HBO’s seminal 2001 miniseries, Band of Brothers, remains a landmark television achievement. Blending historical authenticity with impactful drama, the show offers an immersive rendition of the experiences of Easy Company during one of the most brutal conflicts the world has ever seen. Boasting an impressive 94% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it is rightly seen as a barometer against which all Second World War series should be measured. And yet, despite this reputation, rewatching the series in 2024 brought some things home to me that I hadn’t realized on first viewing – many of which frame Band of Brothers in a new light.

Being British and born in the early 1990s, I missed much of the initial furor around Band of Brothers when it premiered. The result was that I didn’t actually see it until several years after its debut when it came out on DVD. Nevertheless, even after its reputation had been secured, the show lost none of its impact, expertly blending the visceral horror of war with poignant personal stories. Much of this remains true when revisiting the show in 2024. However, now that over two decades have passed, other aspects of Band of Brothers‘ production have become surprisingly prominent.

1

Captain Sobel Was Way Worse Than I Remember

It’s More Than Strict Training

After watching Band of Brothers for the first time, my initial impression of David Schwimmer’s Captain Sobel was that he is brutally strict, unlikable, and ultimately useless, but that he is essentially irrelevant in the grand scheme of the story. More than 20 years later, much of this turns out to be accurate. However, while this assessment (especially his absence from the rest of the story) is fair, rewatching the show reveals something much darker about Sobel’s character.

Not only is Sobel a disciplinarian, but there is also a sinister masochistic quality to his attitude. It’s not enough that he treats his men with no leniency. He also comes up with unusual and brutal punishments with little rationale. His stunt with the spaghetti, where he makes Easy run up a mountain on a full stomach, is a perfect example of his callousness. Beyond this, he is also revealed to lack the redeeming feature of integrity – framing Dick Winters for his own failings. While I’d always known Sobel was bad, a rewatch made his actions seem inexcusable.

2

There Are A LOT Of Cameos

The Number Of Famous Faces Is A Distraction

Band of Brothers‘ bold decision to provide a comprehensive portrait of Easy Company’s experiences through multiple characters remains admirable. Such an approach also allows the show to emphasize the scale of the operation, with hundreds of different personnel featured across the story. This creates the perfect environment for cameo appearances. However, while the number of cameos makes sense in context, there are consequences. The fact that almost every episode of Band of Brothers features a guest appearance from a famous face in a seemingly incongruous role, to me at least, becomes incredibly distracting.

When I first watched the series, it wasn’t immediately clear who the likes of Simon Pegg, Tom Hardy, or Michael Fassbender were, or that they’d go on to enjoy celebrity status. To this extent, it’s possible to argue that their appearances don’t constitute traditional celebrity cameos. However, it’s less hard to make this argument with actors like Jimmy Fallon, who was already established on SNL. While the frequency with which celebrities fleetingly appear in Band of Brothers has become more of a problem in hindsight, the sheer array of supporting personnel was always likely to cause problems.

3

Band Of Brothers Has Way More British Actors That I Realized

It’s An Interesting Choice For A Distinctly American Story

In tone and style, as well as its choice of story, Band of Brothers has a particularly American sensibility. Watching as a British viewer, it’s quite hard to escape feeling somewhat resentful that other nations’ involvements in key campaigns occasionally feel somewhat downplayed. However, several years after watching the show for the first time, one of the most noticeable things about the production – with the benefit of better industry knowledge – is how many British actors feature.

Most obvious is Damien Lewis as Dick Winters, who anchors the story with his presence. Beyond this, however, the likes of Andrew Scott, Stephen Graham, Tom Hardy, Dexter Fletcher, Dominic Cooper, and James McAvoy all bring a British flavor to the action. While it’s often difficult to tell that the actors aren’t actually American, there’s no doubt that Brits end up playing an outsized role in this interpretation of Easy Company’s story.

4

Some Of Band Of Brothers’ Real History Changes Feel More Questionable

It’s Easier To Spot Flaws In The Story

Watching Band of Brothers for the first time is such an intense emotional experience that I found it hard to think critically about its faults. The harrowing way in which combat is portrayed in episodes like “Carrentan” and “Bastogne”, for example, combined with the psychological horror of “Why We Fight” creates a potent cocktail that automatically defuses many arguments. Many years later, however, some of these problems became easier to spot.

Some of the most egregious include the changes that Band of Brothers makes to real history to build a more compelling narrative. For instance, the fact that the show changes Blithe’s fate at the end of “Carrentan”, suggesting he never recovered from his wounds, instead of dying on active duty in the late 1960s feels like a deliberate attempt at emotional manipulation, making it harder to trust everything else on screen. Band of Brothers remains largely authentic, but increased awareness of these subtle changes creates an awkward caveat.

