'Absolute masterpiece' WW2 show 'like Band of Brothers but better'

There's a "highly underrated" World War 2 mini-series that's been recommended for fans of HBO shows like Band of Brothers, The Pacific and Masters of the Air. First aired in 1983, the programme starred Robert Mitchum, Ali MacGraw and John Houseman, and has been hailed an "absolute masterpiece" by fans.

Based on a beloved novel by Herman Wouk, the series - titled The Winds of War - was made up of seven episodes, and followed the events of WW2 from 1939 until the United States entered the picture in 1941. Its central character is Victor 'Pug' Henry, confidant to President Franklin D Roosevelt, and the show explores his relationship with his family as Adolf Hitler wreaks havoc on the world.

After scooping three Primetime Emmy Awards, the series was also nominated for four Golden Globes. It was so successful, in fact, that it birthed a sequel series, titled War and Remembrance - based on another novel by Wouk.

War and Remembrance, released in 1988, had 12 episodes in total and covered the events from Pearl Harbour to the bombing of Hiroshima, with Robert Mitchum returning as Pug. The sequel also starred Jane Seymour, Sharon Stone and David Dukes.

The Winds of War has a huge number of five star reviews, with one fan praising it: "This is one of the most historically accurate series you'll ever watch, along with War and Remembrance..You become totally invested in the characters, and though many characters are fictional, there's no doubt that many families would have experienced identical breathtaking moments as you see in the series!

"Both Winds of War and War and Remembrance bring the war, Hitler, the Nazis and the Holocaust to life in such vivid detail that you'll never forget them."

Another wrote: "With its companion War and Remembrance, this is one of the best, if not the best mini-series ever produced on American commercial television. The scope of this epic is greatly enhanced by the exquisite detail, the on-site locations and the superb acting of Robert Mitchum and Polly Bergen."

More branded it a "triumph" and a "masterpiece", while another reviewer said: "One of the best mini-series ever made, not only was it historically correct but it's engrossing too."