War is a common genre in movies, but it’s also pretty common in the world of television. There have been numerous attempts to bring some of the world’s most harrowing moments to the small screen, spanning various eras. This ranges from ancient warfare with bows and arrows to modern warfare with automatic weapons, with each series having its own share of things to offer.
In the age of digital streaming platforms and on-demand viewing, many networks have produced their own unique TV shows as an incentive to subscribe to them, including many in the war genre. In the last 10 years, there have been a bunch of good ones, but which ones stand above the rest? These are the best war TV shows of the last decade.
10
‘Catch-22’ (2019)
Catch-22 is a British black comedy miniseries based on a novel of the same name by Joseph Heller, which was originally published in 1961. The series follows a British bombardier who enlists in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, assuming that it will be much less dangerous than being on the ground. Unfortunately, he couldn’t have been any more wrong, as being in the air provides a whole slew of new threats.
To weasel out of it, the bombardier devises a plan to get himself honorably discharged. This comes after a string of increasingly dangerous missions, to the point where he thinks the RAF might actually be trying to kill him on purpose. The problem is, he has to jump through a ridiculous set of hoops to get out of service before his time is up. Subtly hilarious, yet brutally bleak in its depiction of wartime conditions, Catch-22 is easily one of the greatest war shows ever made.
9
‘The Long Road Home’ (2017)
The Long Road Home is one of the few war shows that actually takes a modern setting rather than a historical one. It is set in the 2000s, during the first years of the Iraq War. Specifically, it revolves around the first day of the 2004 Siege of Sadr City. Like many of the other entries on this list, this war show is based on a book, this time by Mikko Alanne.
Produced by National Geographic, The Long Road Home consists of eight grueling episodes that depict the horrific conditions of the Iraq War, although it isn’t the first show to take this route. However, it is among the best in recent memory, and this is reflected in critical and audience reviews. Many loved it for the recognizable faces at its heart, along with its iconic performances and pulse-pounding action.
8
‘The Man in the High Castle’ (2015–2019)
The Man in the High Castle is an alternate history TV series that explores the devastating conditions if Nazi Germany had won the Second World War. Set in a bleak, dystopian version of the 1960s, the Axis has conquered pretty much the entire world, imposing the brutality of fascism on the general populace. People have practically no human rights, and anything said against the regime can mean execution.
This show is based on a novel by Phillip K. Dick, originally released in 1962. Lasting four seasons, The Man in the High Castle shows just how bloody lucky we really are that the Allied powers won the Second World War, because the world would have been a lot worse off if things had worked out differently. This piece of speculative fiction is very important to watch, but is also thrilling from beginning to end, and is one of the most unique war TV shows to be produced.
7
‘A Small Light’ (2023)
A Small Light is set during World War II, specifically during the world’s deadliest genocide that occurred concurrently. Yes, this is a show about the Holocaust, taking place after the Third Reich invaded the Netherlands. Renowned figure Anne Frank, who many remember for her posthumously published diary, finds herself in a difficult position as a Jewish girl. She and her family need to hide from the Nazis, but fortunately, her father’s Christian secretary has offered to help.
A Small Light tells the Franks’ story through the lens of Miep Gies (Bel Powley), who risked her life to hide her employer’s family from the clutches of evil. This biographical miniseries is less about action and more about drama, as Gies becomes increasingly aware of the terrifying consequences if she is discovered. It’s not just a great show, but an important one to watch, too, as this historical event is something that ought never to be forgotten.
6
‘War & Peace’ (2016)
War & Peace is a six-part miniseries based on the literary work of the same name by Leo Tolstoy. The original book is a collection of writings, narratives, documents, and letters compiled by the original author, which are all set during Napoleon Bonaparte‘s invasion of Austria and the Russian Empire in the first years of the 18th Century. The episodes take place over a series of seven years and depict the devastating effects of conflict and how so much can happen in such a short time.
This miniseries comes with a star-studded cast, including Paul Dano, Callum Turner, Jim Broadbent, and Brian Cox, among others, and they all deliver some incredible performances, as usual. Critics adored this series, with some even calling it one of the greatest television adaptations ever made due to its faithfulness to the source material. It’s most certainly one of the best war-themed shows of the last 10 years.
