8 TV battle scenes that are not accurate to real life

Movie battles have been criticized by experts for accuracy and realism, and the same goes for some examples from popular television shows. Television faces a tumultuous production cycle where accuracy may be sacrificed to produce a spectacle on time, But this is becoming a more glaring issue amid recent television trends. With more fantasy/historical epics and bigger budgets than ever for television, audiences expect the people behind the show to do at least some research to make their battle scenes legitimate.

This issue is not limited to biographical dramas, as fantasy TV battles have also been criticized, With the genre blowing up in movies and television in recent years. Even series that claim some of the best TV show battles of all time haven’t completely escaped such flaws. Experts (or even general audience members) highlight inaccuracies and errors that many would have missed—based on historical research and actual military experience—and show how bringing in a consultant would have greatly improved the show.

8

Battle of Philippi

Rome (2005-2007)

The short historical epic Rome Was praised for historical accuracy in some places, but was unfavorably deconstructed by Dr. Roel Konijnendijk for the Battle Shield in season 2, episode 6, “Philippi” (via Invicta). first, Konijnendijkfor discusses the roles Roman generals may have played on the battlefield In such a situation.

He attributes the way Mark Antony acts to uphold his characterization in the show, suggested that the image of him charging into battle without knowing what was happening is a not-quite-accurate combination of two leadership strategies. After this, the historical expert criticizes RomeThe accuracy of the battle scene is much harsher as the two most accurate formations go straight into an undesirable melee.

Rome Collapsed under its own budget after two seasons, just too much as the battle spiraled into chaos. In some ways, Rome was a show ahead of its time And did not always understand the work that needed to be done with a comparative lack of previous examples.

7

Battle in the Stepstones

House of the Dragon (2022 – present)

Konijnendijkfor similarly condemned the mess of a battle in the third episode of House of the Dragonwhen Daemon Targaryen and Corlys Velaryon wage a war against the Crabfeather in the Stepstones (via Inside). When Daemon steps forward to allegedly converse with the enemy, while the archers are ready in the background, Konijnendijkfor asks: “Why not either let the archers handle it or send a formation of guys?” The Crabfeather falls for Daemon’s fake surrender, and he manages to lead his army to victory.

“I also ask filmmakers to please stop with the orders to the archers,” Has Konijnendijkfor. Finally, once again, the expert from Oxford University said that the absolute chaos of the battle that cinema often turns to is not accurate when real generals would try to maintain some strategy and formation. Despite its fantasy flag, which means some battle techniques simply aren’t real (like dragons), House of the Dragon Demonstrates some unrealistic military strategies like this. Regardless, it’s still praised as a detailed story-inspired fantasy.

6

Siege of Eoferwick

The Last Kingdom (2015-2022)

Regarding the first conflict between the Danes and the Northumbrians, Konijnendijkfor criticizes a legion of soldiers charging into a shield wall without effect, pointing out that firing at it from further away to see if they can breach the wall would be more logical (via Inside). He admitted that the Vikings would have used shield walls in battle. However, he also said that a three-layer shield wall as seen in the first episode of The last kingdom Is “A little excessive,” and something practiced by the Romans rather than the Danes.

Konijnendijkfor gave this sequence a more generous rating of “six or seven” Based on accurate techniques. moreover, This battle is the inciting incident of The last kingdom, Where one of the main character’s father was killed and he was taken prisoner. Like several similar shows, The last kingdom Takes a broad historical idea but changes some of the smaller details for dramatic effect. The strong shield wall helps to establish the Danish Vikings as a threat, even if it is unnecessary in this context.

5

Battle of Culloden

Outlander (2014-present)

In addition to time travel, Abroad Has some historically accurate elements and some not, demonstrating a strange combination of fact and fiction that makes it unclear how committed to accuracy the showrunners are trying to be. Perhaps the most famous, It has been repeatedly pointed out that the color of Jamie’s tartan is wrong for Clan Fraser (via The History Press). Furthermore, the first two seasons revolve around the impending Battle of Culloden, which would lead people to assume that absolute historical accuracy is vital.

