War-themed TV shows have become immensely popular in recent years, especially with the rise of streaming platforms and on-demand viewing. Major productions such as Band of Brothershave dominated the charts for ages, and consistently rank among the top of people’s favorite wartime TV shows. No discredit to these series—they are pretty awesome, after all. But there are so many hidden gems out there worthy of a second chance.
Many of these shows are foreign, which likely contributed to how unknown they are, but they’re still pieces of quality that effectively show the futility and brutality of conflict. Many of them include other aspects like romance or drama, which only adds to their effects. If you need a new war TV show to watch, look no further, because these are the best war TV shows that most people probably haven’t even heard of.
10
‘Shaka Zulu’ (1986)
Shaka Zulu is a criminally underrated war miniseries created in South Africa. Set in the Zulu Kingdom in the early 19th century, this story details King Shaka (Henry Cele) and his rise to power, along with his crusades against British colonial troops. It also details the rapid expansion of the Zulu Empire, allowing Shaka to establish himself as one of the greatest and most renowned kings in the region.
The ten-episode miniseries was popular at the time, but has since been swept away by the sands of time, to the point where many don’t even know about it anymore. This is really a shame, because it details a pivotal point in South African history, and is one of the few pieces of media to actually reflect this time period. If you’re into world history, this is a series that will hook you from the get-go and that will never let go.
9
‘Women at War’ (2022)
Women at War is a miniseries created for Netflix by French and Belgian showrunners. It is set during the First World War, and as the title implies, doesn’t follow the men in the trenches, but rather, the women far behind friendly lines. Four women from four drastically different walks of life are thrust into the conflict when the government demands all hands on deck. Though these women are prohibited from fighting on the front lines, they find their own ways to support the war effort from home.
This eight-part miniseries is a drama about the unsung heroes of conflict—those who are left behind, who are tasked with making supplies and packaging food for the brave ones on the front. It’s not that actual soldiers don’t deserve credit; it’s just that ordinary people doing their best to help aren’t getting much credit at all. This show definitely deserves points for that, which many critics agreed with. It was lauded for how it depicted feminine empowerment and the important role women played as nurses and suppliers during the conflict. However, it never made it to Netflix’s mainstream audience.
8
‘Nuremberg’ (2000)
Nuremberg is a two-part miniseries produced by TNT in the United States and CTV in Canada. As the name implies, the series takes place following the end of World War II, when Allied powers placed numerous Nazi officials on trial due to the horrific war crimes committed by the Third Reich, including the Holocaust. Actual historical footage of the concentration camps is used in this series, making the gravity of the trial feel so much more real, despite being a dramatization.
The series stars Alec Baldwin as Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, one of the prosecutors during the infamous trials. In fact, pretty much every single actor in this series plays a real historical figure, from judges or Allied military officials to Nazi war criminals. This isn’t just a war series—it’s also a tense courtroom drama featuring some of the worst crimes imaginable, one that absolutely demands to be seen due to just how important its content is.
7
‘China Beach’ (1988–1991)
China Beach is a bit of a hybrid series, functioning as both a medical drama TV show and a historical war drama. It is set during the Vietnam War and follows an American nurse from Kansas who is sent overseas to Vietnam to assist with the swathes of wounded American soldiers in the medical tents. The series not only shows what war looks like beyond the bombs and bullets, but also portrays the horrific effects combat can have on the human psyche.
China Beach actually ended up winning a Golden Globe for Best Drama Series in 1991, so it was clearly a huge success for its time. However, no one really talks about this show anymore. Most people seem to have forgotten about it, which is kind of tragic due to just how good it is. If you’re a fan of war dramas or medical dramas (or both), be sure to give China Beach a try. You won’t regret it.
6
‘X Company’ (2015–2017)
If there’s one thing that many war movies and TV shows overlook, it’s the role that smaller, less prevalent nations played in World War II. Canada, in particular, was known for playing a major role in both World Wars, yet there are very few movies and TV shows about Canadian troops. Enter X Company, a joint project between Canadian and Hungarian showrunners, which depicts soldiers being trained for special forces units at Camp X just outside of Toronto, Ontario.
The show ended up lasting three seasons and featured primarily Canadian talent, including Hugh Dillon, the lead singer of the rock band The Headstones. Critics adored the show for how it depicted an often-ignored piece of history, and successfully portrayed how crucial Canada was to the overall war effort. Not that Canada deserves all the credit, but it certainly deserves more than cinema and television give it. In any event, this is a show that was a resounding hit, yet it never really took off internationally.