5
‘Masters of the Air’ (2024)
Masters of the Air is a spin-off of the massively successful Band of Brothers, which came out in 2001. Band of Brothers is widely known as one of the greatest war shows ever made, if not the very greatest. While Masters of the Air is brilliant, it’s not quite as good as its predecessor. This miniseries takes place on the Western Front of the Second World War, where a bombing crew must carry out a series of dangerous missions high above the battlefield.
The brotherhood dynamic captured in the original show is still very much present, and it presents a whole new kind of action that wasn’t really explored in Band of Brothers. Masters of the Air maintains the charm of the miniseries that came before it, as well as the grit and brutal violence that made it so successful. It’s by far one of the best war shows of the last decade, and there’s no question in the minds of critics about that.
4
‘SAS: Rogue Heroes’ (2022–)
SAS: Rogue Heroes is set during the Second World War and explores the origins of Britain’s Special Air Service. This special forces unit was created during the war, with the intent of deploying specialized operatives behind enemy lines to take on some of the most dangerous tasks. The SAS today is one of the most elite special forces units in the world, and is Britain’s primary Tier One unit for counter-terrorism operations.
While this war show is extremely underrated, it boasts an impressive set of reviews. Much of the praise came from the way in which the series portrayed the various operations the SAS undertook, from North Africa to the Invasion of Sicily, to the Liberation of France. The show makes sure to show some of the most popular fronts of the war through a new lens, which allows audiences to see the evolution of one of the world’s first special forces groups. It’s pretty near perfect in all aspects, so it’s definitely one of the best of the last decade.
3
‘The Last Kingdom’ (2015–2022)
The Last Kingdom had kind of a rough go when it was coming out, as there were significant gaps between seasons, and it even changed networks about halfway through. Despite this, it managed to say everything it needed to say and reached a proper conclusion rather than an abrupt cancellation. This series takes place in the Middle Ages, when Vikings began to raid the Anglo-Saxon realms, located in present-day England.
This show was definitely a product of its time, as brutal violence and Medieval themes were trending at the time, thanks to the success of Game of Thrones. The Last Kingdom remains grounded in reality, though, and contains no elements of fantasy or magic. Though the story may be fictional, it is based on real events and historical figures, which makes it much more exciting. While it may be a bit forgotten nowadays, The Last Kingdom was a massive hit that stands as one of the best wartime dramas ever made.
2
‘Barbarians’ (2020–2022)
Barbarians is set during the First Century, when the Roman Empire waged war in Germania, with the intent of expanding their realm and conquering the local tribes. These tribes, dubbed “barbarians” by the Romans, put up much harder a fight than expected, and really gave the Romans a run for their money. Depicted within the show are some of the most famous moments from the war between the Germanic tribes and the Romans, including the Battle of Teutoburg Forest.
This Netflix original series is criminally underrated and consists of only 12 episodes. Despite this, it is absolutely awesome in pretty much every aspect. The action is great, and it shows the conflict from both the Germanic and the Roman sides. It’s also a testament to the power of unity, as the Germanic tribes put aside their differences and united in the face of a greater evil. The ancient warfare combined with the drama, romance, and politics, makes this one of the best war shows of the decade.
1
‘Shōgun’ (2024–2025)
Based on a novel of the same name by James Clavell, Shōgun is set during Japan’s Edo Period, a time known for frequent political upheaval, civil war, revolution, and societal unrest. It’s an era more commonly referred to as the Feudal Era. While the historical setting is real, the events and characters in the show are entirely fictional, although they are heavily inspired by fact.
The story itself is about a European trading vessel that arrives in Japan, with the ship’s pilot befriending a local Japanese lord. This lord uses the foreigner’s knowledge about war and military tactics to give himself an advantage during the civil war going on. Shōgun was an enormous success when it debuted, so much so that a second season was planned, even though it was only supposed to be a miniseries. Its political drama, cast of memorable characters, and great action are what make it the best war show of the past ten years, hands down.
- Release Date
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2024 – 2025
- Directors
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Fred Toye, Jonathan van Tulleken, Charlotte Brändström, Takeshi Fukunaga, Hiromi Kamata
- Writers
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Rachel Kondo
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