"Over There" is styled in a just-the-facts-ma'am way but it gets none of the just-the-facts detachment because it is set in the now. Hell, it gets the every detail entirely wrong as many mil bloggers have written (everyone is commenting on the aired piot episode). Everyone agrees they uniforms are dead on, straight down to a cut off black sock used as a slide cover on sand [ski] goggles. The first episode "Pilot" was full of Vietnam stereotypes. Tonight's was better, they took a few swings at a bureaucratic Amry in the first half hour; every order was taken literally and when butts were on the line orders were followed to the letter. The saying "it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" is spoken in business but lived in the military. In the pilot and most of this episode the comissioned and enlisted men both took every order literally which just doesn't happen (the officers would tweak orders from command and the NCOs would tweak them further).

In the second half of its hour the show reversed and embraced local knowledge and innovation. A main character was taken out by an IED in "Pilot" and his replacement was an Arab (Paki?) from Detroit [the idea of replacements is a Vietnam era conscript thing] . He could spot a Syrian from an Iraqi on sight ("definitely Syrian - Chinos and Ray-Bans") . This is the first injection of sanity to the series. I lived in Australia for a year and they couldn't pick an American accent from North of the Mason Dixon line from one South of it. A little local knowledge goes a long way. This gives me hope that the series was altered after pilot and some consultants who actually know something were brought in. As a bonus sign that the writing change after "Pilot," the Detroit Paki was the first character that was not a stereotyped Vietnam knockoff - when asked "So what is your ethnicity?" he said "American" and when asked the follow up "I mean, your parents?" he said "I was born in Detroit."

I still think the show is weak but I now believe it has a chance at being watchable. FX is coming on quite strong even if this bombs with their two new shows "Starved" and "Always Sunny in Philadelphia." I'll write about those separately, hopefully. Even if I don't you should watch them, good writing.

NB, I took a more not-my-bag stance in my intitial post about the show. What regular service guys have said since jives with what I wanted to say but was afraid to. They confirmed what I thought last time so I feel more sure I'm not off the reservation with this comment. If I am andrewdied can step in and amend the record.