Band of Brothers is now available to stream on NOW TV (Image: HBO)
If you’ve just finished watching on BBC iPlayer, there is another series you can get stuck into straight away. If you have an entertainment membership for – then you’re in luck.
Band of Brothers has officially landed on the streaming service and it is widely considered one of the best World War II drama series ever made.
Released in 2001, the series has one season with 10 episodes and follows the men of Easy Company throughout the war. Taking place roughly over one year, the story is mainly about the brotherhood between comrades.
Based on Stephen Ambrose’s non-fiction 1992 book, the majority of the series is based on real-life stories from the soldiers who were still alive when the season aired.
However, it became revolutionary due to its depiction of mental health and the horrors of war. While the series compells you to invest in the lives of the men, viewers are also shown the wider, horrifying landscape of conflict.
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Damien Lewis in the hit series, Band of Brothers (Image: HBO)
It is also developed by Tom Hanks and , who both worked on Saving Private Ryan. In 2021, Tom was quizzed why Band of Brothers has had such a huge influence on America and around the globe.
He told Deadline: “The key word of the title is ‘Brothers.’ I think the resonance of the series comes from the sense of ‘Us,’ that we are all in this together and the primary, instinctive duty is to look after our brothers. A unit – like Easy Company – stands alone, together.”
The series is also known for its star-studded cast, many of whom have gone on to achieve incredible acting careers.
Damien Lewis, David Schwimmer, Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, and Simon Pegg are just some of the actors involved in the series who are know enjoying success in their professions.
A young James McAvoy is also credited as well as Andrew Scott, who was nominated last year for a BAFTA award.
Tom Hardy’s role is small but it helped launch his career. In 2002, he told IGN: “Band of Brothers was my first job so I was virtually out of the frying pan and into the fire, really. I’d not had previous experience with working in front of the camera, so there was dealing with that.”
If you’re still not convinced, the series has a score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and is hailed by critics as one of the best war dramas ever created.
The New York Post wrote in their review: “After watching the 10-hour Band of Brothers, I’m so drained by the intensity of what I have just beheld that I’m ready to declare this World War II miniseries the finest piece of work ever produced for television.”
You can stream Band of Brothers on NOW TV.