Sayak Basu
‘Six’ is a drama series based on the lives of a special unit of the US Navy SEAL. The show revolves around the SEAL Team Six. It starts with the story of a Navy SEAL personnel called Rip Taggart. While on a mission in Afghanistan, Rip accidentally kills an American citizen who was working with the terrorists and this creates a huge tension back home, which sees Rip being fired from his position. Rip begins working as a security consultant in Nigeria for a girls’ school. There, he gets kidnapped by the infamous terrorist organization called the Boko Haram. This incident prompts SEAL Team Six members, all of whom used to work with Rip, to go to Nigeria and bring him back.
‘Six’ is a show about extreme courage and determination shown by men in the hardest of times. It reveals the strength that lies in soldiers even when death is very near. If you enjoy such inspiring shows, then you have come to the right place. Here’s the list of best shows similar to ‘Six’ that are our recommendations. You can watch several of these series like ‘Six’ on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime.
8. 24 (2001-2010; 2014)
A unique thriller series, ’24’ follows the character of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), who works for the Counter Terrorist Unit in Los Angeles. Bauer is one of the best agents of the organization, who sometimes takes the law in his own hands to get the job done. We follow the character of Bauer in this series as he investigates and stops numerous attacks that are set to happen in and around Los Angeles. The most unique thing about the series is that each episode follows real time, and to emphasize on the point, the makers use a clock prominently onscreen. Throughout its run, ’24’ was highly praised by critics for its unique plot, pacing, and the action. The show has also been remade in Japan and India.
7. Over There (2005)
This action/drama series follows the 3rd Infantry Division of the US Army on their first ever mission to Iraq. We see the soldiers struggling to maintain their mental stability while being constantly afraid of their lives. The effects of war on the families of the soldiers is another major theme explored in this show. Bo “Texas” Rider, Jr. is one of the major characters in the show, and we come to know that he has a family back home. One day, Bo and one of his colleagues accidentally drive over a mine that injures him heavily and has his leg amputated. Unable to take the pain, Bo decides that he has to be back with his squad once again. Poor ratings saw the show being canceled after the first season. Critical reception was also very negative.
6. The Unit (2006-2009)
What we know as Delta Force in colloquial terms is called ‘The Unit’ within the US Army. This special force is the focus of this show. The series is created by Eric Haney, who himself used to work for ‘The Unit’. It depicts the lives of the members of this task force and their several missions. The unit that we follow in the show is known as the “303rd Logistical Studies Group”. The name serves as a cover for their actual operations. This unit is based out of an army post called “Fort Griffith”. The commanding officer of this unit is Colonel Tom Ryan. Interestingly, the wives of the men working in these forces are also made a part of the organization, and they have certain rules and regulations to abide by. If they are found not following the guidelines, their husbands might lose their positions in The Unit. CBS canceled the show after four seasons.
5. The Brave (2017-2018)
This show revolves around certain military personnel and we follow their lives closely as they make unbelievable amounts of sacrifices in fighting for their country. The show focuses on the Defense Intelligence Agency and its head Patricia Campbell. The DID has some of the most sophisticated surveillance technologies available in the world. Captain Adam Dalton is the team’s communications director, and he has been assigned a mission to find a doctor, with utmost discretion and without any loss of life. Poor ratings and viewership forced NBC to cancel the show after the first season.
4. Last Resort (2012-2013)
Created by Shawn Ryan and Karl Gajdusek, this ABC show follows the different issues a US submarine faces while being in Pakistan. The submarine is called USS Colorado and Captain Marcus Chaplin is its commanding officer. While near the Pakistani coast, a sudden directive comes along asking the submarine to fire nuclear missiles at the country. Unsure whether the directive has followed a proper channel of communication, he asks the directive to be sent in once again.
Suddenly, Chaplin is removed from duty and Lieutenant Commander Sam Kendal is designated as the ship’s commanding officer. When even Kendal refuses to hit Pakistan with nuclear missiles, another submarine called USS Illinois starts firing at USS Colorado. Other US submarines take on the duty to strike the nuclear missiles at Pakistan. Unable to reach a clear conclusion regarding what just happened, US Colorado takes refuge on a French island in the Indian Ocean, and from there, fires warning shots of missiles which fly over Washington and New York, only to drop in the Atlantic Ocean. The first episode of the series met with a warm reception but the later episodes suffered from low viewership and the show was canceled after the first season.
3. Band Of Brothers (2001)
Stephen E. Ambrose’s book of the same name serves as the inspiration behind this series. The show focuses on the story of “Easy Company”, which was a special squad in the United States Army’s 101st Airborne Division. The Easy Company was in operation during World War II. The show follows this unit from their training camp to landings in Normandy, Operation Market Garden, the Siege of Bastogne, and finally the end of the war. The series also depicts how Americans took over the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest), a Nazi mansion used by the high-ranking party members for official purposes. The lead character of the show is Major Richard Winters. We follow the character as he tries to accomplish the goals set for his unit while also keeping the entire unit away from harm. Upon its release, the series received universal critical acclaim.
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2. SEAL Team (2017-)
This military/drama series is created by Benjamin Cavell. The show focuses on a unit of United States Navy SEALs called Bravo Team. We see them carrying out some of the most dangerous missions across the world while maintaining utmost discretion. They cannot even tell their family members about their work. The lead character of the show is Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Jason Hayes (David Boreanaz). He is the one responsible for all the operations carried out by the Bravo Team. In the very first season, we see Hayes visibly disturbed after the loss of life of one of his team members.
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1. Strike Back (2010-)
‘Strike Back‘ is a spy/drama series based on the book of the same name by Chris Ryan. The series follows a unit in the British Defense Intelligence as they take on secret high-risk jobs all across the world. A total of seven seasons have been released till date. The lead character of the show is John Porter, played by Richard Armitage. The show received critical acclaim and was also nominated for several awards during its run.
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