5
’37 Days’ (2014)
37 Days is a British TV series that occurs after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Prior to this, nationalism and imperialism were growing immensely popular in Europe, and with many of the major empires establishing alliances, the continent was pretty much a powder keg ready to explode at any given moment. The assassination of the Archduke would prove to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, and the first spark that would set off the massive chain reaction that later became known as the First World War.
The story follows a group of British military officials and aristocrats in the days following Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination, in the 37 days between the date of his death and the moment World War I was officially declared in Europe. The three-part miniseries was praised for its clever dialogue and fantastic performances by its veteran cast. Though there’s no action in it, this series excels at letting the audience feel the tension as Europe slowly inches closer to one of its darkest times in history.
4
‘Morocco: Love in Times of War’ (2017)
Morocco: Love in Times of War, known domestically as Tiempos de Guerra, is a Spanish series that centers on the Rif War, which ran from 1921 until 1926. This conflict occurred in Morocco between the Spanish crown and the local Berber tribes, who declared the Rif region to be an independent republic. While the war would lead to a Spanish victory, this series really lets the audience feel the tension behind this forgotten conflict.
Much of the series takes place in Melilla, a city in Morocco that to this day is still technically part of Spain. The main characters are a group of nurses sent by the Spanish Queen to the city as a means of caring for the wounded. There, they witness the harsh realities of conflict firsthand, yet still find the time to enter romantic relationships with the local Spanish soldiers. Don’t expect too much action in this series, as it is primarily a romantic period drama. However, it did get good critical reviews and deserves points for shining a light on a conflict that has since passed into obscurity.
3
‘1864’ (2014)
1864 is a Danish miniseries consisting of eight episodes, and is based on two novels by Danish author Tom Buk-Swienty. The story occurs during the Second Schleswig War, which was fought between Denmark and an alliance of Prussia and Austria. This was a conflict that Denmark was doomed to lose, which resulted in the Kingdom losing a significant portion of land. The story is told through students in 2014 who take a class trip to an ancient battlefield, where the bulk of the main story takes place.
Back in 1864, the story follows two Danish brothers who are conscripted to the war and who participate in the Battle of Dybbøl, one of the most crucial battles of the conflict. This series is so great because it takes a look at a conflict that very few, if any, other TV shows have ever covered before. It also stars renowned actor Pilou Asbæk, because come on, who doesn’t love seeing his familiar face in a new series? The miniseries based on two books was panned for the way it handled the characters from the novels, but overall, critics lauded it for many other aspects. As such, it’s a show that definitely deserves a chance.
2
‘Gallipoli’ (2015)
Many have probably heard of 1981’s Gallipoli at this point. The essential World War I epic stars Mel Gibson and follows the beach landings at the Gallipoli Peninsula, in present-day Türkiye. The idea behind the 1915 landings was to open up a new front to the war and divert the Ottoman forces, but the campaign proved to be a catastrophic failure, as the Ottomans were able to hold Gallipoli against invading British, French, Australian, and New Zealand troops.
The 2015 miniseries Gallipoli focuses on the forgotten warriors of the campaign, that being the Australians. Under the command of the British Army, the Australian and New Zealand forces saw heavy casualties during the 10-month period, yet are often overlooked despite their valor. This one is an Australian original and is pretty popular domestically, but never quite broke into the international scene as much as it should have. This is a shame because it’s a truly harrowing depiction of World War I’s brutality, and it is definitely an emotional ride.
1
‘My Dearest’ (2023)
My Dearest is a romantic K-drama set during the Qing Invasion of Joseon in 1636. In more modern terms, this would basically be the Chinese invasion of the Korean Peninsula. The premise features two prominent noble figures. The first is Lee Jang-hyun (Namkoong Min), who is shrouded in mystery and chooses not to divulge his personal backstory. The other is Yoo Gil-chae (Ahn Eun-jin), an heiress to a noble family. Gil-chae and Jang-hyun are brought together by the circumstances of the war, and quickly fall in love.
Unfortunately, their love story turns into an epic tale of individual survival, as conflict separates them, and the two are forced to grow and develop skills on their own. The whole time, they deeply miss and worry about their significant other. While there is a happy ending to this story, the road to get there is absolutely heartbreaking. It’s a romance at heart, so it’s obviously pretty sappy, but it does a pretty good job of depicting the heartache of two lovers who miss each other yet are kept apart by the tides of war. While any K-drama fan has likely heard of this one, fans of romance or war shows who haven’t should still check this one out.
