Waco

An amazing drama with great performances all around. As the title of my review implies, the tragedy comes down to stubbornness on both sides of this conflict. While the Branch Davidians are depicted more sympathetically than I expected, including David Koresh, he is still shown as uncompromising on certain issues despite the cost to his people and his followers as unable to break with him when it is in their best interest. And he is matched by those in charge of the ATF and FBI forces, who are smarting from the initial failed attempt to arrest Koresh and perhaps seeking revenge for the ATF men who died. Gary Noesner is the FBI negotiator who is trying to find a way to save lives. Even if you followed this story as it unfolded in the news, you will learn some things. And yet this dramatization does not neatly tie up all the loose ends and answer all the questions, leaving the viewer with much to ponder.

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.

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.

I must admit, I knew very a little about this Waco incident before seeing this. This story really points to the ATF and FBI really being the bad guys well more bullies than bad guys. I dunno how much is true but it certainly seems that way based on this portrayal. I was hooked from the start, The acting is amazing and so it the screen play. There are 6 episodes all an hour each and the felt like 5 mins each. I would recommend this mini-series to anyone.