This flawless 100% rated war epic is now one of streaming's biggest hits
Riding a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, World War II action series SAS: Rogue Heroes is a major streaming hit on MGM+ as it gears up for Season 3.
If you haven't yet got round to SAS: Rogue Heroes, this is your friendly nudge: there's a WWII series on streaming right now that's not so much flying under the radar as blitzing it entirely. Fair to say, it's gone somewhat nuclear with both viewers and critics. Band of Brothers used to be the untouchable king of wartime telly, but Steven Knight's recent effort has properly booted the door open and turned a lot of heads in the process.
From Peaky Blinders to Parachute Brigades
Steven Knight, the mind behind Peaky Blinders, took his knack for gritty drama and pointed it directly at one of the most legendary specials units the military ever spat out. SAS: Rogue Heroes first landed in 2022, and it’s stayed glued to MGM+’s top 10 list for the last four months solid – not bad for a period war series, a genre that’s usually too expensive for networks to risk unless Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, or both are attached.
This one doesn’t pull its punches, either. Filmed between Africa and war-ravaged bits of Europe, the series follows the creation of the SAS, starting with reckless parachute drops behind enemy lines and ending (at least for now) somewhere deep in the heart of Germany. We’re not talking dusty, sepia-toned nostalgia here. Rogue Heroes goes big – on action and emotion – and Knight brings that usual sharp writing along for the ride.
Put simply, it looks brilliant, it's got proper dramatic teeth, and the acting is particularly top-drawer. If you wanted a low-key star turn, you’re out of luck: Jack O'Connell (This Is England, Skins, being an on-screen menace in general) walks off with most of his scenes. Whole main cast's a bit of a who's who, mind.
Who’s Who in SAS: Rogue Heroes
- Jack O'Connell as Paddy Mayne (the wild one, obviously)
- Connor Swindells as David Stirling (the brains of the operation)
- Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones alumni, always brings a touch of chaos)
- Sofia Boutella
- Theo Barklem-Biggs
- Dominic West
- Gwilym Lee
- Several others pop up along the way – casting is stacked from top to bottom
How Is It Doing With Critics? (Very, Thanks)
Here’s where it gets genuinely surprising: SAS: Rogue Heroes isn’t just popular, it’s the highest-rated WWII TV series ever – literally. While Band of Brothers sits at an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, and even Masters of the Air’s managed an 85%, Rogue Heroes somehow edged both of them and clocked in with a flawless 100%. Even Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan never managed to reach that perfect number.
As for why? Proper character work, brilliantly unhinged performances, and a refusal to dial back the chaos just because it’s based on real events. More importantly, not every WWII show has a cliffhanger ending that will leave you shouting at your TV in frustration.
What Happens Next? (Bring on Season 3)
If there’s one thing Steven Knight loves, it’s leaving his audience on tenterhooks. Season 1 ended with Stirling in a real bind, and by the time you reach the close of series 2, the SAS have survived even nastier scrapes through Sicily, fighting both Nazis and their own inner demons. They’ll be heading deeper into mainland Europe, so you can expect the action to ramp up even further when the new episodes land.
There’s no official broadcast date yet, but what’s being bandied about is late 2026 for the new series.