Rogue Heroes Season One Early Review

Looking for a different war drama experience? Perhaps Rogue Heroes (or SAS: Rogue Heroes in the UK) may hit the right spot. A semi-historical tale based on a true story, the series offers a greatest hits of sorts while trying to pack so much story within just 6 episodes though viewers could just as easily look up the true story. Doing some heavy-lifting early on, it does take some time to get going while the 6 episodes also makes it feel rushed as it cuts corners in order to move the story forward. Though this means the loss of some moments, the series for the most part is a blast off the strength of its characters. That being said, one can’t help but still think of what could have happened. The story that surrounded them may be hit or miss but they were fun to watch and that begins with Connor Swindells and Jack O’Connell as its two leads. Yet another tale about contrasting personalities clashing and eventually coming together in the midst of the overarching story was where the series truly thrived. Granted, there has to be other things going on to support and develop that main storyline, it wasn’t nearly as interesting to watch.

Rogue Heroes, based on the book SAS: Rogue Heroes by Ben Macintyre, chronicles the founding of the infamous British Special Forces unit known as the Special Air Service. The roots of the SAS stemmed from North Africa during WWII. Conceived as a paratrooper regiment operating behind enemy lines during a disinformation campaign, the unit quickly became so much more as it became a resounding success despite all odds. Working with very little means, the team of misfits organized by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Archibald David Stirling (Swindells) and Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair “Paddy” Mayne (O’Connell), had to scavenge or steal their weapons and vehicles to perform missions which often involved infiltrating enemy bases and destroying aircraft while still on land and just causing general havoc. And that they definitely did which in turn put them on the radar of the enemy and allies who wanted a part of what they had assembled.

Watching the unit in action was undoubtedly the best part of the series as they reap havoc upon German and Italian airfields across Northern Africa. Made up of rambunctious young men, that youthful energy and their informal and more laid back approach only added to the fun. Wanting to fight for their country, it was a game for them to see who can inflict the most damage upon the enemy. This was merely a means to focus that energy for a common goal but the biggest competition was ultimately between Stirling and Mayne. Their contrast in personalities and approaches made for an entertaining dynamic built out of mutual respect as Stirling tried to especially reign in Mayne who was undeniably a loose cannon which made for some fun moments in their own right. In the end, there just wasn’t enough of any of it here.

Bogging down Rogue Heroes was the political side of the plot be it the inner workings behind the scenes including plenty of backroom dealings with various government officials or positioning the story in the context of the war as a whole. While there is some merit to the latter, the former becomes fairly dull to watch and takes away the focus from other parts of the series that should have mattered a lot more being the soldiers. As the series moves forward, a cliffhanger implies that it may very well be the case.

The action sequences, though less than one would expect, are exciting and the series has plenty of style and edge, perhaps too much at times, but ultimately, the best part of Rogue Heroes is its performances led by Swindells and O’Connell. Stirling and Mayne are the heart of the series as it goes as far as they take it. A yin and yang of sorts, their different approaches somehow find a way to work together. Its easy to see where each are coming from, joining the unit for different reasons. There’s a silent understanding there coming from a place of respect which works thanks to their great chemistry. Meanwhile, the series features plenty of strong supporting performances sprinkled in amongst the other soldiers in the unit, primarily Alfie Allen as Lieutenant John Steel “Jock” Lewes.

At the end of the day, Rogue Heroes won’t set the world on fire but is nonetheless a blast with a lot of strong pieces that could have been so much more.

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.