Watch The Long Road Home

The Long Road Home is a mini-series drama based on the New York Times bestseller novel by Martha Raddatz. The show premiered on National Geographic in 2017 and is based on the true story of the events that took place on April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, during the Iraq War.

The show follows the lives of several soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division and their families as they navigate the challenges of war, both on the battlefield and back home. The cast includes Michael Kelly as Lt. Col. Gary Volesky, the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment; Jason Ritter as Captain Troy Denomy, the leader of the Black Sunday platoon; and Kate Bosworth as Gina Denomy, Troy's wife.

The Long Road Home is a deeply emotional and tense journey that highlights not only the physical and mental toll of war on soldiers but also the psychological impact on their families. The show is a masterful portrayal of the human cost of the infamous ambush where eight soldiers were killed and over fifty were wounded in a surprise attack by the Mahdi Army.

The series is structured around both the homecomings and events that occurred on April 4, 2004. The story takes the viewers from the opening scenes where the soldiers are saying goodbye to their loved ones at Fort Hood, Texas, to the streets of Baghdad, where the soldiers are patrolling the hostile territory, up to the moment disaster strikes, and back home where the families are left to pick up the pieces.

The Long Road Home is filled with intense scenes of combat, and the creative team behind the show does not shy away from showing the brutal realities of war, including the sound of gunfire and the chaos of the battlefield. Capt. Denomy's platoon, known as Black Sunday, faces intense resistance from the Mahdi Army, and the viewer gets an up-close view of both the action and reaction of the soldiers under fire.

What makes The Long Road Home unique is the way in which it portrays the families left behind. It shows the human toll of war on domestic soil, and the trauma that occurs when a loved one is deployed. Through emotional scenes between wives, children, and parents left behind, the show cleverly shows how the effects of PTSD aren't limited to those suffering from it.

The Long Road Home is a story that manages to humanize the experience of war without overly politicizing it. The show portrays soldiers not as stereotypes but as real people with real emotions and flaws. This authenticity is a testament to the actors, who bring depth and nuance to their performances.

The heart of The Long Road Home is the soldiers and their families. The show is a tribute to their bravery, resilience, and commitment to their country, and it serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of freedom. The show's emotional impact is felt long after the final episode.

Overall, The Long Road Home is an outstanding representation of a true story while showcasing engaging and powerful storytelling. The characters are relatable and the acting is excellent. It is a gripping, emotional, and insightful tale of war, family, and sacrifice, which highlights important issues regarding the price soldiers and their families pay, attempting to sustain their country's freedom.

The Long Road Home is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (9 episodes). The series first aired on November 7, 2017.