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Tour of Duty started off strong in Season 1. Season 2 brought a funk that I simply call "hookers and blow." Wherein it seems like about half of the episodes featured hookers and drug use. Season 3 starts off with the regular crew somehow being more or less "up'ed" to being part of a special operations group. They come in contact with CIA operatives who are ALL portrayed poorly as either money hungry mercs or killers that are a few sandwiches short of a picnic in their mental capacity. That would be my #1 whine about season 3. The good news is that the majority of time is back in the bush though. Not a lot of 'boom boom at Mamasauns' type scenes. Percell gets hooked on drugs and it's portrayed pretty hard, skip those episodes with the kiddos. It ends with an episode showing how hard it is for some of the regulars to integrate back into civilian life. God Bless our Veterans, that's all I can say about that.Read full review
Tour of Duty was filmed in 3 seasons. This is the final of the 3, charting the main characters final months in the war and their return home. This 5 disc set is a quality compilation with every episode from the season. I feel the quality of the actual filming lets it down slightly (no amount of digital remastering is going to improve the 80's grainyness). But the story lines are usually quite solid, and if you have an eye for equipment and historical accuracy it's pretty spot on. The action sequences are very enjoyable with just the right amount of 'Gung-ho'. They do reuse several scenes (especially of helicopters). Maybe not as ground breaking as the first and second seasons, which seem to be grittier and dealt with real issues like racism and drugs. The 3rd season tends to linger a little too long on the personal stories. It tends to lean towards the special ops and can shy away from the historical battles. I feel it misses an opportunity to be a little more based in historical fact. But then it's an action series not a documentary. At the end of this season, the surviving soldiers have to go back home and try to integrate into a society that has no sympathy. It has a way of making you understand the true cost of the Vietnam conflict. A war which Americans swept under the carpet, and because of this many young men never received the help they needed. It was a brave programme to make, a tough series to watch and an important milestone in American history. I don't think it was the shame of defeat that lingers in the mind, more the shame of a country that sent these young men to war and then disowned them. I feel the entire 3 season run should be watched by anyone who enjoys good war films, or who is interested in the history of America and how social and political pressure can change policy from a soldiers point of view. It makes you want to find out more about the conflict in general. And in my opinion that is enough recommendation in itself. It's strictly for the boys though, so don't have a night in with the wife and watch it. If you enjoyed 'Hamburger Hill' give it a watch. It'll be enough to make you look at war from a different angle. And with the state of the world at the moment, that might not be a bad thing.Read full review
This was one of the best series I have watched. It really brought the Vietnam conflict up front and made it personal for me as my father served in the Vietnam conflict. It reflects the issues that the troops faced and how they reacted to the situations they experienced. After the 3 seasons I felt as if I knew the characters and wish there were more seasons to watch. Zek is an awesome Sgt who really had his soldiers back, Lt. was a commander that in real life the military could use someone who is for the troops. Percell showed how the stress of combat can lead to additions. Just a great show....
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The final season to a great series on the troops serving in the Vietnam conflict. As a Vietnam era veteran I can appreciate the realism of the series.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Great original quality product, not a cheap knock off or pirated copy. I've had Season One and Season Two forever and this completes the set.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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