When it comes to a lot of TV shows, a lot of them unfortunately lose their way or fall off track, taking a steep dive into mediocrity as time goes on. This occurs in all genres, and is usually due to a multitude of factors. Sometimes, it’s due to burnout, other times it’s due to high demands or a dwindling budget. Whatever the case, this is all too common, especially in the digital age of streaming platforms and on-demand viewing.
This happens in a few war TV shows, too, provided they aren’t miniseries and actually do last for more than one season. War shows generally don’t last for a super long time, but sometimes, even the two-season runs are subject to a sharp decline in quality. But for every five of those, there’s one that makes sure to keep its standards at the same level throughout all of its run. These are the best war-themed TV shows that don’t have a single bad season. Note that for this list, only multi-season series will be considered.
7
‘The Man in the High Castle’ (2015–2019)
Rufus Sewell as John Smith sits in a chair in a military uniform in The Man in the High Castle.Image via Amazon Prime
The Man in the High Castle is an alternate history TV show that shows what would have happened to the world if the Axis powers had actually won the Second World War. This is obviously a prospect that most people wouldn’t want to imagine, but this speculative show delves into just how horrible the 1960s would have been if the Third Reich had never fallen. The Nazis in this series effectively control most of the planet and plunge the world into a fascist dictatorship with minimal freedom, executing anyone who dares to violate the strict laws set in place.
The Man in the High Castle received four seasons, mainly focusing on the drama and politics of things, with a little bit of action sprinkled in. Sometimes shows can lose their way after they’ve been around for longer than two or three seasons, but this is not one of those shows. Some felt the conclusion was a bit rushed, but overall, the consensus is that this is a series that maintains its overall quality throughout its entire run, so there’s never a dull moment.
6
‘Manhattan’ (2014–2015)
Image via WGN America
Manhattan is a war drama set primarily in the United States, far from the brutality occurring in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania during World War II. The show mixes fictional characters with actual historical figures as a team of scientists and engineers seeks to develop a weapon so deadly that it will force any remaining Axis forces to surrender. This operation, known as the Manhattan Project (hence the name of the show), later resulted in the development of the atomic bomb.
This horrific new weapon was famously used on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and later paved the way for the nuclear arms race known as the Cold War. Throughout the show, there is the standard fare of drama and romance, but also a lot of ethical issues as the team struggles with their own morals, unsure how to feel about developing such a destructive weapon. Though Manhattan only lasted two seasons, each of them is magnificent in its own right and deserves much more attention than it initially received.
5
‘SAS: Rogue Heroes’ (2022–2025)
Jack O’Connell and Connor Swindells in SAS Rogue HeroesImage via Sophie Mutevelian/Kudos
SAS: Rogue Heroes is an underrated series that explores the origins of Britain’s Special Air Service, one of the most elite Tier One special forces units in the world. The group was one of the first real special forces groups, tracing its roots back to the Second World War. The unit was designed to undertake some of the most dangerous and politically sensitive operations of the war, a mission that the group maintains into the 21st century.
This show lasted three years, but only got two seasons due to low viewership. But those two seasons are one heck of a ride, with many episodes diving deep into some of the most top-secret missions the SAS undertook during their inception. Infiltrating behind enemy lines and attacking the Third Reich from within, the show takes a look at how the SAS was instrumental to the Allied victory. For both of its two seasons, the stakes and excitement are kept high, which allows it to keep its high standards laid out for it in the beginning.
4
‘Rome’ (2005–2007)
Ray Stevenson and Kevin McKidd as Roman soldiers standing alongside together in Rome (2005-2007).Image via HBO
Rome obviously takes place in Ancient Rome, specifically during the last years of the Roman Republic in the First Century BCE. The second season really focuses on the war aspect of things, mainly on Caesar’s Civil War in Egypt, which caused the fall of Ancient Egypt itself. This is a show that became renowned for its gruesome violence and unflinching depictions of ancient warfare, which was kind of unheard of at the time.
This is another series that sadly only received two seasons, but this was likely due to low viewership or budgetary concerns rather than a reflection of its true quality. Indeed, Rome only gets better as it goes on, even though it starts pretty solid. By the end, it’s a true masterpiece of historical drama, and it brought a lot of concepts to the table that TV wouldn’t widely accept or start implementing until the 2010s. All in all, Rome is a must-see series that maintains the top-tier quality established by its first episode.
3
‘The Last Kingdom’ (2015–2022)
Image via Netflix
The Last Kingdom is set during the Middle Ages, focusing on a time when Viking raids and incursions along the coasts of the British Isles were really starting to ramp up. The numerous Anglo-Saxon kingdoms at the time found themselves assaulted by non-stop Viking attacks, resulting in political turmoil and societal upheaval as supplies dwindled and realms crumbled. The show is definitely a product of its time, and had some rough patches during development, but the reception was pretty good all around.
The Last Kingdom endured numerous things that would ordinarily be a death sentence for other TV shows. It traded hands, being picked up by Netflix midway through its run, experienced a significant gap between seasons, and was impeded by the COVID-19 Pandemic during the end of its run. This resulted in a feature-length special episode being made in order to tie up all loose ends in the story. Despite these setbacks, The Last Kingdom is pretty near perfect from beginning to end, and while some seasons did score worse than others, critically, they all still earned good reviews.
2
‘Barbarians’ (2020-2022)
Image Via Netflix
Netflix’s Barbarians takes audiences back to the first century, when the Roman Empire began to wage war on the Germanic Tribes of Central Europe. Despite the Roman Empire’s superior military discipline and revolutionary tactics, the combined might of the Germanic Tribes really gave the Romans a hard time, causing a prolonged and deadly conflict. The TV show is a German original series created for Netflix, but was canceled after two seasons due to low viewership and challenges associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic.
That said, the two seasons that audiences got were nothing short of amazing. Barbarians was an underrated gem in Netflix’s library, and brought an overlooked conflict to life as the Teutons and their allies desperately fight back against the rapidly growing Roman Empire. It even features the famed Battle of Teutoburg Forest, where the Romans were routed and suffered a crushing defeat. Even though it’s only 12 episodes long, Barbarians delivers in every single one of them.
1
‘M*A*S*H’ (1972–1983)
Alan Alda as Hawkeye looking at an object with others behind him in M*A*S*H Season 1.Image via CBS
M*A*S*H is a groundbreaking war TV show that surely needs no introduction. The series is set during the Korean War, known colloquially as both the Ugly War and the Forgotten War, due to the treacherous conditions of the battlefield, and due to the fact that it isn’t as widely known as other conflicts. While most war shows are very serious in nature, this one decided to keep things light-hearted, opting for a sitcom route rather than an action or drama.
The plot centers on a medical team back on an American home base, far from the front lines, which leaves room for hijinks to ensue, though there are definitely some emotional moments. M*A*S*H ran for a whopping 11 seasons, so one would expect it to lose its way or peter out eventually. This was not the case, as the show is pretty consistent for all 11 seasons, and never fails to make the audience laugh or cry. This consistency throughout its long run is what helped establish it as the greatest war TV show of all time.
M*A*S*H
Release Date
1972 – 1983-00-00
Showrunner
Larry Gelbart
Directors
Larry Gelbart
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Loretta Swit
Margaret Houlihan
