The Bush Years: Family, Duty, Power

Rather than an independent production, this 2 part series looks more like a publicity piece for the Bush family. Confession - I'm not a Bush fan so maybe I am biased. That being said, the series does have some good information and lots of photographs and videos you don't ordinarily get to see. There's some definite values here for people interested in the Presidency and the history of the US

"CNN" original programs has once again done it big score and thumbs up for the latest political and historical series "The Bush Years: Family, Duty, Power" as it tells the tale and story of the greatest and most powerful political clan of many generations. Like them or not the Bushes demand respect. As the series goes all the way back to the days of elder Prescott Bush, and then the journeys with both George's to the White House, with news footage, family clips and vintage interviews plus it does showcases the ups and downs of the family, this series is really interesting. A must view for any political and history buff no matter what side of the political spectrum your on.

Slightly sleepy series that is moderately interesting but probably only if you're into politics. It's nowhere near as watchable as some other recent political documentaries like Hillary.

It would be unfair to call this a complete white wash, as it does reference some of the failures/disasters, but it definitely takes a very softball approach. For example probably 80% of the contributors are Bush insiders or extended family. It also sometimes has the feel of a campaign made documentary.

You'll probably learn a few things but this isn't anywhere near a balanced portrayal of the Bush family and their political impact. You will need to look elsewhere for critical analysis of some of the more controversial and/disastrous issues like 9/11, Iraq, Katrina etc. Even from a personality perspective you are left wondering how and why some of the family were either able to or interested in seeking high office...

I first noticed this series available on my HBO Max channel a few months back. I avoided watching it because I assumed it was just going to be another biased Bush bashing show by a news organization with a typical liberal leaning stance. Well, I finally watched it last night - all six 43-minute episodes in one night. It hooked me. After sitting through this entire series, CNN has emerged in my mind as the one truly "fair and balanced" reputable and respectable television news organization on air today. There was zero "whitewashing" of the Bush years as other IMDB users have claimed. I suspect those users might have been disappointed that this program is not the one-sided bashing I had assumed it to be before I watched it. To my very grateful surprise, this six part series is an excellent mixture of critical retrospective and family member reflections of a political family who has done the difficult work of nurturing familial intimacy while inviting the entire country to share in their lives as we have experienced with them the unfolding of historical and deeply impactful events both in the US and on the world stage. The participants who contribute the commentary are seasoned journalists from the time, professional political operators from the opposing party (I found these very interesting) and insiders and family members who are intimately familiar with what they're talking about because they were actually there. I didn't expect this to be so well-rounded. There was no shying away from analyzing the mistakes and missteps, yet it gave me new perspective of how decisions came about. I came away with greater respect for the Bush Family as a whole and a new respect for CNN as a holistic journalism entity who though is naturally informed by their political beliefs, they are not controlled by them, which is as it should be in order to command respect and admiration. Ed Harris, the Hollywood actor who serves as both narrator and one of the executive producers (!) competently embodies this. This is personified excellence by all involved. Well done CNN. Well done.