Waco

This miniseries was done very well, giving perspective from both sides. Based on 2 books written, one by a Branch Davidian and one by the main FBI negotiator. Because the official government report that was written, I had always thought it was a mass suicide at the end of the standoff. This miniseries sure points to the government's failure as the cause of most of the deaths. Very thought provoking indeed. There are many well-known actors in this series, which elevates the quality of the accounts. This also brings great insight into the aspects of people's personalities that get caught up in the cult mentality. When you are insulated from any information outside your bubble, you lose the ability to think critically.

For anyone that was not alive in 1993, or living under a rock, this miniseries takes a look, from all sides, at the standoff in Waco Texas, led by the FBI and ATF versus one David Koresh. Fearing the amount of guns being hoarded at the retreat occupied by the religious group, the ATF tries to serve a warrant that turns into a firefight and a 51 day stand-off.

This series explores these event from both side, told by the survivors, from both sides. I do not know where other reviewers on here can substantiate the claims that this is factually inaccurate, given that the information comes from those that lived. Surely there is the typical embellishment that is typical for anything that is produced by Hollywood, you know, to amp up the drama. This does raise a lot of good questions though. Does the government go too far some times? I think we can all agree to this. Who actually shot first? Who or what started the fire?

I feel it was necessary to end the conflict, as it did stretch on for almost two months, but was it ended in the best manor? This with some other questions will never be answered, I am sure. The real tragedy here is that 25 children died, and these are wholly innocent lives. They did not choose to be there and it is beyond sad that this had happened to them. As for the reviewer that said they all deserved to die, who are you to judge? Children never deserve death.

Waco as a miniseries is competently made and filled with tension. The show follows the ATF/FBI standoff with the Branch Dividians that led to the deaths of the majority of the cult members and years of investigations and inquiries into the actions of the ATF. Taking its sources from two books, A Place Called Waco by David Thibodeau & Leon Whiteson and Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator by Gary Noesner, the series gives us a holistic view at the event from both sides of the engagement. Gary Noesner is played very well by Michael Shannon and conveys his desperation to deescalate the tensions while fighting against both Koresh's ego and the HRT team's desire to use aggressive actions to bring about a decisive end. It's a really good performance and only serves to reinforce what a fantastic actor Shannon is. Taylor Kitsch is equally good as Branch Dividians leader David Koresh and brings out the charisma of the man and from the performance you can understand why his followers would be drawn to him.

Unfortunately there's a massive drawback to this series that keeps it from achieving greatness. The show deservedly calls out the overly aggressive tactics of the HRT team during the standoff as well as the oversight that gave them carte blanche to use these tactics, but the show is uncritical about not just David Koresh, but also Randy Weaver as Ruby Ridge is used as a sort of prologue leading up to the Waco standoff. Throughout the series we hear Weaver and Koresh use the phrase "we weren't bothering anyone, why couldn't you leave us alone?" and frames these men as victims despite knowledge of their actions that make them anything but. The show does address Koresh's ploygymany to both women and minors, but the show tries to excuse this by citing Texas las allowing 14 year olds to marry with parental consent. The way the show stumbles over itself trying to paint Weaver and Koresh as "victims" is not only disgusting, but damages the integrity of an otherwise well done series.

Despite the series inexcusably sympathetic approach to Koresh and Weaver, I do still recommend the miniseries as it features good acting and genuine tension. However I feel that before one sees it they should have knowledge and context of the events discussed.

This mini-series is quite intriguing.

At the very beginning, the scene of the BATF raid bears a very close resemblance to video and photos of the historical incident.

Taylor Kitsch does a very good job in portrayal of Koresh, based on videos of Koresh. Much of the first episode is very well filmed. The two books it is based on, by different men with different perspectives could well be worth reading. The book The Davidian Massacre, by Carol Moore is a good source of information.

As a nitpicker, I could pick on a few issues. While the BATF originally entrapped Randy Weaver in order to blackmail him to become an informant, it was the US Marshals that killed his son, lied to cover it up. The actor that portrays Randy Weaver does not resemble Randy Weaver. Weaver's talks with Col. Bo Gritz, and Officer Jack Mc Lamb went on for quite a while, and eventually did lead to his surrender, and his vindication in court.

This mini-series would also be improved if it provided more background of the Branch Davidian, possibly in flash-backs.

Telling this story in the form of a mini-series is interesting. Viewers can watch one episode, then research the story on their own, and discuss it with others, and then watch the next episode.

I would urge viewers to do that, rather than paying attention to the politically correct trolls. Good people of all political persuasions and religious beliefs agree that law enforcement officers should be required to follow the law, and never be given a free pass if they murder citizens.

All I can say is WOW. Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch are incredible in their roles as an FBI agent and cult leader. Although you don't want to root for Kitsch's character, you can't help but be drawn in by his outstanding deliverance from David's vision of the bible. Michael Shannon portrays his character in an exact delivery on an apposite side of what David believed, but has a severe sense of conflict with the FBI that he shows in his alone time.

If this initial episode is just the fire cracker of what we all know is to come, I cannot wait for the following episodes.