It's been called Germany's version of "Band of Brothers". "GENERATION WAR" is an epic German miniseries about WWII whose story revolves around 5 friends: a nurse, a singer, a Jew, & a pair of brothers whose lives get torn apart by the war.
The brothers are part of Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's invasion of Russia, the nurse serves in a field hospital on the Eastern Front, & the Jew joins the Polish Partisans.
Nazis have always been the easiest villains to hate but this humanizes the men who fought in the German Infantry.
The production values for this series are as good as HBO's. Those who fought for Germany had to face the same challenges of war just like everyone else. From shell shock, disillusionment, and injustice, this series is an important reminder that the horrors of war don't have any boundaries.
Generation War has excellent battle sequences & set design. The ending may be too good to be true in some ways but overall it's a vital & excellent 3 part series of WWII from the German perspective. The fatigue & horrors of war comes across very well Grade A-
Don't worry, it's not a Game of Thrones rip off. "THE LAST KINGDOM" is the best new show "you are not watching" and I found it to be far superior than History Channel's "Vikings".
Set during the same era of the Viking conquests in Dark Ages Great Britain, it tells the story of a young man who is born Saxon but is raised as a Viking. The show follows his adventures as a solider in the court of Alfred the Great fighting against the Viking conquerors, but since he was raised as one he lives in a limbo status being able to cross the cultural divides of both Viking and Saxon.
Does he stay true to his Viking upbringing or does he stay loyal to his Saxon roots? I was wrong to think this was yet another "Thrones" wannabe. It stands on its own as a solid historical action adventure mini series in an era we rarely get adapted. It's the perfect ale to quench a Game of Thrones thirst.
Having seen History Channels "Vikings" & finding it wanting I am happy to say that BBC's "The Last Kingdom" is a definite improvement over it on nearly every level. On a technical level the the costume design, cinematography, score, makeup, & editing is a grade above the History Channel show. Furthermore The Vikings in "The Last Kingdom" aren't the Disneyfied pretty boys you see in "Vikings". They instead are portrayed much more beautifully by paradoxically being depicted as semi handsome grungy dirty ravagers, rapists, murderers, & warriors with an animalistic nature.
This show doesn't hide their ugliness & it makes for a better & sexier cinematic Viking. The infamous "Great Heathen Army" of the late 800's & their leaders are shown to be the invaders that they were. S1 ends on a cliffhanger, but Netflix has picked up the show for 2 more seasons. It's an excellent action packed historical drama.
