Entertainment
15 Best War Shows of the 2020s So Far, Ranked
War shows have been a thing for several decades at this point, even if the genre doesn’t suit the medium as well as it does for movies. That hasn’t stopped showrunners from trying though, as dozens of war shows seem to crop up everywhere every single decade. Lots of them are awful, but for every few that suck, there’s one that redeems them all, and provides the entertainment and production value that people were looking for.
Whether it’s about modern wars or about conflicts from the period of Antiquity, lots of shows have come out depicting various engagements and conflicts throughout human history. Let’s be honest, there’s certainly no shortage of material to choose from. These are the best war shows to come out during the 2020s, utilizing the evolution of television to tell some extraordinary stories that would otherwise go untold.
15
‘All the Light We Cannot See’ (2023)
Based on a novel of the same name by Anthony Doerr, All the Light We Cannot See actually received some pretty scathing reviews from critics. The story is about a blind girl living in occupied France who, against all odds, happens to fall in love with a German soldier who was forced to conscript, forming a forbidden romance. The story is a reminder of the rare moments of humanity to be found in the lives of the innocents during World War II.
Despite the extremely negative reviews from critics, the dichotomy between audience and critical approval is pretty substantial. Viewers seemed to like this much more than the critics did, mainly for its touching romance and focused lens in the heat of a much larger conflict. Obviously, this is a show that isn’t going to be loved by everybody, but for those who like stories of forbidden love and life during wartime, this might just be the miniseries for you.
14
’68 Whiskey’ (2020)
68 Whiskey is a dark dramedy series set during the war in Afghanistan, following the lives of medical personnel back at base camp, dealing with the casualties of the war against insurgents. The show was canceled after only one season, which is a treatment that it didn’t really deserve. Make no mistake, though: this was largely due to low viewership rather than poor critical reception. Critical reviews were fine, but nothing remarkable. Audience reviews were less fine, but it has still found its niche of fans.
One of the primary criticisms was that it feels like it has all the same beats as the popular Korean War series M*A*S*H, which is honestly a pretty fair comparison, as the premise is basically the same aside from being set in a different time period during a different war at a different location. On top of that, 68 Whiskey‘s humor is a whole lot darker, and kind of rubbed some people the wrong way, so it’s understandable that not everybody will like it. In terms of technical aspects, though, it’s able to hold its own and is pretty entertaining.
13
‘The Liberator’ (2020)
The Liberator is actually an animated series, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s for kids. First off, its animation is really unique and evokes a really haunting feel akin to the uncanny valley, almost as if real people are acting the scene out and cels are drawn over the top of it. This really helps the horror of the Second World War sink in, as many of the colors feel washed out or drained of life, instead reducing the environments to various shades of gray and beige.
The story is set specifically during the Italian Campaign of World War II, with the main character being real-life military official Felix Sparks, who is played by Bradley James. For an experience that’s macabre, honest, yet beautifully hand-crafted, The Liberator is a magnificent show, especially as it depicts the effect war can have on the mind. Even in animated form, the trauma on the highly detailed faces is remarkably apparent, with this signature style of animation likely contributing to its good reviews.
12
‘Valley of Tears’ (2020)
Valley of Tears is an Israeli television series about the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a three-week standoff during which the Arab Coalition invaded Israel in a surprise attack to reclaim the land they had lost in a prior war, mostly on the Sinai Peninsula. The war was known as the Yom Kippur War due to the fact that it started during the Jewish holiday, which was a huge shock to the Israeli populace.
In the midst of the bloody conflict, a group of Jewish soldiers struggles to survive, becoming addicted to the adrenaline rush and growing disillusioned with their country’s government. The war begins to eat up every aspect of their lives, from their faith to their psyche, and though it only lasts for a couple of weeks, it sticks with them for far longer than that. Valley of Tears is a retrospective look at a previous conflict that examines why it happened, and the effect it had on an individual, especially on veterans who still suffer years after the war.
11
‘Atlantic Crossing’ (2020)
Atlantic Crossing is a Norwegian show about the early days of World War II, when Nazi Germany breached Norway’s proclaimed neutrality and invaded the country. The show follows the Norwegian royal family, in particular, Princess Märtha (Sofia Helin), as she corresponds with American President Theodore Roosevelt (Kyle MacLachlan) about arranging safe passage out of Norway and into the safety of the United States.
