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BBC. or i-player
I did look and nothing came back on search, so if theres a thread i couldnt find it.
Anyway, bloody excellent. I binged 3 episodes last night(out of 6) and I'll watch the remaining 3 tonight.
Trailer -
Yeah, this is on my to watch list so thanks for the mini review. Does look really good.👍
These were my rouge heros
edit ha ha nice ninja edit OP!
Yeh, we've binged them all. Was a good watch, but certainly a lot of artistic license to make for entertaining TV which was a bit jolly japes and gung ho for me, though there were a few bits showing a pause for thought over some of the activities.
There's an actual 3 part documentary on iPlayer too; SAS: rogue warriors, which throws a bit more truth on the matter and suggests David Sterling has 'refined' his tales over the years..
Mods: delete my thread. Search didn't find this one.
Yep. I enjoyed, fun music, slightly irreverent and a romp through.
Going to start watching this eve!
If you can read the book by Ben McIntyre SAS Rogue Heroes, that is a great read. As are all his books really.
Three and a half episodes in and I'm enjoying it. I know the story and there seems to be more cross dressing and shagging than I remember though.
To describe Paddy as a "complex individual" would be an understatement. Was his rage due to supressed homosexuality?
Read the book a couple of years back but not had the chance to watch any yet. Looking forward to it!
Interesting, wasn't convinced by the trailer, but looks like I should give it a go
binged it over 2 nights. brilliant.
i am also reading a book by Damien Lewis. SAS band of brothers, which is brilliant also.
Loving it. So well done, yeah Paddy was quite a character but exactly what they wanted for their mission.
Quite compelling, now on last episode but the Paddy Mayne character is a little over the top. Kinda ruins it.
Three and a half episodes in and I’m enjoying it. I know the story and there seems to be more cross dressing and shagging than I remember though.
Didn't realise you were there Harry.
Loving it also, will watch more later when Mrs Egf has gone to bed.
I should really read the book. Ben Macintyre does some great stuff.
Tom Glynn Carney who plays Mike Sadler is the son of good friends (His mum is my sons godmother). He's also in that Game of Thrones prequel that's on at the minute. He's a top lad.
Just started this evening, and it looks like a good watch so far.
The 3 part documentary Longdon mentions is made by Ben MacIntyre I think, and is the factual series that this hammy one is based on
Loving the soundtrack
David Sterling was basically a fraud.
Hmm.
Not much into dramatisations of their story. Invariably it’s too far from the truth & does them a disservice. Regardless I’m sure it’s a good watch but I’ll pass.
Finished it last night. Not sure about the whole French/German twist. Good fun though.
David Sterling was basically a fraud.
I think he was probably a case of the "right man at the time" He wasn't the first guy in the military to come up with the idea of "behind enemy lines actions" but he was convincing, recruited well, the desert was the ideal test bed, and largely (with a few false starts) it worked.
In most other scenarios (just a quick glance over his post war "career" will attest) he was a terrible human being, but the war gave him an outlet which he grasped.
He has a nice view these days:
I've stayed at the Lanrick Treehouses nr. Doune which is just a stones throw from that statue. It really is in the middle of nowhere otherwise.
In most other scenarios (just a quick glance over his post war “career” will attest) he was a terrible human being, but the war gave him an outlet which he grasped.
Do a google search for "The Phoney Major". The author has done the podcast rounds as well. You should have a listen.
Yes I’m aware of Gavin Mortimer’s books.
Loving the soundtrack
Dad Rock !
David Sterling was basically a fraud.
Winston Churchill - Shameless self promoter.
T.E Lawrence - Shameless self promoter.
History doesn't usually remember people who dont seek to make the name for themselves.
Being able to do what these guys did doesn't usually coincide with being a fluffy happy well rounded individual.
Yep, I'd imagine they weren't to woke.
Currently reading Ben McIntyre's book Colditz.
Excellent read. Laughed out loud at the idea of the Gestapo spending the war attempting to decipher dance moves in a letter sent home. And the alcohol !
Not wishing to spoil the plot for you lot up there but David Stirling ended up in Colditz.
