The TV landscape has many great history shows with brutal scenes. Unfortunately, many of them take major liberties with events, timelines, and character portrayals. Take Peaky Blinders, where the criminal gang is plucked from the original 19th-century era in which it existed and planted into the early 20th century. Then there’s Spartacus, where Julius Caesar is portrayed as a key figure in the fight against Spartacus and his fellow rebels, yet he had nothing to do with the Third Seville War. Vikings isn’t accurate either. It heavily compresses the timeline and features many characters whose existence has been questioned by scholars.
These inaccuracies (and many more) are unlikely to bother those who only watch to be entertained, but history buffs will be frowning all through. Thankfully, if you value both facts and action, there are many other great history shows that tick both boxes.
Here are 10 history series that are as brutal and violent as they are accurate.
‘SAS: Rogue Heroes’ (2022)
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight might have played fast and loose with facts in his crime drama, but he sticks to history in SAS: Rogue Heroes. The show covers the origins and adventures of the famous British Army Special Air Service (SAS) during the Western Desert Campaign (battle between the Allies and Axis powers in the deserts of Egypt and Libya) of World War II.
An Iconic Unit Is Born
Based on a book by The Times columnist, Ben Macintyre, SAS: Rogue Heroes is talky, bloody, and smart, digging into strategy, gallantry, defiance, and the unforeseen challenges that military personnel and spies often face in wartime. And thanks to a strong cast that includes Jack O’Connell and Dominic West, the performances are strong all around. Knight strictly sticks to the events in Macintyre’s book, which have been described as mostly accurate. The showrunner even makes sure to remind you of the adherence to fact, starting each episode with the message “the events depicted which seem most unbelievable… are mostly true.”
‘Napoleon’ (2002)
Forgot Ridley Scott’s panned movie. If you are looking for something that perfectly honors Mr. Bonaparte, watch Napoleon. The miniseries touches on everything, including the battles of Eylau, Austerlitz, and Waterloo, the French ruler’s volatile romantic relationship with Josephine de Beauharnais, his other marriage to Marie Louise, the Duchess of Parma, and his controversial affairs with Eleanore Denuelle and Marie Walewska.
A Perfect Portrait of a Legendary Ruler
Watching Napoleon traipsing through the streets and corridors is half the fun of this historical drama. Lead actor Christian Claver really owns the role. More fun lies in the subtle, ironic musings on the dilemmas of war and fun. Beyond that, you’ll enjoy the cinematography and the battles. After all, what’s a Napoleon story without great battles? Napoleon was the most expensive miniseries in Europe when it premiered, costing $46,330,000 to produce, and you can see where the money went. Most importantly, it’s mostly accurate, drawing from French author Max Gallo’s popular biography, La Route Napoléon.
‘Barbarians’ (2020)
Barbarians focuses on the series of events leading up to the iconic Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD, where spirited Germanic tribes destroyed three Roman legions. Much of the proceedings revolve around Arminius (Laurence Rupp), a Germanic prince who was raised in Roman aristocracy. Understandably, he is now torn between loyalty to the empire and his clan.
A Detailed Look at a Little-Known Yet Exciting War
If you’ve always searched for underrated shows about Ancient Rome, take a break and enjoy Barbarians first. So accurate is the series that the characters don’t speak English, as is always the case. They speak Latin, as was the case in history. Beyond that, the costumes, props, and weapons match the descriptions in history books. Much credit also goes to lead actor Laurence Rupp. Renowned for his poise and flair, he tends to do quite well in historical dramas, and things are no different in this consistently sharp, bloody show.
‘Chief of War’ (2025)
Events in Chief of War kick off towards the end of the 18th century when the four major kingdoms of the Hawaiian Islands were warring: Hawaiʻi, Maui, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi. We see signs of a rapprochement when Kaʻiana (Jason Momoa), a warrior chief (aliʻi) of Kauaʻi returns from exile to join a bloody campaign at the request of his uncle. However, he rebels against the famous unification of Hawaiʻi.
The Beauty and Pain of Hawai’q
Jason Momoa has starred in many historical dramas that never became popular, but his fans needn’t have worried about Chief of War when it was announced. The show has been a major hit on Apple TV, cementing the star’s reputation as a true champion of his culture and heritage. According to GQ, cultural advisors were used in every production department to achieve the highest degree of authenticity, and the producers went as far as building Hawaiian war vessels (waʻa) from scratch using local materials. Watch out for an early scene where Momoa’s character jumps into the water and confronts a shark. Once Aquaman, always Aquaman.