Many other historical figures make an appearance, too, including King George VI of the United Kingdom (Michael Pitthan) and the United States’ First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt (Harriet Sansom Harris). Ultimately, it’s a story about politics and world leaders during a tumultuous time in history, and all that goes on behind the scenes as the Allies fight to ensure that a government in exile can thrive under the shadow of the Reich.
10
‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ (2025)
The Narrow Road to the Deep North is an Australian miniseries based on a novel by Richard Flanagan. The Amazon Prime Video original series stars Jacob Elordi as Dorrigo Evans, an Australian soldier who enters a love affair with his own aunt. So, that’s pretty gross. The five-part miniseries explores how Dorrigo’s twisted affair evolves, exploring his time before the Second World War, his time as a prisoner of war, and eventually, his time as an older veteran.
In spite of its admittedly creepy storyline, critics were all over the series, commending how it turned a series of difficult topics into something incredibly engrossing. The show was also applauded for how it details the ways in which war can reduce humanity to anyone, making them do things that are immoral, uncharacteristic, or, in this case, just plain weird. While some viewers definitely felt grossed out by it, the show itself is still worth a watch.
9
‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ (2024)
If the title alone weren’t an indication, the content of The Tattooist of Auschwitz is obviously very, very bleak. The story follows Lali Sokolov (Harvey Keitel), a Jewish inmate captured during the Holocaust, who is given the option to survive if he spends his day tattooing identification numbers on the other prisoners at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. In short, his only chance at life is to serve the ones systematically exterminating his own people. Based on a novel, which is, in turn, based on true events, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a crushingly depressing drama set during one of the darkest times in human history.
Though the show is primarily about the Holocaust, the Second World War and the Holocaust are so tightly intertwined that it still counts as a war show. The six-part miniseries was met with some pretty good reviews, with critics lauding it for its visual effects and for the way it handled its sensitive subject matter. Many critics applaud how it left a strong impression on their emotions and how it left a bittersweet taste in their mouths with its ending. This is a historical drama for the ages that really needs some more love.
8
‘The Sympathizer’ (2024)
The Sympathizer takes place during the Vietnam War and is based on a novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen. The dark comedy-drama series is produced by A24 and centers on an unnamed character simply known as “The Captain,” (Hoa Xuande), a South Vietnamese military officer who has been secretly spying on his own colleagues and is reporting all of his findings to North Vietnamese intelligence.
Robert Downey Jr. is a huge presence in the show and takes on multiple antagonistic roles, ranging from a priest to a CIA agent, and even to a university professor, all of whom serve as a sort of villain or counterpart to the Captain. But things aren’t so cut and dry, as the Captain begins to debate the ethics of what he is doing and struggles with his identity. There are not too many shows out there about the Vietnam War, much less dark comedy shows on the topic, making this series a breath of fresh air that really needs some more love.
7
‘Women at War’ (2022)
Women at War is a Netflix original series that really didn’t garner a whole lot of attention. Produced in France, the eight-part miniseries is set during the First World War and tells the story of various women who aided the war effort from far beyond the front lines. The four women come from various walks of life: one is a prostitute, one is a factory worker, one is a nun, and the last is a nurse. Though they have wildly different personalities and occupations, their destinies and their roles in the war effort will intersect and drastically affect the fate of their small town.
Though the first episode is a little bit dull, things really ramp up beyond that. Not only is this a series about the unspoken heroes behind the lines of the war and of feminine empowerment, but it also depicts the women very well. They are far from one-dimensional and have very complex characteristics, which is more than can be said for most women in a lot of war movies. But beyond that, the technical aspects of the series, such as the dialogue and cinematography, were done very well, too.
6
‘A Small Light’ (2023)
A Small Light is a biographical drama series about Miep Gies (Bel Powley), a Dutch woman who was noted for being one of those generous enough to shelter famed Holocaust victim and diarist Anne Frank during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. Gies did this in spite of the direct danger it posed to her life if she were discovered, and was the personal secretary of Anne Frank’s father, so there was no question in her mind about what she had to do when the Third Reich came knocking.
Of course, Anne Frank herself does make an appearance in the show and is played by Billie Boullet, who brings a whole new layer of depth to one of the most famous figures and faces of the Holocaust. Naturally, people know this story is bound to end in tragedy, but it doesn’t make it any less tragic when it finally does. A Small Light is a painful reminder of the consequences of the Holocaust and is a drama series rife with emotion that is sure to bring a tear to the eye of even the most steadfast viewers.
