The Unit

Like many I was excited to see the new show "The Unit." However, it quickly became apparent it was all wrong. First, off I having served in various Army assignment for 10 years it is easy to spot a fake. Itis a personal pet peeve to watch Hollywood botch up military genre pictures with unrealistic situations/outcomes, misplaced ribbons-medals-ranks-etc, and phony dialogue.

I think Mamet and Ryan (The Shield creator)are very talented and entertaining writers who get it right most of the time. Rule number one in writing-write about what you know. The military genre is far more technical than cop shows and a show about "Delta Force" is even more so (due to being shrouded in secrecy.) Some of the major flaws: Military wives: (sorry ladies) many are homely and over weight. The male actors: are too old and not fit enough to portray and elite counter terrorism unit such as Delta. Many Delta are former Ranger and Special Forces. The tactics: another flaw. Episode #2 features a team recovering a Chinese satellite behind enemy lines. One two man two provides "overwatch" (aka observation and security for the recovery team). They don't conceal their position, rather park a jeep on an open hilltop. "Hello?" Then the insurgents skate across the desert floor to intercept them leaving a visible and exposing dust signature. Finally they are spotted by Delta once within small arms range. How do these poorly trained insurgents get the drop on Delta? If Delta is authorized to use deadly force why wait till they are on top of your position. Weapons use: Watch how they hold their weapons-enough said. The writing: At points the dialog reads like it is ripped off an Army Field Manual-dry, brittle, forced technical speak, and unrealistic. Military Housing: So "the unit" soldier all live on the same street with CBS's version of Desperate Military Housewives? Are you trying to combine two shows? Focus on making one right first.

This show needs to come back. Better than any of the reality nonsense

As of this writing, the best show on television that no one talks about. Is it easier to overlook military-themed shows, being as their viewership is made up of middle America? But The Unit is neither a gussied-up procedural (NCIS) nor a rousing commercial (Jag), and it betrays almost no political agenda. It keeps to these guys, their job, and their families, all facing challenges that are alternately far beyond and extremely similar to those of our own. Like most Mamet, it is characterized not so much by distinctive characters as it filled with plain ol' drama. The show is as clipped, professional, and dutiful as its characters— no 'special-episodes', no sweeps- month stunts.

In a refreshing change of pace from other current (and more-heralded) shows, it's not serialized; every episode does stand alone, though the show also rewards faithful viewership. I love me some 'Lost', but there's plenty to slog through while waiting for the good stuff. The Unit gives no such quarter; it may not enrapture or surprise, but you can count on it to do its job.

I'm a big fan of Dennis Haysbert so I bought the first season having never seen the show before. The first episode had a couple of scenes that almost killed all my enthusiasm for it, but I hung with it; got into the characters and enjoyed the whole season. It' takes some getting used to watching the episodes cut back and forth to the soldiers on their missions and their wives back home; that just isn't how "war movies" are done my sexist old brain says. But while the action scenes are really well done the "home stories" are surprisingly compelling too. As someone who grew up on 'Combat", 'The Rat Patrol', 'Twelve O'Clock High' I am surprised I liked this new show as much as I did. Well worth purchasing the first season.

I saw the commercials for "The Unit", and was intrigued. Then I started watching this show, and it just seems to be getting better as it goes. It kind of reminds me of a Tom Clancy novel, and the last episode I saw had three seemingly separate plot lines going, which eventually became tied together, two of them ended up being parts of the same main story line. Besides the military thrills from the precision excellence of this black-ops unit (which doesn't exist, of course), there are always personal stories and lots of aspects of this show that most anybody should be able to enjoy. I love it when the good guys kick the bad guys collective asses! Well written, and good acting all around. Interesting plot twists, I was caught by surprise more then a few times. There are some really great lines, and it is so much more than just a shoot-em-up action show. My emotions were running wild. I hope this show stays around for years to come!