SAS Rogue Heroes

Set during the darkest months of World War II, SAS Rogue Heroes dramatizes how a handful of unconventional soldiers created what would become the Special Air Service. The series tracks David Stirling as he pulls together a ragtag group of volunteers, men drawn from different units and backgrounds who share a hunger for action and a tolerance for risk. They develop hit-and-run tactics, train for desert operations, and carry out raids that push the limits of what was considered acceptable fighting at the time. Along the way you see friendships form, rivalries flare, and the moral compromises that accompany trying new methods in wartime, all without resolving later controversies about the unit or its members.

The series premiered in 2022, created by Steven Knight and directed by Tom Shankland. It’s adapted from Ben Macintyre’s book of the same name, and it blends historical events with dramatized interactions to create a streamlined narrative for television.

It hasn’t been a sweep of major industry awards, but it earned attention from critics and audiences, and it built a steady fanbase. Reviewers often singled out the cast and production values, even when they questioned historical liberties, and the show performed well in viewer ratings for prestige drama on its platforms.

SAS Rogue Heroes prompted renewed interest in the origins of the SAS, with viewers and historians trading views on accuracy and representation. Its striking desert sequences and bold staging made certain scenes widely shared online, and the series fed discussions about how wartime stories are retold for modern audiences.

Critics have generally given the show favorable marks, reflected in a solid viewer score around 7.7 out of 10 from user votes. People praise the lead performances, kinetic action, and period detail, while noting the series sometimes simplifies or reshapes events for dramatic effect. Themes include leadership under pressure, innovation in warfare, and the personal costs paid by those who take extreme risks.