TV Series Review: ‘Rogue Heroes’: Britain’s Celebrated SAS Warriors

TV-MA | 6 episodes | Historical Drama | Nov. 13, 2022

The Special Air Service (SAS) is a rather pedestrian name for Britain’s celebrated special forces unit, but there is nothing mundane about the corps and its missions. In fiction, Batman’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth, is a veteran of the SAS and, in real-life, so is survival TV host Bear Grylls.

The chaps who founded it were an even more colorful lot. They were not exactly the “Dirty Dozen,” but they probably would have got along smashingly with team of Lee Marvin’s character.

Writer-creator Steven Knight is surprisingly faithful to the unit’s history in the wild and rollicking six-episode series “Rogue Heroes” (known as “SAS: Rogue Heroes” in the UK).

North Africa in WWII

In 1941, the war in North Africa is going very badly for the United Kingdom. Tobruk, a Libyan city on the coast of the Mediterranean controlled by the Allies, is hanging on by a thread. If Rommel takes the Suez, the Mediterranean will be lost. Unfortunately, SAS senior officers are largely incompetent fools, at least from Knight’s perspective.

David Stirling (Connor Swindells) hatches a scheme to interrupt Tobruk's supply chain, in "Rogue Heroes." (Epix)

To bolster Tobruk, corpsman David Sterling (Connor Swindells) hatches a scheme with his old comrade, Lt. Jock Lewes (Alfie Allen), to create a light commando unit to attack Rommel’s supply line. Even though he is hobbling about on crutches due to a rather foolish misadventure, Stirling sneaks into the British military’s Cairo headquarters to pitch their idea directly to Commander-in-Chief Gen. Claude Auchinleck (Adrian Lukis). As the fact-checkers would say, this incident is largely historically accurate.

In fact, each episode starts with the disclaimer (or boast): “Those events depicted, which seem most unbelievable … are mostly true.” However, the Eve Mansour character (Sofia Boutella) is entirely fictional. As the deputy head of Free French intelligence in Cairo, she meets Stirling through her pompous British counterpart, who is much less enamored with the SAS founder than she is.

Lt. Col. Wrangel Clarke (Dominic West) fears Stirling will undo all his successes, in "Rogue Heroes." (Epix)

Technically, Clarke believes he “created” the SAS to serve as a “ghost regiment” in his disinformation campaigns. By making the unit flesh-and-blood, Clarke fears Stirling will undo all his successes, such as they are.

Indeed, their first mission is a disaster, justifying his concern. Stirling recruited most of his hard-charging unit, particularly Paddy Mayne (Jack O’Connell), an Irish anti-fascist with an aversion to authority, promising they would never “stand down.”

(L–R) Lt. Jock Lewes (Alfie Allen), David Stirling (Connor Swindells), and Paddy Mayne (Jack O’Connell) conduct hit-and-run raids on Axis air fields, in "Rogue Heroes." (Expix)

However, Sterling quickly learns pedal-to-the-metal is not always the best tactical approach. Soon, the SAS hits its stride, conducting hit-and-run raids on Axis air fields. However, the toxic competitive rivalry between Stirling and Mayne threatens to undermine the unit’s effectiveness.

Knight (probably best known for writing “Peaky Blinders” and the film “Locke”) understandably emphasizes the humor of the early SAS’s unruliness, because it is quite entertaining. This is not Biden’s woke military—not even close. However, war is still war, so do not be shocked when major characters are killed in action. If you are not fully versed in the unit’s history, each such death is quite dramatic, and often tragically heroic.

Lots of Swagger

The real David Stirling might not have appreciated Connor Swindells’ somewhat neurotic portrayal, but he should have approved of the romantic chemistry he develops with Boutella (who is, in fact, Algerian), as Mansour. Frankly, this might be the best work of her career. Regardless, she gives the film a suitably “Casablanca”-ish vibe, especially when verbally sparring with the wry Clarke, chewing the scenery with relish.

Eve Mansour (Sophie Boutella) is a fictional character in the mostly true account of the SAS in North Africa. (Epix)

Of the SAS men, Paddy Mayne is the easiest to identify with, despite his self-destructive streak. O’Connell projects his poetic soul nicely. He also always looks credibly rugged, boozy, and all-together roguish.

Indeed, “Rogue Heroes” might be a British period war story but, like “Top Gun: Maverick,” it forgives and, to some extent, celebrates the swaggering, hot-shot mentality that is really necessary for military personnel to perform at such a high level, in harm’s way, and under fire.

The real story, adapted from Ben McIntryes’s nonfiction book, is quite a stranger-than-fiction yarn. Of course, the 1980s rock soundtrack is not at all era-appropriate, but AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” certainly captures the vibe of desert warfare.

There is a good deal of humor in “Rogue Heroes,” but it is still highly realistic. Some warfighting sequences are a bit confusing to follow, but the action and explosive effects are vividly realized. Knight and the cast largely depict the SAS in positive, albeit messily human, terms.

“Rogue Heroes” also offers a reasonably sympathetic portrayal of Winston Churchill (Jason Watkins) as a bonus. Sure, Knight exaggerates and fictionalizes somewhat, but he remains “mostly” true to the historical record.

Highly recommended for its gritty perspective on the “good fight,” “Rogue Heroes” premieres on Nov. 13.

Promotional poster for "Rogue Heroes" movie about Britain's celebrated special forces unit during WWII. (Epix)

‘Rogue Heroes’ Director: Tom Shankland Starring: Connor Swindells, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Allen, Sofia Boutella, Dominic West MPAA Rating: TV-MA Running Time: 58 minutes (6 episodes) Release Date: Nov. 13, 2022 Rated: 4 stars out of 5