Six

So I have a family member who is a retired SEAL officer. And the only insight I get from him is this. Real SEALS do not talk about or brag about their accomplishments. And they are real people with real life issues. What they do for a living can magnify these real life issues. Six does a great job of capturing what they do on and off the field of engagement.

I suggest you watch the entire season before you decide what you think of this show. It builds and the payoff is worth it. I was frankly shocked by the graphic nature - not of the battle scenes which ought to be graphic, but the raw language, emotion, sexual scenes, etc. Perhaps my shock was that this was the History Channel, but I think it is not gratuitous in this instance. It is appropriate, given who these characters are - highly trained tactical warriors. It's what they do and therefore, it identifies them because you can't be one than the other, no matter how hard you try to assimilate into our cushy society.

I reserved my review until I saw the last episode of Season 1 (which was nothing short of tremendous). The body of work so far is top notch. The characters are totally believable to me and the directing, cinematography and story line are excellent. If you like Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, and the rest of that genre, you will not be disappointed.

This went from a 7 for the first season to a 6 for the second season. It went from a good solid entertaining show about the Navy Seals, to trying to be another Homeland. It's not Homeland. Not even close. I wish they just stuck to being what they were good at in the first season.

...not in the life of a commando nor in the universe of TV-shows. To keep it short: Well made, good actors. In regards to the story: We will see. I have only seen the pilot so far and I think it's too soon to make a final verdict.

But I would like to address some of the reviews on this show:

• Sex: I only remember one brief sex scene. And there wasn't even much skin involved. Guys: this is a show about humans and humans have sex - you are the product of such an event neither you like it or not. But hey, I'm from Europe and I will burn in hell for my liberal views anyway... :)

• Scalping: Do some research. There ARE allegations in this direction. Are they true? I don't know. But obviously it's not totally invented by the writers of the show. I neither apologies their possible doings nor do I condemn them as a whole. However: Is it true, it is distasteful even if the enemy uses similar tactics in psychological warfare. Killing them should be enough and do the trick.

The only criticism I have is that the guys are shown as very impulsive and sometimes with low self control. I would assume that that's not very realistic. But what do I know...

Hollywood manages to make perhaps the greatest special forces team look like a bunch of loose cannon F-ups. The show has quality actors and there are good stories to tell, but this program seems to digress into the personal problems...making each character a drunk, a absent father behind on support, a violent control freak, etc, etc, etc....you fill in the blank. Not a normal balanced person among the characters.

This is far from reality. Seals are a little crazy, but they are the some of the most personally disciplined people on the planet earth.

This show needs new writers or it will be canceled quickly. Can we focus a little more on their loyalty and commitment to each other. The danger they face, the difficult training and the bad guys they fight?

Films and TV shows about Navy Seals or other special forces personnel is the current rage. Some have not done so well (e.g., "Shooter") but this series really delivers. They manage to move seamlessly between the personal lives and the military assignments, and this type of insight has rarely been seen before, although the last year of the "The Unit" did deal with some of these issues.

I also enjoy the interactions between the men, and how what they experience at home and in the field comes back to alter their interactions.

The acting here is excellent and it often looks more like a docudrama rather than a TV show. The principal team members (Barry Sloane, Alex Caulder, Ricky Ortiz) are two dimensional people and the conflicts within and between are portrayed very well. It's good to see that these characters have their own identities.

I'm a big fan of Walton Goggins, having appreciated him in "The Shield" and later enjoyed his robust performance in "Justified". He doesn't disappoint and delivers a nuanced piece of work - probably his best and he gets better as the series progresses.

I especially appreciate that at the end of each episode there are highlights from actual combat veterans.

I'm not a former Seal so I can't begin to say whether or not this is true to life. I can say that it is entertaining.