5

Band Of Brothers’ Battle Scenes Are Still Incredibly Intense

The Show Remains As Gripping As Ever

While some of Band of Brothers‘ narrative changes feel like cheap missteps, there’s no denying that the show’s battle sequences are just as charged and affecting as they ever were. From the moment Easy Company lands in Normandy, the series effortlessly captures the terror and the chaos of combat. In fact, the effect of many of Band of Brothers’ best battle scenes is more potent than many cinematic equivalents.

Part of the reason the battles are so terrifyingly realistic is the show’s hands-on filming techniques. VFX shots are relatively few and far between, with Band of Brothers favoring grubby practical effects. This makes the fighting feel tangible, and therefore more brutal, while the prevalent use of shaky cam helps capture how disorientating the fighting must have been.

6

Some Of Band Of Brothers’ CGI Has Aged Badly

It’s Very Noticeable In Some Key Scenes

It’s unsurprising that a television show made 23 years ago features some retrograde CGI. However, while shonky visual effects are completely understandable, this doesn’t change the fact that they have an impact on the overall production. In some cases, they can actively undermine what would otherwise be an incredibly tense scene.

While there are several examples, for me, the most noticeable instance of poor CGI in Band of Brothers comes during the show’s D-Day scenes. Footage of the planes flying over northern France under heavy German anti-aircraft fire lacks any of the gripping authenticity that’s present when the troops fight on the ground. Although it would be unreasonable to expect the 2001 VFX to be up to a contemporary standard, the difference between Band of Brothers and modern shows like Masters of the Air in these scenes is unavoidable.

7

Band Of Brothers’ Cast Is Epic, But Also A Problem

It’s Particularly Bad In Early Episodes

Unlike more traditional dramas, Band of Brothers eschews the normal reliance on a central main character to keep the narrative together, instead deploying an enormous extended ensemble cast. On one level, this makes sense. The show is, after all, the story of an entire company of soldiers, instead of one man. However, there are ramifications from this approach.

Particularly in early Band of Brothers episodes, the sheer number of characters involved and introduced makes it very hard to follow individual stories. For me, the effect was not only disorientating but also made it more difficult to personally identify and empathize with specific soldiers when they came into focus. Admittedly, the problem lessened as the narrative progressed. Nevertheless, the number of characters inevitably dilutes the development of specific arcs.

8

Band Of Brothers’ Pre-Episode Interviews Have Become Even More Poignant

They Preface Every Episode

One of Band of Brothers‘ most touching details is the inclusion of interviews with real veterans that preface every episode. This blend of documentary and fiction could easily come across as coinfected, and could actively undermine the impact of the story in different circumstances. Upon revisiting the series, however, it was clear to me that the approach not only holds up, but actively makes Band of Brothers more affecting as the years pass.

The reason for this increased emotional potency is tragically unavoidable. The truth is that, since most of Band of Brothers‘ interviews were recorded, almost everyone who appears on camera has died. Far from making them feel distant, I found that the passage of time made this reminder of the real personnel who fought and died in Europe feel even more essential. 23 years later, Band of Brothers brings their stories back to life with urgency and immediacy.

9

Band Of Brothers Holds Up Better Than Comparable Projects

The Show Has Retained A Unique Power

Partly because Band of Brothers feels less Hollywoodified and more committed to authentically telling Easy Company’s story, the show feels more timeliness and more powerful than many similar projects. Even though aspects of the show have come unstuck, Band of Brothers‘ core emphasis on accurately portraying real experience gives it a relevance that other stories lack. Even though I knew I was watching a 23-year-old show, Band of Brothers felt surprisingly fresh on a rewatch.

The most obvious comparison with Band of Brothers is Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. While the movie’s opening remains iconic, the central story of fictional soldiers wandering across France feels disappointingly farfetched and unrealistic by comparison. By contrast, because Band of Brothers focuses more on all-round realism, the production feels less of its time.

10

Band Of Brothers’ Influence Is Still Being Felt Today

Its Impact Was Perhaps Hard To Appreciate

In the immediate aftermath of Band of Brothers‘ release, it was perhaps hard to understand how impactful the show would be for small screen entertainment. Looking back, however, it’s clear to me that its influence has permeated into some surprising places. Most obviously, the fact that Masters of the Air became one of Apple TV+’s most successful original series highlights Band of Brothers‘ relevance. Beyond this, however, other factors are at play.

While we now take premium television for granted, it’s now clear that much of the groundwork was laid by Band of Brothers. The show’s massive sense of spectacle made productions like Game of Thrones possible, greenlighting incredibly ambitious shoots that combined massive casts with visual splendor. Admittedly, Band of Brothers and Game of Thrones boast very different stories. Nonetheless, on a practical level, the connection between them is undeniable.