Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed

There is a timeless theme to this presentation of Benedict Arnold's life. When the machinations of politics threaten a populist hero, what happens?

This is a recurrent human struggle at least since the time of Christ.

We never know who are those who betray us--

Having grown up near the Saratoga Battlefield and Fort Ticonderoga, I was raised with the narrative that Ethan Allen saved the Revolution by taking Ticonderoga artillery to shell Boston--through the snow, and that Arnold was the consummate traitor.

Now I have to question the narratives told in my primary school days with new information...information that as an educated adult I have to give some credence to. If you can't see the parallels to today's world, it is only to your detriment because you have not learned how we applaud some of the most treacherous people who affect our lives.

Couldn't continue watching after the ridiculous and faulty representation of Arnold as the victim. Found nothing to be historically accurate so gave up watching.

Documentaries on Arnold are usually very interesting because it is tragic due to his own self destruction.

The tag line for this documentary did interest me. Does his heroics overshadow his treason, has history misjudged him.

How this documentary approaches it is by omitting the treason down to a footnote in the presentation. At least go through the entirety of what the British were expecting and the desired outcome of the plan. Just because it failed does not mean it should be discounted against his great contributions.

Even the coverage of his military career was slow and boring. Arnold's military career is anything but boring.

This is a bit of the truth coming out after centuries. Right from the start, the english so-called americans were not any better than the brits. The politics was just as rotten and back stabby. Greed and more power was the motivation of most. Jefferson wrote only a beautiful lie that they are still struggling to keep up today!

As another review points out, a contrarian / counter factual Documentary in the same vein as "Why every house needs a Shark in their Bath Tub" or "Why Alligators Make Great Pets"

Spoiler Alert - They Don't!

Benedict Arnold was both Brave and a Talented military leader, but none of his accomplishments make up for his later treachery and deceit. If Benedict Arnold felt unappreciated and lacked confidence in his leadership, nothing prevented him from resigning and going his own way. Betraying his country and his countrymen was completely inexcusable, and any ridiculous narratives or documentaries to the contrary are completely absurd.