Why did it take me so long?

I can’t believe it took me this long.

My sister had recommended it.

So had my dad.

I love war films. War novels. War series.

I am fascinated by both World War One and World War Two, and as an English teacher, I have the capacity to choose and teach texts that are either produced in this context, or set in it.

And I truly believe that that is where I do my best teaching.

So why?

Why on Earth did it take me this long to sit down and watch IMDB’s third highest rated series?

That is a question I cannot answer.

However, I want to review it.

Many people have.

I don’t care.

Band of Brothers is a dramatised historical television show that follows Easy Company, the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborn Division of the United States Military in World War Two.

Yes, these blokes jumped out of planes, usually under fire, and landed amidst enemy soldiers and often got separated from one another.

The series follows depictions of real life soldiers - some who survived, and others who didn’t - as they fought through some of, if not, the hardest infantry conflicts in World War Two.

Easy Company fought on D-Day, landing near Normandy, Market Garden, Bastogne, Haguenau.

They lost a lot. Men. Friends. Sanity. Hope. Even, at times, humanity.

Each episode is narrated by a different soldier and follows their perspective through the respective battle ahead.

Yes. Next?

Just kidding.

Of course I’ll explain why.

Let’s start with the beginning - how most of the episodes begin.

Each episode begins with interviews with soldiers who, one assumes at the time, were involved in the war and may have been around Easy Company. These men, in fact, were the still surviving members of Easy Company at the time of production. Telling their stories. Reliving the past horrors.

And I don’t believe it is for entertainment sake.

No.

This is to show the brutality of war. The loss of life. The resilience of the Greatest Generation.

These men of honour, who took bullets, shrapnel, held friends as they died and had to commit their own horrors to survive.

The dramatisation is simply brilliant. The acting is excellent - fans of Friends may see David Schwimmer (Ross) in a whole new light. I know I certainly do now.

Special effects are far better than what other television series were producing at the time.

And the storyline and plot is simply harrowing.

I am a stout defender of all veterans.

Here in Australia, one of our largest days of the year is the 25th of April.

ANZAC Day.

I won’t go into the details of what our (and New Zealands) soldiers have accomplished for two very small countries, but I implore you to look into it. Particularly the landing at Gallipoli in World War One and Kokoda in World War Two.

As such, I believe that we need to honour of serving men and women. Remember those who gave sacrifices, and that all men died at some point during these wars, even those who returned home.

Especially those who returned home.

In a time of relative peace, peace we have known, especially in the West, for the past 80 years, it is important to see what happens when leaders decide to go to war.

Who dies?

Who is safe?

Who are the enemy soldiers?

And I love how Band of Brothers humanises the German soldiers. How the Easy Company men see the Germans in the end as themselves - pawns in a much larger game.

Innocents sent to the slaughterhouse to defend land and country, ignorant of the atrocities that are being committed (especially the majority of the German soldiers).

For us, now, it is important to see this. With Gaza. With Ukraine.

Watch it. Learn. Remember. And respect those who served.

It may be us, any day now.

10/10

And there’s no doubt in my mind.

This is, and should be, a top 5 series.