First - the criticism. This show come with a side-order of outright FICTION. It has all the bad tropes -- the star is 10 years younger than the real Sam Adams was at that time; General Gage was not a total despot; and there are other historical inaccuracies that I had to correct with my kids as we watched.That being said, as a miniseries, we all sat down and enjoyed this show as a family immensely ... it's been a long time since we were able to drag the kids off their electronic devices. Given how freaking BORING most egg-headed academic historians make history, paired with what seems to be a systematic eradication and villification of history in the public school and university system as well as a removal of our flag and our national symbols, we've been grasping at ANYTHING that will get the kids interested enough to even care.Setting aside the historical innacuracies, as a trilogy of movies we enjoyed this immensely. Great acting, a lot of action, accurate attention to detail insofar as how colonial people lived and what the city looked like, and great special effects. As a history lesson for the kids, for the first time ... ever ... they're beginning to look forward to our upcoming trip to Liberty Hall, Valley Forge, and Gettysburg this summer. And even in a short period of time, some of what I've been warning them about insofar as the academic / media hostility to free speech and the governments actions to eradicate the Bill of Rights all of a sudden began to "click."Now we're off to watch "Last of the Mohicans" (French & Indian War), "The Patriot (American Revolution), and "TURN: Washington's Spies." As history set pieces, all three are deeply flawed, but after watching "Sons of Liberty," now they're interested enough to CARE. Which is the first step in teaching history.

I'm pleased that someone has finally captured the character of Sam Adams, as the "Assassin's Creed" style ninja and impoverished pub-keeper he truly was - not the rich middle-aged brewer I mis-remembered from supposed history books. And John Adams, his wise, established older cousin. I was so surprised to hear that John was older after having read the fictional account in David McCullough's novel "John Adams". Silly David. Though I must confess, I love your voice-overs on Ken Burns' fictional movies about America! Imagine the chilling frisson of historical recognition as you hear Benjamin Franklin deliver his historical and immortal line to our intrepid trio of freedom-seeking Bostonians: "Come on in, just don't ransack the place". Wow. History comes alive. Totally believable. This is so believable you don't need to ever believe anything else. Bravo.

Many other reviewers have posted the obvious and willful disregard of history in the series. Sam Adams is an anachronistic, stubbly Ninja (most men in the 18th century with any pretensions of gentility shaved regularly); Paul Revere is channeling Neo from _The Matrix_; Crispus Attucks gets shot in the head when the autopsy reported two chest wounds, etc.Just as disappointing is the omission of exciting scenes from actual history. The Battle of Concord and the retreat back to Boston of the Royal Marines were high drama in actuality, but perhaps the producers and directors didn't want to, ahem, "detract" from their terrible portrayal of the Battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill. There some of the real details, such as Howe leading his troops up the hillside followed by a servant carrying a bottle of wine to toast his victory, only to be left the only unwounded man in the first rank of the assault, would have been nice. Of course, the series never differentiates between Gage and Howe, so that was perhaps too much to ask of a production that has so many, many things wrong with it.

The dramatization of the events to the start of the American Revolution, following Sam Adams.This is a let down to what the history channel could have done. It's very historical inaccurate. I mean, come on, to not even get Sam Adams' life right just seems a little far-fetched. At least "History Channel" if you are going to tell history you should get it right. I understand that our history books can be a little off, and that you can do some updating to certain historical facts but to make Sam Adams, a young hot guy who runs a tavern. Rather than a middle-aged man who helps the family business of the malt house, which isn't a tavern. Poorly done, "History Channel" poorly done. Don't watch this miniseries. www.what-to-watch.com