Over There - New show on FX and my rant on those who reviewed the show prior to airing

7/28/2005 | Former Military Chick - Chele

[Former Military Chick]

My main point of the above observations came from the fact that several of my friends, good hard working conservatives who support Bush and the war read negative reviews of the show prior to it's airing last night. They sent out emails stating not to watch it.

I found that odd, it is most difficult to discuss, complain about something if you have not watched it.

I certainly am not advocating watching the show but should you decide to do so, you might be surprised.

Another friend sent me the following:

OK, here is my take,

1) Started a bit antiwar mode, moved to smooth that out.

2) Pushed a racial divide a bit. But, having been in similar situations, I can buy that part.

3) The chat, though rough in content, was I remembered in war but using today's lingo.

4) Pushed the hardliner Sgt. too much and the do whatever it takes officer image just a bit over the edge. But, I served with both types in Nam.

5) War footage was graphic, cheating wifes back home common, the pain of leaving family at home realistic, the pain of watching your brothers get blown up or away realistic enough.

My Bottom Line on the whole is:

WAR IS HELL and by God we should be everything we can do for troops over there.

So with that in mind I look forward to my fellow Freeper's observations on this show.

[Paradox]

Thanks for the contrarian view, I have not watched the show yet, but I have it programmed to record in my TiVo, and will find time to watch it, especially now having read your review.

[PAR35]

shows that portray the military, from way back

Someone is showing their youth.

Rat Patrol, Combat will take you back a few more years.

I'm sure that folks with more experience that I can go back a decade or so before that.

[teenyelliott]

I missed the show, but want to watch it. I have seen many negative opinions (prior to airing), but have also seen reviews that said it was apolitical and accurate.

If it is anything like Band of Brothers, I will love it.

Thanks for your input.

[marine86297]

I am a Marine Desert Storm and Somalia vet.

I did not like the dope smoking scene in the beginning, it seemed to me like they were portraying the 60's stereotypes of the military. Societies rejects, (College and high school dropouts, dope smokers, hotheads etc.)

Hollywood has no idea about what it is really like "Over*There"

I am watching with an open mind and to know what the average sheeple might "learn" from this show. I will re-evaluate each week.

Semper Fi

[phasma proeliator]

I thought it was joke... had to turn it off after about 10 minutes.

came back to it later - had the same opinion - I gave it a chance - but won't waste my time again.

course that's just me.

[Peach]

We have family visiting and I doubt we'll get to watch tonight, but the review I read on FR by some soldiers was NOT good.

[Future Snake Eater]

That wasn't an RPG, it was a 40mm grenade fired from an M203 grenade launcher. And it was a great shot. :)

[b4its2late]

I only saw parts of it from 11:15 on and I thought the "cheating wifes back home" was kind of tasteless. It's one of those things that may happen, but why bother..

I'll watch future episodes and put my 2 cents in down the road.

[Future Snake Eater]

I just watched it on my DVR this morning. It is NOTHING like "Band of Brothers." Nothing would've made me happier had that been the case, but instead it was a Vietnam cartoon thrown into the present day. It's obvious these guys didn't even try to get it right.

[marine86297]

Hey LT

I thought it was a 40mm, shot from a MK-19 mounted on a HUMMER.

[KC_for_Freedom]

I thought the show to be balanced, the men were new to the theater and this explains a lot of their errors. The women should not have been there, and clearly the men would have moved them out if it were at all possible.

The beer run which ran into a IED is probably true as far as it goes. But one could hope that essentials (like beer) were handled by logistics and did not need a special "run".

Clearly showed the duplicity on the part of the enemy, made some political statements like "generals calling the shots based on how it will look", and questions over orders like "hold you fire" when the men were fired upon. Close up aspect of kill or be killed was probably correct for new recruits.

[oh8eleven]

War footage was graphic, cheating wifes back home common
Common? Certainly it occurs, but common?

[Future Snake Eater]

No, the Humvee had a .50-cal mounted on it, and the Soldier who had just dismounted put a 40mm into the haji-in-question. The walking legs thing was pretty cool, too.

[marine86297]

Whatever it was supposed to be it was a heck of a shot. Don't know how realistic the walking legs were, but for entertainment purposes, it was pretty good.