The Little Binger

If you haven’t heard by now, I love TV shows- be it local or foreign; and I watch them on TV or via streaming. Name a show and I have probably heard or watched it- even finished it! Surprise, surprise, I am The Little Binger for a reason. We can also say that I watched various genres of TV shows. I stumbled upon one show on NatGeo one weekend and let us just say that it got me hooked! I am talking about The Long Road Home. I followed each episode so far and I will try my best to give it a try in 10 points. Ready?

1. No fakes, just facts!
   The Long Road Home, is based on the New York Times best-selling book by internationally acclaimed journalist Martha Raddatz, “The Long Road Home—A Story of War and Family.” It is about the Black Sunday in April 2014. Raddatz’s book was praised by The Washington Post as “a masterpiece of literary non-fiction that rivals any war-related classic that has preceded it.” Yes, it is based on a painstakingly researched true story.
2. The Impact of Black Sunday
   For those who have not heard before of Black Sunday, it was a simple peacekeeping mission to a fight against domestic insurgent. What’s so special about it that it would change the way the American military saw Iraq, you ask? Soldiers from the US 1st Cavalry Division of Fort Hood, Texas were ambushed in Sadr City, Baghdad, with eight making the ultimate sacrifice that day and over 65 seriously wounded. That’s a surprise!
3. Heroes Under the Spotlight
   Carolyn Bernstein, National Geographic Channel executive vice president and head of global scripted programming and development, said that in doing the show, they are going to shine a light on the sisterhood formed by their wives on the homefront as they [rallied] around each other awaiting news of their husbands’ fates. If you are a sucker for family stories, get your tissues ready.
4. A Powerhouse Staff
   National Geographic picked the best group of people to create such a compelling story. The Long Road Home is created by a powerhouse staff starting with the showrunner, screenwriter, and executive producer Mikko Alanne who adapted the book’s events for TV. Emmy winners Phil Abraham and Mikael Salomon directed the series and the its executive producers are Mike Medavoy, Mikko Alanne, Jason Clark, Benjamin Anderson and Edward McGurn. For National Geographic, Carolyn G. Bernstein is executive vice president and head of global scripted development and production.

   

5. Be Prepared for Too Real Feels
   In an interview with the New York Times, book author Martha Raddatz went back “…and painstakingly reconstructed the event from every conceivable angle — including the thing that he said/she said reactions of soldiers in Iraq and their wives in Fort Hood, Tex. Some of those wives would receive the most dreaded kinds of visitors after the battle. Not since the Vietnam War did the First Cavalry suffer so many casualties in one day.”
6. Recreated to the Very Last Detail
   Talk about bringing you there: In addition to consulting the author herself for the show’s production, NatGeo brought in two US Army veterans who survived the ambush: Eric Bourquin and Aaron Fowler.In addition, the responses to the book alone have been overwhelmingly positive. From Goodreads to Reddit, even those who admit not to reading about military history have been touched by the story of “The Long Road Home” and have had their eyes opened by the harsh realities of military operations.
7. The cast
   A strong story created by a powerhouse staff deserves a cast nothing short of greatness. Watch out for familiar faces from your favorite TV shows in The Long Road Home! Among the cast of the show are Michael Kelly (“House of Cards,” “Taboo”); Jason Ritter (“Parenthood,” “Girls”); E.J. Bonilla (“Unforgettable”); Kate Bosworth (“Superman Returns,” “Blue Crush,” “SS-GB,” “The Art of More”); Sarah Wayne Callies (“Prison Break,” “The Walking Dead,” “Colony”); Noel Fisher (“Shameless”); Jeremy Sisto (“Suburgatory,” “Law & Order,” “Six Feet Under”); Jon Beavers (“NCIS,” “Gotham,” “The Fresh Beat Band”); and Darius Homayoun (“Tyrant”), and many others.
8. Binge-material
   What’s the episode count of the last TV series that you finished- 10, 13, 22? It’s kind of hard to keep track, right? That will not be the issue here because The Long Road Home has 8 episodes which reflects the eight hours that saw three desperate yet deadly rescue missions launched to save the soldiers in the ambush.
9. It is history in the making.
   National Geographic gives viewers a unique perspective of the toll war takes on soldiers and their families. The literary genre of creative nonfiction comes to life in a gripping and intimate way, pushing the boundaries of entertainment and education closer together in a new and exciting way. Follow the action of the battle on two simultaneous fronts—the chaotic, terror-filled streets of Sadr City, where a group of inexperienced young soldiers faces an unexpected and unimaginable attack with bravery they never knew they had, and the home front at Fort Hood in Texas, where family members, desperate for news of their loved ones and fearing the worst, discover their own courage and determination as well.
10. You can take the show with you, wherever you are.
    No soldier fights alone—and you won’t be missing a thing with the Fox+ app, available for iOS and Android devices, which gives you access to this brilliant series. Don’t miss a moment—not even when stuck in the everyday Carmageddon of traffic.

“The Long Road Home” begins with the special two-hour premiere “Black Sunday” on November 5, 2017 at 10:00 p.m., with regular new episode telecasts every Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. on National Geographic and every Sunday at 10:00p.m. for the weekend primetime replay.

National Geographic is seen on Channel 41 (Skycable), Channel 141 (Cignal), Channel 62 (Cablelink) and Channel 153 on (GSAT).  National Geographic HD is seen on Channel 195 (Skycable), Channel 240 (Cignal) and Channel 331 (Cablelink).

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