This series was beyond amazing. Words cannot even describe how perfect this series was! I am so disappointed that it didn't go beyond the first season. Believe me, I'm not the only one who wishes they'd continue this show. I admit, I was skeptical to watch it at first but after the first episode, I was hooked! And being all motivated for my own branch (the Marine Corps) I was more hesitant to watch some "hooah" series. But it freaking blew my mind! Amazing!!! And I'm sure I'm not the only one who fell for "SSG Scream". ;) The writers couldn't have been more accurate when they were looking in on how the military actually is, or how it effects families. The "Iraq" setting looked nothing like Iraq, but the action that goes on over there (no pun intended)...they nailed it! I will recommend this show to anyone that asks about it. I love this series THAT much! And believe me, I'll keep watching the first series...it never gets old!

Fifty years from now, when television historians look back on this era, they will shake their heads in disbelief that a program as masterfully crafted as OVER THERE could not survive more than 13 episodes.A product of the FX network, OVER THERE followed the lives of a diverse group of American soldiers on their first tour in Iraq. Chronological storytelling was used to perfection as viewers are with them from the moment they board the plane en route to their frightening new reality. We share their horror and shock when innocent civilians are mistakenly struck, when roadside bombs obliterate limbs, and when the best of intentions produce the most dreadful of results. On a more personal level, we see them contend not only with bullets and bombs overseas, but with adultery and family tragedy back home. We see Iraq not through a political lens, but through the eyes of those fighting for survival every single day.None of the effectiveness of OVER THERE could have been achieved without the right cast. Producers deserve a lot of credit for this ensemble, led by Luke MacFarlane (Pte. Frank "Dim" Dumphy), Erik Palladino (Sgt. Chris "Sgt. Scream" Silas), Keith Robinson (Pte. Avery "Angel" King) and a surprisingly good Kirk "Sticky" Jones (Maurice "Smoke" Williams). Adding a female perspective are Lizette Carrion (Pfc. Esmerelda "Double Wide" Del Rio) and Nicki Aycox (Brenda "Mrs. B" Mitchell). These soldiers are all too complex and human. Dim is a college man shell-shocked by the carnage before him. Angel is a man of strong faith who signed up out of anger. Sgt. Scream drops hints he wants out of the army but has nothing to go back to. The interaction between such distinct personalities is one of the series' strongest assets.For a show that was with us for so short of a period, OVER THERE certainly did not lack memorable moments. There are ethical dilemmas, such as when the soldiers find a stash of money that one of their own could desperately use back home. There are inspirational times, like when a soldier who lost his leg in an explosion valiantly continues with his life. Cultural barriers, media manipulation, and challenges in training Iraqi soldiers were among the many other topics covered.One of the biggest criticisms of OVER THERE was that it never took a stance on such a contentious conflict. Few seemed to understand that this was part of its genius. Rather than get locked into a political debate, the show sought merely to present the war as it is. Whether the numbing violence we see is worth it or not is up to us. Indeed both sides of the war could study this program and use it to back up their point of view. You will be entertained regardless of your position.In the end, OVER THERE was canceled because not enough people appreciated it. It's been said that the public may not have been ready for such a faithful adaptation of an ongoing conflict, with men and women still dying each and every day. That is understandable, but it doesn't necessarily make the loss of such a brilliant piece of work any easier to take.

Interesting that various people have seen this as either right or left wing propaganda, and that some see it as portraying the troops as idiots or wimps while others see it as honoring them. That indicates that some people are seeing their own biases more than what's actually on the screen. The more pre-set their views, the less they appear to like this program.I'm a retired Marine - served 20 years, enlisted and officer, a lot of it in the infantry and related fields - and I think this is more realistic in its portrayal of the atmosphere and interactions than 90% of films about the military. I dealt with some Sgt. Screams and Lt. Mad Cows in my time, and those characters are believable. The troops strike about the right balance of smarts and immaturity, newbie awkwardness and trained-in automatic competence, for kids new to combat.This program deserves a wider audience and more seasons.

I don't think I've seen a series on television that I have related to better then "Over There." Of the 13 episodes that were released I think that I cried through parts of at least 1/2 of them, and I assure you i'm not easily moved by television shows. Each episode contained something that reminded me of friends I have either serving in Iraq or who have served. There are some inaccuracies in the film when comparing it to what is going on "Over there" but for a fictional series about Iraq I was very pleased with how it was written and acted. Many details were included such as soldiers handing out candy to the children, which was something a friend of mine, who is an Infantry SGT. told me of when he got home from serving. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this series along with low rating that has caused it to be cancelled. This I feel is a major pity. People seem to want to avoid thinking about what happens to soldiers when they serve in Iraq, it's easier to not think about it and criticize the troops who are fighting. A series like this forces us to think about the situation by making soldiers "real," by making a war that is across the world "real" to us.We need a series like this one to make us aware of the horrors these men and women face everyday to protect us. This series with interesting plots tackling many situation situations is excellent. The actors were all amazing, allowing us to see the diverse personalities of those men and women who serve, because of their good acting. Some characters you come to hate while others you grow to love, but the main thing is you grow to want to know how they're stories end. It's unfortunate we'll never know....