SAS Rogue Heroes is must-see TV

SAS Rogue Heroes became something of an obsession for me in the run-up to Christmas. We recorded the show as they aired and then binged the lot in a couple of days just after the final one aired. It was a glorious period.

I had also bought two copies of the book it is based on – SAS Rogue Heroes by Ben MacIntyre – for my dad’s Christmas present and another for myself. I still have that to look forward to, and the reviews are glowing.

The series was written by Steven Knight, who had also written Peaky Blinders. I love Peaky Blinders, so had high hopes for his new show. Those hopes were rewarded with bells on.

What’s it all about?

The show is based on the real-life formation of the SAS – the Special Air Service. In particular, the men behind it – David Stirling (Connor Swindells), Paddy Mayne (Jack O’Connell) and Jock Lewes (Alfie Allen). There is also the head of British Intelligence for the region – Officer Dudley Wrangel Clarke (Dominic West) – helping with it all. Oh, and there’s also a hot French spy called Eve (Sofia Boutella).

The idea behind the SAS was to drop troops far behind enemy lines. They would then attack airfields and depots and so forth, damaging the Nazi’s attacks across North Africa. It was an insane plan that somehow worked.

The show dramatises how this all began and what they got up to. It is both fascinating and boy’s-own-adventure exciting. As you would expect from Steven Knight, it is all really well-written and very cool. The cast is great, the characters are fun, and the action well-directed.

The fact this really happened and that there were people this brave and unhinged makes it even better. There are scenes from the real-life SAS at the time added in for authenticity and, I suspect, to simply remind the viewer that this was how it really went down, insane though that may seem.

So is SAS Rogue Heroes any good?

It is probably clear by now that I loved this show. Steven Knight is a superb writer. The great news is that SAS Rogue Heroes series 2 has already been given the go-ahead. This will follow the SAS as they expand operations to Italy and Europe. I can’t wait.

You can check out the book here. I will review it later, but it has been very well received. For now though, if you somehow missed it – watch the show.