The HBO Miniseries 'Band of Brothers' Still Understands This 1 Thing Better Than Any Modern War Show

Band of Brothers has not only become synonymous with the best of what HBO can achieve with its prestige miniseries, but is one of the most definitive portrayals of World War II in any medium. It was only three years after working on Saving Private Ryan that Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks teamed up to produce the ten-part series that followed the men in “Easy Company” throughout the conflict from their days together in boot camp to the surrender of Germany and Japan.

Band of Brothers is not a traditional "war" show like we see today, as it is more centric on the characters than it is on action or suspense. Perhaps the most empowering aspect of Band of Brothers is that it shows how war is able to bring out the best in brave men, and that they fought to ensure that the world would never have to raise arms against each other again.

HBO's 'Band of Brothers' Celebrates Heroism, Not Warfare

While the involvement of Spielberg and HBO was enough to generate interest in the series, Band of Brothers has a stacked ensemble filled with many of the best young actors of the time, as nearly all of the main stars went on to have significant careers. Major Richard Wilkins (Damian Lewis) and Captain Lewis Nixon (Ron Livingston) were often thought of as the primary leads, but Band of Brothers was able to spend time developing the entire supporting cast in order to show how deeply these men came to connect with one another. While it’s one of the all-time greatest depictions of the fight to destroy fascism, the heroism in Band of Brothers is derived from the fellowship that these men develop with one another, and not a contorted sense of nationalism.

Having the involvement of the real soldiers in which the show was based certainly helped it achieve a greater degree of accuracy, but Band of Brothers stands out because it was willing to depict its leads as relatable characters, and not larger-than-life superheroes. Shows like The Terminal List or SEAL Team are so focused on creating spectacle that it becomes easy to forget that these characters came from humble beginnings, and achieved their skills through the implementation of hard work. Band of Brothers frequently notes how strenuous the task that these men had was, which was reflected by the real training that the cast went through in order to get in shape and realistically perform their military procedures. Showing that these were flawed, vulnerable people does not in any way detract from the impressiveness of their achievements; in fact, the idea that they came from modest origins and became protectors of democracy and freedom is an even more inspiring depiction of courage.

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This HBO Miniseries Is More Brutal Than 'Band of Brothers'

The darker, more intense series captures the same brutality, but draws entirely different conclusions about the merits of warfare.

The title of Band of Brothers is a clue to how the series embodied the idea that there couldn’t be one savior who would single-handedly win the war. Popular shows like Jack Ryan and Reacher have suggested that the only true heroism comes from rogue individuals who follow their own rules, though Band of Brothers rejects that, celebrating the notion that men from different backgrounds could come together to serve a larger purpose. This is most evident in episodes like “The Breaking Point,” in which different units are able to assist one another when they would have otherwise been outgunned. However, the celebration of individuality extends beyond moments of violence; there is just as much time spent showing the men bonding with one another and learning about the diversity of their upbringing. Band of Brothers wasn’t afraid to have humor, as finding the endearing moments within one of the darkest periods in human history makes the story even more inspiring.

The HBO Miniseries 'Band of Brothers' Shows How Bonding Forms Beyond Bloodshed

There’s no shortage of action within Band of Brothers, but the series was not gratuitous in its depiction of war, and never used actual battles to serve as empty spectacle. The actual process of holding a position was an intensive one for Easy Company, given that the rain of bullets made it hard to determine where their enemy was located; one of the show’s most memorable episodes, "Bastogne" explored how the frightful weather conditions and declining resources made it a particularly brutal winter for the soldiers when they were stationed in Germany. The point of these moments wasn’t to subject the audience to torment, but to examine the multi-faceted experiences that the characters would have gone through. Band of Brothers never made the assertion that it was intended to reflect every veteran’s experience in World War II, as its willingness to focus on the selective memories of those that were willing to share their stories is what made it so impactful.

It’s no coincidence that the war shows in the same vein of Band of Brothers were successful, and those that tried to shy away from its sensitive, thoughtful approach were less acclaimed. The Pacific was another World War II series from Hanks and Spielberg that focused on a broader stretch of time and examined slightly fewer characters, but retained the humanity and realism that had made Band of Brothers so perfect. Similarly, the Apple TV show Masters of the Air was able to distinguish itself because it focused on the aerial side of combat, which wasn’t depicted in Band of Brothers. There’s nothing wrong with shows that seek only to be entertaining, but tackling a subject as serious as war does come with certain responsibilities.

Band of Brothers did more than just take real stories and translate them to dramatic storytelling, but ensured that future generations would have something visceral that encapsulated the uncertainty of the era. Band of Brothers is a celebration of survival, as the most powerful moment of the series is the final episode’s conclusion, which reveals what each of the men did after the conflict ended. It’s a reminder of what history has passed, and why future generations should not be doomed to repeat it.

Release Date 2001 - 2001

Network HBO

Directors David Frankel, David Nutter, Mikael Salomon, Phil Alden Robinson, Richard Loncraine, Tom Hanks

Writers Bruce C. McKenna, Graham Yost, John Orloff

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  Donnie Wahlberg

  C. Carwood Lipton