War series starring Damian Lewis is ‘just as good as Band of Brothers’

A television show set in the nineties has been praised for its grit and realism and star-studded cast including award-winning actors Damian Lewis and Matthew Macfadyen. Warriors, written by Leigh Jackson and directed by Peter Kosminky, was screened on BBC One in November 1999. The war drama tells the story of a group of British peacekeepers serving in the UNPROFOR peace units in Bosnia during the ethnic cleansing in the early 1990s.

It explores the psychological effects of the peacekeepers as they witness horrors they are not allowed to stop, and the difficulties they face when attempting to return to normal life back home. Alongside Ioan Gruffudd as Lieutenant John Feeley, the show’s cast includes Matthew Macfadyen as Private Alan James, Damian Lewis as Lieutenant Neil Loughrey, and Cal Macaninch as Sergeant Andre Sochanik.

Other cast members include Darren Morfitt, Shaun Dooley, Tom Ward, Simon Shepherd, Steve Chaplin, Pauline Yates, and Joe Renton.

The show has been lauded for its cast, realism and thought-provoking scenes. It won two BAFTAs for Best Drama Serial and Best Sound, and was nominated for two more. It also picked up the Royal Television Society Award for Best Single Drama, and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award.

One reviewer praised the “gritty realism” while another said the show will have you thinking about it “long after you’ve watched it”. On IMDb one viewer wrote: “Definitely worth watching - this highlights some of the emotions that don't get felt in the big war blockbusters, where the heroes can feel good about serving a cause.”

Meanwhile, another posted: “It's one of the most realistic war dramas I've seen. The acting is first class with early performances from some of the future big stars of the small and big screen. Probably one of the BBC's finest but least known dramas.”

In one review, the writer pointed out the emotional elements of the show, saying: “As a man who doesn't get upset too easily, I cried during some scenes. It really is a thought-provoking and sad TV series. But I really enjoyed watching it!”

Someone else said: “Warriors has to be one of the best dramas I have seen in a long time. The subject matter - the UN Peacekeepers in Bosnia - admittedly makes Warriors difficult, even painful to watch in places but the story is told with such sensitivity as to make it bearable.”