TV Series of the Month – Generation Kill

This month’s TV series: Generation Kill (2008).

The HBO miniseries focuses on the exploits of the 1^st Recon Maries during the first wave of the American-led assault on Bagdad in 2003. It is told through an embedded Rolling Stone reporter and the troops he shares a Humvee with.

The series is written by David Simon, Ed Burns (who both wrote on The Wire, which was created by Simon), and Evan Wright. Its seven episodes are directed by two very good TV-directors Susanna White (who directs four episodes) and Simon Cellan Jones (who directs three).

The cast is phenomenal – made up of mostly unknown actors at the time, almost all have gone on to do great stuff, especially the series’ lead Alexander Skarsgard. It also features James Ransone, Lee Tergesen, Jon Huertas, Stark Sands, Billy Lush, Kellan Lutz, Rudy Reyes (who plays himself), Chance Kelly, Michael Kelly, and Robert John Burke.

The miniseries makes a good companion piece to Band of Brothers, as it also looks at the camaraderie between soldiers and their struggles like Band of Brothers does but set in a different generation. The series is excellent, among HBO’s best (which is saying a lot). It is a must-see for fans of fantastically well-made war dramas (like Band of Brothers).

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, and Streaming