A solid and gripping insight into special forces selection

alfiepattenden76

In a world today, with far less large scale warfare, but with equally as many problems, it is unclear who is fighting to protect our liberty.

One group that is for sure is the UK Special Forces (comprised by the SAS and the SBS) formed during the Second World War to combat evil from behind enemy lines. It is due to their highly covert nature that their work often goes forgotten, or is unkown as a whole.

'SAS Who Dares Wins' offers the average civilian an insight into the training and selection process behind one of the most elite fighting forces among global militaries.

The show offers 30 men (and women as of Series 4) the chance to become Special Forces soldiers through the completion of an incredibly grueling training course in which the weakest contenders are weaved out in a Darwinian fashion. It is vital to note that these so called 'weak' contenders are far from that; they had to previously pass a series of physical and mental tests to be on the show before facing a great many more tests in the most uncomfortable of environments.

These tests include: a 30 mile run with full kit on weighing over 40lbs, being placed in the middle of nowhere and forced to evade capture for 24 hours, and, perhaps, the toughest of all - the 24 hour kidnap and interrogation. All this whilst deprived of sleep, in an unfamiliar environment and with the constant knowledge that they could be questioned by 'the staff' at any point.

'The staff' must not go unmentioned for they are integral to the shows success. They are formed of a number of ex Special Forces men that constantly berate and criticise the contenders to accentuate the pressure on them and to push them to their absolute limits. It is with their reactions to this pressure that is effectively what makes it breaks their chances of progressing in the selection process.

Although the contenders are referred to by their number tags throughout, they are far more than that; they are complex characters, each drawn from differing backgrounds, different ages and all have had different life experiences. Character is by far the most important theme of this show and it is the contenders as just humans, like you or I, that makes the show so gripping to watch. The journey is rewarding for both the viewer and the actual contenders and at the end, it is marvelously capped off by 'the staff' saying "If we ever see you again, tap us on the shoulder and have a beer with us."

So much more can be said about this excellent show, words alone cannot do this show justice. Instead I personally recommend that you take 5 hours out of your day to watch this show and I can promise you that you will not regret it.

score 9/10

alfiepattenden76 10 March 2019

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw4713498/