Paul Johnson

Starts out with promise and talented actors but becomes a confused mess. What’s with the graphic and pointless sex element? What’s with the multiple plot threads? Here’s a suggestion Netflix: stick to choosing stories written by talented book authors. They don’t have to be famous ones just good. This is a tried and true strategy. It works.

Quite like it but not everybody will. It does spend a lot of time on political machinations. A lot of focus on the women who were attracted to him, not sure why. The series doesn’t make a good case for Franklin being a babe magnet, in fact he comes across as somewhat reserved in company to be honest. I do like all the actors. There are some plot holes, in the sense that the story can not make up its mind as to whether the main event is the American cause, or the personal stuff.

Excellent spy drama all the better for being based on real events and great acting intelligent plot

Agree with Gary Baysinger. When the film follows the book it is excellent. But the added stuff showing the generals negotiating and other new stuff/changes did not add to the story. The book version was plain, spare, simple, and direct.

The professional critics were not keen but this is one time I disagree. The critics say it is stereotyped etc. I actually checked and the events depicted are backed up by historical accounts. And a book. Even events which seem like they must surely be fiction. So my slightly sarcastic reaction to the critics is so sorry the reality of war isn’t cinematic enough for you or not artistically original enough for you. OK why is it so good? First, think of it as a graphic novel visual style and don’t get hung up on the animation technology. Second this is not some feel good band of heroes story. This is grunt work fighting and dying. And a lot of the guys die. Sorry. A lot. This is not a stereotypical story of a handful of diverse characters of different races who become buddies and most of them make it to the end. The series does not hammer or lecture you on racial harmony etc.. It is not preachy at all. There is weird stuff that happens but it really did. Finally there are a lot of small team military tactics, there is coordination with artillery, with tanks, medics, nuts and bolts of small unit actions. There are short truces when each side removes its wounded. The series moves on from one event to the next it does not linger too long on any one event. So it is a very good series. I was surprised that it was much better than I expected.

Great version, excellent actors. It’s a problem when people are always comparing a mini series to a movie version, those are totally different animals requiring a different type of actor. It’s very timely that it came out this year, here we are back to the Cold War world. It really resonates with what’s going on now.

Great documentary more nuance than you might expect

Classic Scandi Noir. Enjoyed it very much. You can watch it dubbed in English but I recommend cc English and the Icelandic audio. If you liked The Bridge, Wallander, Department Q, you’ll like this one. It follows the typical Scandi procedural, two partners, one empathetic and social, the other withdrawn but very logical, dark northern countryside, dark secrets from long ago etc ... but done very well, acting, photography etc..,