The 40 most popular war & politics TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
2005
country: United States
The command center for breaking news, politics and extraordinary reports from around the world. Patterned after the concept of the White House Situation Room, CNN's lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer hosts newsmakers and experts to discuss and analyze the stories that are driving today's news.


Lioness
2023
country: United States
Cruz Manuelos, a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine, is recruited to join the CIA's Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program, is tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives.


My Dearest
2023
country: South Korea
A love-story between a noblewoman and a mysterious man who shows up in her hometown set in the 1600s during the Qing invasion.


Fauda
2015
country: Israel
A top Israeli agent comes out of retirement to hunt for a Palestinian militant he thought he'd killed, setting a chaotic chain of events into motion.


Vikings
2013
country: Canada
The adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok, the greatest hero of his age. The series tells the sagas of Ragnar's band of Viking brothers and his family, as he rises to become King of the Viking tribes. As well as being a fearless warrior, Ragnar embodies the Norse traditions of devotion to the gods. Legend has it that he was a direct descendant of Odin, the god of war and warriors.


SEAL Team
2017
country: United States
Military drama following the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask of them.


Homeland
2011
country: United States
CIA officer Carrie Mathison is tops in her field despite being bipolar, which makes her volatile and unpredictable. With the help of her long-time mentor Saul Berenson, Carrie fearlessly risks everything, including her personal well-being and even sanity, at every turn.


Democracy Now!
2001
country: United States
A United States daily progressive, nonprofit, independently syndicated program of news, analysis, and opinion.


L.A. Law
1986
country: United States
L.A. Law is an American television legal drama series that ran for eight seasons on NBC from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it contained many of Bochco's trademark features including a large number of parallel storylines, social drama and off-the-wall humor. It reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s, and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot-topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights, homophobia, sexual harassment, AIDS, and domestic violence. The series often also reflected social tensions between the wealthy senior lawyer protagonists and their less well-paid junior staff. The show was popular with audiences and critics, and won 15 Emmy Awards throughout its run, four of which were for Outstanding Drama Series.


Kuruluş Osman
2019
country: Turkey
The epic continuation of Diriliş Ertuğrul, Kuruluş Osman follows Osman Bey — son of Ertuğrul and destined founder of the Ottoman Empire — as he transforms a small Turkic tribe into a sovereign state. Battling the Byzantine Empire, Mongol forces and treachery from within, Osman must prove himself as both a warrior and a leader. A sweeping historical action drama built on faith, honour and the birth of one of history's greatest empires.


M*A*S*H
1972
country: United States
The 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital is stuck in the middle of the Korean war. With little help from the circumstances they find themselves in, they are forced to make their own fun. Fond of practical jokes and revenge, the doctors, nurses, administrators, and soldiers often find ways of making wartime life bearable.


Combat!
1962
country: United States
Combat! is an American television program that originally aired on ABC from 1962 until 1967. The show covered the grim lives of a squad of American soldiers fighting the Germans in France during World War II. The program starred Rick Jason as platoon leader Second Lieutenant Gil Hanley and Vic Morrow as Sergeant "Chip" Saunders.


For All Mankind
2019
country: United States
Explore an aspirational world where NASA and the space program remained a priority and a focal point of our hopes and dreams as told through the lives of NASA astronauts, engineers, and their families.


The Young Turks
N/A
country: United States
Online American liberal/progressive political and social commentary program hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian


Hogan's Heroes
1965
country: United States
From a German prisoner of war camp during World War II, Colonel Robert E. Hogan coordinates an international crew of Allied prisoners running a Special Operations group.


Madam Secretary
2014
country: United States
After years away from the CIA, Elizabeth McCord is pulled back into the political arena. The newly appointed Secretary of State is tough, fair, and smart, driving international diplomacy, wrangling office politics, and circumventing protocol as she negotiates global and domestic issues, both at the White House and at home.


Has Fallen
2024
country: France
A protection officer and an MI6 operative team up after a terrorist attack. They suspect a mole as they race to thwart a larger conspiracy threatening Paris.


