Soldiers yelling in a field in Band of Brothers.
War TV shows have always been around, but they've seen a resurgence lately, what with the rise of streaming services and on-demand viewing. This makes it easier for networks to create exclusive series as incentives to subscribe, which come from a multitude of genres.
War has historically always been a popular genre, so it's only natural that many of these TV shows would fall into this same category. Some of them are basic, uninspired drivel, but now and again, they totally nail it. Expressing the horrors of war to a new level and moving viewers around the world with their high-strung emotions and fast-paced combat, these series are sure to plant a firm foothold in the history books with their inherent quality. These are the best war TV shows that many critics have described as"masterpieces," a title that they absolutely earn. 10 'A Small Light' A Small Light is a miniseries about Miep Gies , a Dutch secretary who worked for Otto Frank . Famously, Otto Frank was the father of Anne Frank , whose diary became an international symbol of innocence and tragedy amidst the horrors of the Holocaust. The Franks were a Jewish family who fell under the shadow of the Third Reich's genocidal campaign. Gies, a Christian woman, offered to hide them from the Nazis. While the story is mostly about Gies and her heroism, it never shies away from how scary the Holocaust really was. People disappear, patrols roam the streets, and tensions are at an all-time high. It really does do a good job of showing how horrific the genocide was, and makes an important point that it's up to all of us to make sure that something of this magnitude never, ever happens again. For how emotionally moving, yet true to history it is, it can most definitely be considered a masterpiece. 9 'Rome' Rome doesn't really become a war show until the second season, which is when things really start to get ultra-violent. The series occurs in the final years of the Roman Republic, in the First Century BCE. At the time, Egypt was a staging ground for a massive conflict known as Caesar's Civil War, which culminated in the fall of Ancient Egypt and a conflict between the famous Queen Cleopatra VII and her brother, King Ptolemy XIII. Obviously, this series covers many of the politics that went on in the Roman courts when orchestrating this proxy conflict, which, as the name suggests, Julius Caesar was heavily involved in. This series featured the brutality of ancient warfare before it became super mainstream, and featured politicking and battle in equal measure. This is truly one of the greatest glimpses of Ancient Rome ever committed to television, and is one of the most underrated masterpieces of the 21st Century. 8 'The White Queen' The White Queen is based on a novel by Philippa Gregory, who, in turn, based her novel on real events. This miniseries is set during the Wars of the Roses in the 15th Century. This was a period of English history when two major noble houses violently competed for the throne, which was contested between the Tudors and the Yorks. This resulted in a Tudor victory, from which the modern British Royal Family is descended. However, the action wasn't the only part of the wars that mattered. This series is largely about what went on behind the scenes, featuring the various women of Houses Tudor and York, who attempt to pull the strings to influence politics and secure victory. Not only is this an untold story, but it's also an exceptional drama series with an overarching political narrative that remains surprisingly exciting. It definitely deserves points for highlighting the role of women in the war, too. All of these factors combined make it a genuine masterpiece that needs a little more love. 7 'The Last Kingdom' The Last Kingdom is set in Medieval England, when Viking raiders from Scandinavia were conducting a series of armed campaigns up and down the British Isles. This rallied the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, many of which fell to the Vikings, with only one standing strong against them. Though the story is fictional, it is based on true events, and even features many historical figures and characters that really did exist. This show had a bit of a rocky run, as it changed hands and had to wrap up its story in a feature-length special episode rather than coming out with another season, but it still managed to deliver in nearly all aspects. It really shows how visceral Medieval combat was, featuring all the guts and gore that one would come to expect. It's also a glimpse into the ferocity of the Vikings and the turmoil of the Middle Ages. This might not be a show for everyone, but many critics agree that it is absolutely a masterpiece, which deserves a much better treatment than the studios gave it. 6 'The Pacific' The Pacific takes place in the same universe as the critically-acclaimed Band of Brothers, this time focusing on a different front of the Second World War. Instead of being about the Western Front, this miniseries takes viewers to the Pacific Theater, where Allied forces fought viciously across Asia and Oceania against the Japanese Empire. The island-hopping campaign was mostly fought in jungle or swamp environments, which the Japanese forces were extensively trained for, so they were really in their element. This series takes viewers to some of the greatest engagements in this theater of war, from the Battle of Peleliu in present-day Palau to the Battle of Okinawa, the final engagement of the entire war. As is to be expected, the violence is gruesome, and the miniseries doesn't shy away from any of the nasty details that many war films often leave unspoken. Clearly, this is a masterful piece of television, worthy of