David Simon and Ed Burns
Generation Kill was created by The Wire's David Simon and Ed Burns and famously doesn't shy away from the usage of correct military jargon, while portraying the Marines as real, flawed human beings instead of the devoutly patriotic heroes so often seen in war films.
Streaming Availability
Despite originally airing on HBO in 2008, the miniseries is now available to stream on platforms including NOW and Amazon Prime, though subscription add-ons are required to watch through Prime. Generation Kill is still regularly praised by TV fans and boasts an impressive 86% score on popular review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.
Fan Reactions
One viewer wrote: 'Right up there with Band of Brothers, Peaky Blinders, and The Pacific. The best of the best. First watched this over 12 years ago when it was new, and it's still the greatest to this day.' Another agreed: 'It's Band of Brothers during the 2003 Iraq invasion. Great writing and remarkable acting make this one a must watch TV show.'
A third said: 'The action is a little over-the-top, but the characters, the dialogue and the attitudes all pretty perfectly capture 21st century military life. This is one of HBO's truly great pieces of art.' While a fourth added: 'The more you watch it, the better it gets. It's difficult for me to put into words, but to this day I still have not watched any show or even movie as good as this.' Another posted: 'One of my favourite HBO offerings!'
Generation Kill is streaming on Amazon Prime now.