Capitol
1982
country: United States
Capitol is an American soap opera which aired on CBS from March 29, 1982 to March 20, 1987 for 1,270 episodes. As its name suggests, the storyline usually revolves around the political intrigues of people whose lives intertwined in Washington, D.C.


Band of Brothers
2001
country: United States
Drawn from interviews with survivors of Easy Company, as well as their journals and letters, Band of Brothers chronicles the experiences of these men from paratrooper training in Georgia through the end of the war. As an elite rifle company parachuting into Normandy early on D-Day morning, participants in the Battle of the Bulge, and witness to the horrors of war, the men of Easy knew extraordinary bravery and extraordinary fear - and became the stuff of legend. Based on Stephen E. Ambrose's acclaimed book of the same name.


The Shadow Team
2021
country: Turkey
A team of elite agents within Turkey's National Intelligence Organisation are recruited for covert operations — on the condition that the outside world believes they are dead. Led by veteran officer Mete Bey, the shadow team carries out high-stakes missions at home and abroad, battling terrorist networks and foreign threats to national security. Drawn from real events, it's Turkey's answer to the spy thriller genre — patriotic, action-packed and relentlessly tense.


World War Two
2018
country: United States
Follow the deadliest conflict in human history in real time, week by week, blow by blow.


The Last Kingdom
2015
country: United Kingdom
A show of heroic deeds and epic battles with a thematic depth that embraces politics, religion, warfare, courage, love, loyalty and our universal search for identity. Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the story of how a people combined their strength under one of the most iconic kings of history in order to reclaim their land for themselves and build a place they call home.


Veep
2012
country: United States
A look into American politics, revolving around former Senator Selina Meyer who finds being Vice President of the United States is nothing like she expected and everything everyone ever warned her about.


Shōgun
2024
country: United States
In Japan in the year 1600, at the dawn of a century-defining civil war, Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village.


Valley of the Wolves: Ambush
2007
country: Turkey
A continuation series of Osman Sinav's The Wolves Of The Valley. This produce focuses on politics, National Security and Regional Middle East problems. The Wolves of The Valley: Ambush serie also attracts attention by two film; The Wolves of The Valley: Iraq and The Wolves of The Valley: Palestine.


Joy of Life
2019
country: China
Zhang Qing, a present-day college student in culture and history major wants to study in professor Ye's postgraduate class, so he decides to write a historical fiction to elaborate his perspective of analyzing ancient literature history with modern concept. In the fiction, Zhang himself acts as a young man Fan Xian with mysterious life who lives in a remote seaside town of Kingdom Qing in his childhood, under the help of a mysterious mentor and a blindfolded watchman. Fan goes to the capital when he grows up, where he experiences plenty of ordeal and temper. Fan persists in adhering the rule of justice and goodness and lives his own glorious life.


History of the World
2020
country: Australia
It's about human history, how humans shaped the world we live in. A history through cultures and civilizations - from early Mesopotamia to the industrial revolution. Documentary series from various european production company’s like BBC, SVT, NRK, DR, ARTE, Covering serveral topics of war, Persons Like Cleopatra, Hitler, George Washington, etc


Designated Survivor
2016
country: United States
Tom Kirkman, a low-level cabinet member is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession.


Queen of Jhansi
2009
country: India
Ek Veer Stree Ki Kahaani... Jhansi Ki Rani is an Indian historical drama based on the life of Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of Jhansi, one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The series was directed by Jitendra Srivastava and written by Rajesh Saksham, Ila Dutta Bedi, Malavika Asthana and Mairaj Zaidi. It premiered on 18 August 2009 on Zee TV with Ulka Gupta playing Queen Lakshmi Bai. On 8 June 2010 the story moved on several years and Kratika Sengar portrayed the Queen from there on. The show's last episode went to air on 19 June 2011.


Vikings: Valhalla
2022
country: United States
In this sequel to "Vikings," a hundred years have passed and a new generation of legendary heroes arises to forge its own destiny — and make history.


Foyle's War
2002
country: United Kingdom
As WW2 rages around the world, DCS Foyle fights his own war on the home-front as he investigates crimes on the south coast of England. Foyle's War opens in southern England in the year 1940. Later series sees the retired detective working as an MI5 agent operating in the aftermath of the war.