all the praise that it got. 5 'Chief of War' Apple TV's recently-released Chief of War is something of a passion project for Hollywood actor Jason Momoa. Momoa has Hawaiian roots, and decided to create a TV show about a conflict that very few, if any, other pieces of media have decided to explore: that of the civil conflict that raged in the Hawaiian Islands in the 18th Century. This occurred at a time before Hawaii officially joined the United States of America, when the various island kingdoms were at each other's throats. This show comes in both English and Hawaiian, with Momoa even learning the language to make it more authentic. The reception for Chief of War has been a resounding success, with critics showering it with love for its expertly-written dialogue, performances, and brutal glimpse into an often overlooked piece of Hawaiian history. This isn't just a personal project for Jason Momoa, but a bona fide masterwork in the world of television. 4 'Generation Kill' Generation Kill was a bold move on behalf of television, considering the time it came out. The miniseries is based on a memoir by war correspondent Evan Wright, who wrote about his experiences working alongside American soldiers during the US Invasion of Iraq. At the time of release, the Iraq War was still going on, so it definitely became a piece of controversy with the American public. However, one cannot deny its inherent quality. For one, many of the characters in the show are based on real people; one of them even plays himself, which is pretty cool. Another thing is that it wasn't afraid to show a less sanitized version of what the Iraq War was like, portraying the chaos and fast pace of modern combat to a tee. It raises a lot of important questions about the US's involvement in places where it might not belong, and examines the toll of war on the human psyche. It's a master craft in television that deserves every one of the awards it won. 3 'Shōgun' Shōgun is based on a novel by James Clavell, who did extensive research to create his award-winning story. This is the second adaptation of the book, with the first coming out in the 80s. While the original was good, the 2024 version has attracted much more success and much higher ratings. It did so well, in fact, that what was planned as a miniseries even secured a second season. The show is set at the turn of the 17th Century, during the onset of the Edo Period of Japan. Subscribe to the newsletter for war TV show picks Join the newsletter for curated recommendations, in-depth analysis, and historical context on standout war TV shows — from classics to recent masterpieces — plus related TV picks to broaden your watchlist. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. The Edo Period is also known as Feudal Japan, and was a time marked by near-constant strife, civil war, political upheaval, and societal unrest. Though the characters and the plot of the show are entirely fictional, they are based on real events. This is a series that doesn't just have a political narrative, but it also captures a lot of subtle nuance about Feudal Japanese culture, and features some stellar tension and action, reflecting the brutal violence of the time period. Pretty much every episode is perfect. As such, this is definitely going to be seen as a masterpiece in the years to come. 2 'Band of Brothers' Band of Brothers is a miniseries created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks after the widespread success of their immensely popular 1998 World War II epic, Saving Private Ryan. While the two stories are unconnected, Band of Brothers definitely maintains the same overall gritty feel and aspect of brutal violence that most pieces of media wouldn't even dream of showing. The story follows American ground forces as they make their way across the Western Front of World War II, from the D-Day Landings at Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge. Band of Brothers, true to its name, expertly depicts the camaraderie felt between the Allied forces, all of whom knew they were fighting for an important and world-changing cause, putting aside their differences to topple the ultimate evil. It also pays tribute to the harrowing sacrifices made by the Allied forces, millions of whom laid down their lives to prevent the spread of fascism. Very few people will disagree when this series is called a masterpiece, whether they be critics or casual viewers. 1 'M*A*S*H' Unlike most other war-themed TV shows, M*A*S*H is actually a sitcom. It seems a bit insensitive to make light of conflict, but this series does it with grace, and in a way that isn't disrespectful to anyone. The series centres on a team of nurses and trauma surgeons working at an American base during the Korean War, a conflict that has largely been forgotten in history. While there are plenty of comedic moments, this show also occasionally lets the viewer know about the gravity of conflict, and has more than a few moments where the reality becomes just a little bit too real. This sitcom ran for a whopping 11 years, yet it doesn't overstay its welcome one bit. It's one of the most revolutionary war-themed TV shows ever created, which broke down barriers and established itself as a piece of history in the world of American television. It might be a little bit ridiculous at times, but each episode is pretty near perfect in almost every single way. To this day, it is still a popular TV show, which is why it's undoubtedly considered a masterpiece, and why it likely will be for many more decades. Like Follow Followed M*A*S*H Drama Comedy Release Date 1972 - 1983-00-00 Network CBS Showrunner Larry Gelbart Directors Larry Gelbart Cast See All
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