Namely, Abroad Paint a picture of the Jacobite rebellion where it is purely the British against the Scottish, But this is not entirely accurate. Some Scots fought on the side of the British army to put down the rebellion. Additionally, many of the Highlanders are shown charging into battle with only an offensive weapon and no target or shield. It was pointed out that this would be very dangerous in the battle. however, Abroad is credited with depicting the brutal, devastating battle with relative historical accuracy, especially when compared to some other shows.

4

King Philip’s Siege of Chartes Temple

Nightfall (2017-2019)

At the end of his analysis this time (by Inside), Konijnendijkfor pointed out that the battle depicted in season 2, episode 6, “Blood-Drenched Stone” of Nightfall didn’t happen After his other arguments. He comments that crossbrows would have been more widespread among the French army, rather than the one person he spotted. However, his biggest grievances are with the mistakes often made in this type of period drama for cinematic effect.

For example, few characters are seen wearing helmets, which Konijnendijkfor also emphasized, acknowledging that this was probably because the directors wanted the audience to be able to see the actors’ faces. Gunpowder was also used during the battle in a non-existent weapon, mainly for the spectacle of explosions. Konijnendijkfor admitted that while shipping technically exists in the setting of Nightfall And could be used as a more experimental tactic in battle, it is unlikely. Throughout his diatribe, he gently laughed at what people were crying about.

3

Many Viking battles

Vikings (2013-2020)

The show Vikings Demonstrates *some* accurate historical material but is widely regarded as one of the most historically inaccurate TV shows It is. The style of the battles and the costume for the sequences as depicted in the show is largely changed for dramatic effect, appealing to the tastes of a modern audience that knows little about how the conflict actually looked like.

Vikings has been challenged by a medieval weapons expert as well as other historians. Toby Capwell said (via Inside):

“Vikings is a fantasy […] The Anglo-Saxons all wore helmets from the late 16th century. The burgundy with the high crest and the top, they are 800 years wrong… the leather biker trend… there is almost no historical evidence for leather clothing. […] The ax is fine, I don’t have a problem with the ax. I have a problem with any of the main characters wearing helmets. You can’t go near such a battle without a helmet.”

Meanwhile, archaeologist Cat Jarman said of Vikings And Vikings: Valhalla (via wired): “They are not very accurate, but they are inspired by a lot of real events. A lot of them are inspired by the sages.” This is the most basic summary of what these shows are, touching on some interesting historical points, but largely acting as fictionalizations for sensation. Jarman comments notably on the depiction of women warriors in Vikings, which appeal to a modern audience, and said that while they exist, there would be more evidence of greater numbers of them.

2

Gladiators battle the Romans

Spartacus (2013-2015)

Traps laid for an approaching army are often seen in movies – such as in the fictional Chronicles of Narnia series (Prince Caspian), also deconstructed on the Inside YouTube channel. However, according to the US Inside Video III Spartacus: War of the Damned (the title of season 3) is said, although this technique may have been used successfully in the ancient world, it would not have worked on the scale depicted. In the final episode, Spartacus and his fellow gladiators dig a massive ditch to immobilize the approaching Roman army.

However, there is the obvious problem that the ditch is too big for the Romans not to have noticed it or the rebel gladiators preparing it. After the Roman army was stopped, there was also no reason for the gladiators to cross the ditch to continue fighting, As they do in the show. However, this kind of military strategy is often leveraged in fiction, mostly to showcase the cleverness of an outmatched army.

1

The Battle of Winterfell

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

The last season of Game of Thrones was under fire for many reasons, but fans still could not have expected Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen’s military strategies to be one of them. The Battle of Winterfell, depicted in the third episode of the final season, brings a series-long build-up to a too-fast conclusion. Meanwhile, Military experts Ryan Grauer and Mick Cook explained how the defenses of Winterfell were heavily fortified. (via growth).

They also agreed with journalist Alex Ward that Sending out the Dathraki first is completely unfair. Vox published extensive discussion about how the experts will have arranged defense, cavalry and air support (dragons), but they admitted that sending both available dragons after the Night King is a smart move. This analysis shows how many fantasy elements translate into real military assets and can be utilized accordingly. However, with a show like Game of ThronesThe writers do not consider this level of accuracy to be necessary – unless it is something like the Dothraki charge, which even a non-expert observer calls ill-advised.

Source: Invicta, Inside, The History Press, wired, growth