Valley of the Wolves
2003
country: Turkey
One of Turkey's most iconic and influential dramas, Valley of the Wolves follows Polat Alemdar, an undercover agent who infiltrates Istanbul's most dangerous crime organisation after years of preparation. Combining organised crime, covert operations and sharp political commentary, the series fearlessly tackles Turkey's shadowy relationship between the state, the mafia and power — and became a cultural phenomenon that spawned multiple films and spin-offs.


Pursuit of Jade
2026
country: China
This drama follows Fan Changyu, a butcher’s daughter, and Xie Zheng, a fallen noble seeking revenge. Their fake marriage turns into true love, but war tears them apart. Determined, Fan Changyu wields her butcher’s knife on the battlefield, searching for justice and her husband. Meanwhile, Xie Zheng reclaims his title, fighting to protect his country and love. Reunited in battle, they stand together, defying fate, uncovering the truth, and returning home without forgetting their vows.


Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
2002
country: Japan
Cosmic Era 71. Mankind has developed into two subspecies: Naturals, who reside on Earth, and Coordinators, genetically enhanced humans capable of withstanding the rigors of space who inhabit orbital colonies known as PLANTs. The story revolves around a young Coordinator named Kira Yamato, who becomes involved in the war between the two races after a neutral space colony secretly developing mobile suits for the Earth Alliance is attacked by the PLANTs' military force, ZAFT.


Mehmed: Sultan of Conquests
2024
country: Turkey
The epic story of Mehmed II — the young Ottoman prince who defied palace enemies, survived treachery and deposition, and returned to fulfil his life's dream: the conquest of Constantinople. Spanning his rise from a doubted heir to one of history's most consequential rulers, the series unfolds across palace intrigue, battlefield warfare and a psychological chess match between two great empires. Praised as the finest Turkish historical series in years — cinematic, fast-paced and historically grounded.


Saga of Tanya the Evil
2017
country: Japan
On the front lines of the war, Tanya Degurechaff, blond hair, blue eyes, and porcelain white skin, commands her squad with lisping voice. Actually, she is one of Japan's most elite salary men, reborn as a little girl into a world of magical warfare after angering a mysterious being who calls himself God.


Washington Week with The Atlantic
1967
country: United States
Journalists participate in a round-table discussion of news events in this award-winning public affairs series. It first aired in 1967, making it the longest-running prime-time news and public affairs program on television.


Tour of Duty
1987
country: United States
The trials of a U.S. Army platoon serving in the field during the Vietnam War.


Sengoku BASARA: Samurai Kings
2009
country: Japan
During the Sengoku period, there are many factions constantly at war. One of these is led by a one-eyed man named Date Masamune and another by the imposing Takeda Shingen. The latter has a fiercely loyal subordinate named Sanada Yukimura who goes head to head against Date Masamune multiple times, but the battles between them tend to get interrupted. One such battle occurs when both men try to go after another leader named Imagawa, and they’re forced to break off their heated duel when Imagawa attempts to flee the scene with his body doubles. Yukimura and Masamune go after separate Imagawas, but all of the doubles are killed by a third party, and when their paths cross again, they are in front of the menacing Oda Nobunaga and his army. It was Nobunaga’s subordinates that killed those body doubles, and Nobunaga himself proceeds to kill the real Imagawa with a shotgun blast to the head.


86 EIGHTY-SIX
2021
country: Japan
Called “Juggernaut,” these are the unmanned combat drones developed by the Republic of San Magnolia in answer to the attacks by the autonomous unmanned drones of the neighboring Empire of Giad, the “Legion”. But they’re only unmanned in name. In reality, they are piloted by the Eighty-sixers—those considered to be less than human and treated as mere tools. Determined to achieve his own mysterious ends, Shin, the captain of Spearhead Squadron, which is comprised of Eighty-sixers, continues to fight a hopeless war on a battlefield where only death awaits him.
War and political series use serial length to show process: campaigns, negotiations, and institutions grinding forward. The genre works best when it's interested in systems rather than just speeches.