Brothers band, the Emmy-winning miniseries created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, turns 22 this year. For the first time, the historical drama, starring Damian Lewis (Homeland), Ron Livingston (office space), and a litany of other recognizable faces on the brink of stardom, from Tom Hardy to James McAvoy, will be available on a subscription streaming service. other than HBO’s Max. It hits Netflix starting September 15, and if you’ve never seen the seminal show, there’s no better time than now.
Longtime fans also have reason to be excited, as the 10-episode series rewards repeat viewings, especially in the sleek 4K format it is expected to be shown on. But your experience will be greatly improved with a deeper dive into the history surrounding the show. itself. Here are some items to consider along with the long-awaited re-release, including recommendations on what to watch immediately afterward.
read the books
Image: Simon & Schuster
Brothers band is a dramatization based on the true story of the men of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Regiment, part of the famous United States 101st Airborne Division. The script is inspired by the incredible first-hand accounts collected by historian Stephen E. Ambrose, compiled in his best-selling book, Band of Brothers: from Normandy to Hitler’s eagle’s nest. However, unlike many historical texts based on World War II, Ambrose’s work is eminently readable and includes all the basic information necessary to contextualize Easy Company’s mission for a modern audience, plus anecdotes and vignettes that They were simply not included in the final edition.
Within its pages, Ambrose skillfully communicates not only what was at stake on both the national and international stages when the United States entered World War II, but also the very specific battlefield conditions that led to the creation of this main airborne assault force first. It doesn’t seem like doctrine. Instead, it is a lovingly crafted story with technical clarity, a sense of dramatic tension, and satisfying character arcs. Most importantly, his early chapters highlight that all of these men were volunteers, some of whom literally had no idea what they were getting into.
If you finish it, feel free to continue with Ambrose. D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II, which uses similar narrative hooks to tell the story of the broader invasion of Normandy. Then close it with The Wild Blue: the men and boys who flew B-24s over Germany. That will help set the stage for Hanks and Spielberg’s next film. masters of the air, which will tell the story of the B-17 bomber crews who were also fighting for Europe at the same time. That series is based on a completely different book, this one written by Donald L. Miller.
Listen to the podcast
In 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, HBO commissioned a 10-part podcast retrospective to celebrate. Brothers band’20th anniversary, titled Band of Brothers Podcast. While it’s hosted by Roger Bennett, whose overly energetic style may not be to everyone’s taste, the guest list is absolutely packed. The series includes hour-long interviews with Hanks, Livingston and Lewis, as well as Donnie Wahlberg and Frank John Hughes, the pair who played fan favorites Carwood Lipton and Bill Guarnere, respectively.
Don’t miss episode 3, which includes a long chat with Brothers band‘ legendary military advisor Captain Dale Dye, as well as Matthew Settle, who played the enigmatic and controversial Captain Ronald Speirs.
More Great WWII Shows and Movies Streaming Now
Brothers band It’s such a notable series in part because of its specificity. It focuses on a singular unit, with only a handful of soldiers. But that laser-like focus blocks other aspects of World War II. Check out these other streaming movies and series for insight on their other fronts.
The sunrises here are calm (2015)
Set in the spring of 1942, this four-episode miniseries tells the unlikely story of an all-female Soviet anti-aircraft unit stationed near the Baltic Sea. Based on the novel of the same name and currently streaming on Prime Video, it is a well-executed, if pulpy, drama about an overlooked cohort: the more than 800,000 Russian women who fought on the front lines of World War II. An earlier adaptation, from 1972, is also available. Directed by Stanislav Rostotskiy, it was nominated for an Academy Award and is also streaming on Prime.
Warsaw 44 (2014)
This drama chronicles the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, a brave attempt to hold the Polish capital in the face of ardent German resistance, Western oversight, and Soviet betrayal. His attention to historical detail is sometimes outweighed by his stylistic flair, specifically his climactic attack that looks like something out of a Baz Luhrmann film. However, it is a historically accurate and unflinching portrait of a key turning point in the war.
The wind increases (2013)
Following the steps of Brothers bandHanks and Spielberg The Pacific fell a little flat. Many cited his meandering approach, which vacillated from the United States, around the world to Australia, and then back to the hopping campaign across the Pacific islands. And while Clint Eastwood Letters from Iwo Jima and 2016 mountain ridge Take the award for action-packed drama from Studio Ghibli. The wind increases approaches the conflict from a completely different perspective. The animated film focuses on the civilian experience in Japan during the Great Depression to tell the story of Jiro Horikoshi., inventor of the feared Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the agile carrier-based fighter jet that carried the will of Imperial Japan to mainland China, Pearl Harbor and beyond. It airs on Max.
generational war (2013)
Finally, there is the dark and powerful generational warwidely regarded as Germany’s own vision Brothers band. Currently available to stream only in the original German with English subtitles, it features incredible writing and some stellar action sequences. It is no less captivating than the prestigious HBO miniseries, although at the same time it seems much more disturbing just a decade after its making, especially when viewed from the perspective of our modern political discourse.
