The Unit

Like many I was excited to see the new show "The Unit." However, it quickly became apparent it was all wrong. First, off I having served in various Army assignment for 10 years it is easy to spot a fake. Itis a personal pet peeve to watch Hollywood botch up military genre pictures with unrealistic situations/outcomes, misplaced ribbons-medals-ranks-etc, and phony dialogue.

I think Mamet and Ryan (The Shield creator)are very talented and entertaining writers who get it right most of the time. Rule number one in writing-write about what you know. The military genre is far more technical than cop shows and a show about "Delta Force" is even more so (due to being shrouded in secrecy.) Some of the major flaws: Military wives: (sorry ladies) many are homely and over weight. The male actors: are too old and not fit enough to portray and elite counter terrorism unit such as Delta. Many Delta are former Ranger and Special Forces. The tactics: another flaw. Episode #2 features a team recovering a Chinese satellite behind enemy lines. One two man two provides "overwatch" (aka observation and security for the recovery team). They don't conceal their position, rather park a jeep on an open hilltop. "Hello?" Then the insurgents skate across the desert floor to intercept them leaving a visible and exposing dust signature. Finally they are spotted by Delta once within small arms range. How do these poorly trained insurgents get the drop on Delta? If Delta is authorized to use deadly force why wait till they are on top of your position. Weapons use: Watch how they hold their weapons-enough said. The writing: At points the dialog reads like it is ripped off an Army Field Manual-dry, brittle, forced technical speak, and unrealistic. Military Housing: So "the unit" soldier all live on the same street with CBS's version of Desperate Military Housewives? Are you trying to combine two shows? Focus on making one right first.

I quite enjoyed the first episode in this new series. One of the things i liked was the fact that they show the families and the impact on them as well as the fun and games that the men have. I look forward to the future episodes where they develop the characters. While I was not surprised by the plot line, I thought that it was time that more information about the worlds special forces was released to the public in a format to entertain as well as educate. While the production have taken some liberties to keep us entertained and interested, its better to have it on the Television than yet another aspect of military life ignored as if it doesn't exist. While the people who are in the special forces will probably spot numerous flaws, we, the public do not have their in-depth knowledge. Some of the public will complain because its not fully of 24/7 action, looks at more than death and actually might make us think.

Watch the series and enjoy it. I have and am going to continue to watch it.

I'm a big fan of Dennis Haysbert so I bought the first season having never seen the show before. The first episode had a couple of scenes that almost killed all my enthusiasm for it, but I hung with it; got into the characters and enjoyed the whole season. It' takes some getting used to watching the episodes cut back and forth to the soldiers on their missions and their wives back home; that just isn't how "war movies" are done my sexist old brain says. But while the action scenes are really well done the "home stories" are surprisingly compelling too. As someone who grew up on 'Combat", 'The Rat Patrol', 'Twelve O'Clock High' I am surprised I liked this new show as much as I did. Well worth purchasing the first season.

The Unit is a one of the kind show far as i know. It does not only look at the special forces operatives lives but what revolves around them. This I understand placed carefully into themes that everyone can learn and at the same entertain themselves from this action drama thriller TV series even my friends who are not fans action or the military agree too. And this is way I like watching "the unit".

1> Family, the operatives work is not only thing affected from their actions but their families too. This common link bring "the unit family" together and they help each other deal with things that comes on the way from family matters to the operators work.

2>Friendship / comradeship, if all things don't work and goes to hell at least they got each others back to achieve their objectives and get the hell out.

3> Sacrifice, a common military thing, these operatives go out in long or short mission away from their loved ones and comforts of home and risk their lives at the same time. Their family has to endure the absence of their sons, husbands and fathers.

4> Educational, is something i liked about the unit not only to get entertained also to educate on survival techniques,improvising and being resourceful.

I might not be the expert on Special Forces but I do have some military experience. The show is a situational show not a documentary so the authors tried and in my opinion succeeded in illuminating some sides of this mostly secretive part of the military. Some situational mistakes are laughable (black man in Belorussia would stand out as the palm tree in the Antarctica) and language accents are horrific at times but at the end the show is highly watchable and propagates the thought that in real situation members of the real Unit will be up to the task. I think the effort of the cast on portraying the military should be respected and military consultants on the show are respected and well know men. It was enormously satisfying to see the show of this caliber on regular TV. I am looking forward to the 3rd season