‘The Pacific’ (2020)
Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, The Pacific follows three U.S. Marines — Eugene Sledge (Joseph Mazzello), Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), and John Basilone (Jon Seda) — as they fight for the Allies across the brutal Pacific Theater. The characters belong to different regiments (1st, 5th, and 7th, respectively) of the 1st Marine Division.
Blood in the Water
Winner of the Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries, this controversial, nearly forgotten war tale didn’t create much buzz when it was released and appears to have been suppressed by HBO Max for a while. But it isn’t too late to discover it. For die-hard fans of WWII history, Pacific is a must-see show, one that shows this now generally celebrated genre at its most nihilistic, purest, and viscerally shocking. The Pacific Theater hosted some of the most brutal battles, and the series spares no drop of blood.
‘Rome’ (2005 – 2007)
The Roman Empire is at its peak in Rome, but soldiers Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson) appear to have fallen on hard times. Their living conditions appear to be hopelessly out of date, and the little influence they once commanded dwindled accordingly. However, things are about to change as their fates intertwine with legendary figures like Mark Antony (James Purefoy), Julius Caesar (Ciarán Hinds), and Cleopatra (Lyndsey Marshal). They’ll also be roped into some Faustian bargains.
A Strange View of Rome
The unusual picture of Rome shown here was slightly frowned upon in the early 2000s. Who wanted to see the empire from a soldier’s perspective or to see villainous figures celebrated? Today, it’s clear that creators John Milius, William J. MacDonald, and Bruno only crafted a measure of understanding for pathetic characters, and demonized a few popular ones, to convey an ugly truth: that what we have been told isn’t necessarily the truth. Viewed without bias, this violent series is a treat. More seasons could have been made had the budget not become too high.
‘John Adams’ (2008)
John Adams is the story of America’s second president (portrayed by Paul Giamatti) and First Lady, Abigail (Laura Linney). We experience the titular character’s growth from a fast-rising attorney to a major figure in the American Revolution. He helps draft the Declaration of Independence, but also gets to have a contentious presidency and complicated relationships with figures like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.
Giamatti and Linney Reminds Us of His Brilliance
Winner of 13 Emmys, John Adams is an edge-of-your-seat political thriller exploring Young America’s darker undercurrents. All the events are revisited in hyperdrive, giving us a never-ending sense of danger and excitement. While it has some minor alterations, it’s a fairly accurate Presidential biographical accounts. The elegant and beautifully scored show also rides on the sublime performances of its cast, with Giamatti and Linney the undisputed MVPs.
‘House of David’ (2025)
Primarily set in Israel in 1000 BC, House of David depicts the rise of the popular biblical figure (portrayed by Michael Iskander), tracing the tough journey from his days of paternal servitude as a shepherd to his life-changing battle against the towering Goliath and eventual kingship. Will David’s ambition conjure real glory? Or will he fail? The bible has the answers, but so does this lovely show.
The Rise of a Legend
Filmed mostly inside studios, House of David used plenty of groundbreaking VFX techniques, but most viewers will be way too carried away to note the technical aspects. An intense performance by Michael Iskander evokes masterpieces such as Troy and Gladiator in this textured, terrifying contemporary classic. As a Christian filmmaker, Jon Erwin understands how important it is to adhere to biblical events, so he captures everything accurately. While also infusing enough action to ensure casual viewers don’t tune out.
‘Shōgun’ (2024)
Amid the political turmoil brought about by the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1600s Japan, English navigator John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) gets shipwrecked. He soon finds himself in a power struggle between the sly warlord Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and rival factions seeking to control the country. Guided by translator Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai), he does his best to survive. How bad will things get in Shōgun?
As Flawless as a Show Can Get
As a fish in fresh waters, Cosmo Jarvis wreaks havoc with cool relish until fate catches up with him. Meanwhile, Hiroyuki Sanada offers solid support as his unlikely accomplice. Regarded as one of the most historically accurate portrayals of feudal Japan, Shōgun became the first Japanese-language series to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. That wasn’t all. The show collected 18 Emmys in total. Characters mostly speak in Japanese, and the sets are a true reflection of what was present in the era.
‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)
Based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose’s 1992 non-fiction book of the same title, Band of Brothers traces the adventures of “Easy” Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. We first see the Easy Company’s paratrooper training, followed by its participation in the Western Front, from D-Day to its occupation of Berchtesgaden.
War Is Hell
Ambrose interviewed Easy Company veterans, so if anything is inaccurate, it should be blamed on the horse’s mouth. Also produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, this action-packed miniseries was an award-winning and critical success, winning the Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries. Widely considered the greatest WWII TV show, Band of Brothers is also credited with ushering in Peak TV, thanks to its high production values. Watch out for the Normandy invasion sequence, where paratroopers are horrifically shot midair, and others die brutally after landing.