McIntyre's TV program on Agent ZigZag (BBC Timewatch Double Agent The Eddie Chapman Story) is well worth watching.
Watched ep 1 and 2 so far, and can certainly see Steven Knight's (Peaky Blinders) influence. Not sure the OTT tone nor the anachronistic soundtrack does it any favours. I can see why they'd go with that, but can't help feel it's unnecessary and does the chaps a disservice.
It's fun to watch, mainly because of the engaging leads, but also a little grating.
Quite compelling, now on last episode but the Paddy Mayne character is a little over the top.
I think it’s not inaccurate. IIRC his biography was in the library when I was at school and essentially he was a total violent headcase, especially when drunk.
I think it’s not inaccurate. IIRC his biography was in the library when I was at school and essentially he was a total violent headcase, especially when drunk.
Certainly every book I've read on the subject seems to talk of him in those terms.
he was a total violent headcase, especially when drunk.
My understanding is that he was violent when drunk, otherwise perfectly normal.
Weren’t there stories about postwar drinking binges in Belfast and Newtownards where he battered every man he came across senseless?
@nickc He was a solicitor before and after the war so he must have had some controlled periods.
Just binged them, really enjoyed it. I hope there's another series!
David Sterling was basically a fraud.
David Sterling has refined his tales over the years
It's Stirling
Wiki, I know, but heard some of these rumours about Mayne before:
During the 1938 Lions tour it is said that Mayne relaxed by "wrecking hotels and fighting dockers". During the war, his men admired him in battle but were very wary of him during quiet times once he had consumed alcohol. Many urban legends of his post-war years exist in Belfast and Newtownards. These mostly tell of incidents in which, after drinking for several hours, Mayne would challenge every man in the bar to a fight, which he would invariably win. Other accounts describe him as a courageous leader of his men and a ferocious opponent.
Anyone know of a decent biography ofhim?
Just binged them, really enjoyed it. I hope there’s another series!
Another three apparently. Series 1 only covers a small part of Ben Macintyre's book.
Just binged them, really enjoyed it. I hope there’s another series!
This 👆
Was a good watch, but certainly a lot of artistic license to make for entertaining TV which was a bit jolly japes and gung ho for me
Pretty much sums it up for me. I think the tone is a bit off, but it's entertaining.
Entertainment but not history...
I watched the first two episodes and didn't find it very engaging which is surprising as I really enjoyed most of Peaky Blinders. It feels a bit Carry On SAS.
Anyone know of a decent biography ofhim?
The Hamish Ross Biography is supposed to be one of the better ones. BUT There's a massive caveat on all the SAS WW2 origin and biographies TBH. Lots of the early history wasn't recorded, there are no regimental diaries, and few after action reports, most of the original L detachment vets are dead, and they all realised quite quickly after the war that it was their interests to make it all v exciting, like most combat vets their memories are often wrong or misplaced and they are perhaps even more "unreliable narrators" than most. So, take any "Finally; an Official story of the SAS Heroes" with a v large pinch of skepticism, there's bound to more of them cashing in after this series.
Documentary on iPlayer with some very moving interviews with some of the SAS veterans
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08f00s0
Seems there's a new series on iPlayer.
Yup - rewatched the old series over the last few days or so. Reminded me how good the first series was. Quite looking forward to the next lot!
The book that is it based on is equally entertaining. Looking forward to Season 2.
I felt the book rushed through the European campaign somewhat, as if the author thought it wasn't as interesting as the desert bits. Even if the TV series needs to have some element of entertainment to it, I hope we don't stray too far into parody.
In which case, this is great fun.
anyone know the breed of that dog?
Looks like my father's Jack Russell.
I remember having "Ice Cold In Alex" as the subject matter for my MATTS 'Values & Standards' module one year.
It's an excellent film and was a perfect choice for that block.
Youngest_oab and I have the last couple of Series 1 to rewatch, but I’m looking forward to the shallow and historically inaccurate continuation of an entertaining romp with cool music…
Massively dramatised, some inaccuracy but great entertainment and some of the genuine war tales, including the SAS, are way beyond anything that could be made up. The SAS at this point were raw hard and unruly fighters, it’s still the basics of how they work now.
Oh that’s a Parsons Jack Terrier.
I liked the 'This is NOT a history lesson' at the start
Thought the soundtrack was a lot more subtle in this episode, too. Hopefully that'll pick up as they go on.
That landing scene was admirable, heartbreaking and so well done. The hell all side experienced because of one man’s vision. 🙁
And showing in one go, none of the dripfeeding nonsense:)
Am i the only one who thinks Jack O'Connell's NI accent is all over the place? He's really struggling with it and its hugely distracting. Especially as he seems to be doing a lot more talking in this series than the last one.
Massively dramatised, some inaccuracy
the 'some' in that sentence is doing all the heavy lifting. I get what they're trying to do isn't "Tell the story of the early days of the SAS with a reasonable nod to history", but it's gone so far to the the opposite extreme that it's a low budget telly version of Saving Private Ryan i.e. fictional characters in a real setting.
I enjoyed the first series, read the book on the back of it and enjoyed that, but having watched the 6 episodes of this found it lacking something. maybe because I've been cold-ridden watching it, but I thought the narrative didn't really work or go anywhere.
Am i the only one who thinks Jack O’Connell’s NI accent is all over the place?
By all accounts Maine didn't have a strong NI accent, he's a toff after all.
By all accounts Maine didn’t have a strong NI accent, he’s a toff after all.
Christ! that makes it even worse.
I enjoyed the series, unexpectedly moving in places with some great performances, particularly Theo Barklam-Biggs (plays Reg). I think they could have saved Connor Swindell's wages though.
Am i the only one who thinks Jack O’Connell’s NI accent is all over the place? He’s really struggling with it and its hugely distracting. Especially as he seems to be doing a lot more talking in this series than the last one
Paddy Maine's must be turning in his grave, whilst he was irish, he was upper class with an RP accent, in addition to that he was 6'2" tall and played second row for the British Lions, he was a very quietly spoken man who rarely swore and was extremely emphatic where his men were concerned, he also believed in discipline and hard training, so the portrayal of him couldn't be more out.
That landing in Sicily where they show them taking the town with 35 men, was actually 280 men, so i'm guessing budget didn't stretch to that!
Paddy Maine’s must be turning in his grave, whilst he was irish, he was upper class with an RP accent, in addition to that he was 6’2″ tall and played second row for the British Lions, he was a very quietly spoken man who rarely swore and was extremely emphatic where his men were concerned, he also believed in discipline and hard training, so the portrayal of him couldn’t be more out.
In one of those slightly random turns of events, my grandparents lived near Newtownards and knew the Maynes, and my Mum said after S1 that the portrayal was far from accurate. There is bonus Scrabo content later in S2, though.
Al 'Pub Landlord" Murray and his mate picking it to bits in their WW2 podcast.
I really enjoyed it, cinematography is great and pops in UHD/HDR.
It does clearly state in the opening title that it's not a historically accurate depiction, so I think if you take it as intended, it's really good entertainment with some gritty bits thrown in, as someone else above mentioned the Reg storyline.
Exactly, "Inspired by true events" and not a history lesson. But of course, the I've-read-a-book-about-the-SAS people feel the need to prove how knowledgeable they are.
“Inspired by true events” and not a history lesson.
The problem is that, if you use real people's names and historical events, it's natural for the audience to assume that it's historically accurate. If you want to make a drama, better to just create fictional characters with fictional names.
I grew up very close to Newtownards and was well aware of Blair Maynes exploits at a young age. They are rightfully proud of him in the area. I've enjoyed Rogue Heroes as entertainment but that enjoyment is always tempered by the cartoonish depiction of him. I think it is a disgrace and very disrespectful at times.
That said I have a hope that it will raise his profile enough to get him a posthumous VC, given how it was wrongfully denied at the time. A wrong even more apparent with hindsight.
You can't criticize someones actions during war when those aspects of their behavior are the very things that make them operate at the level he did. You also can't criticize someones actions following war when they have been through those experiences, and certainly suffered from extreme PTSD.
The gist of these comments probably counts for all elite troops in any war/nation/time?
I'm am looking forward to the depiction of the action that had him recommended for a VC - that was beyond fiction.