The Vietnam War

:

Season 1
  • Network: PBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 17, 2017
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 58 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 58
  3. Negative: 7 out of 58
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User Reviews

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  1. ThankingVietVet
    Oct 20, 2017
    4
    I am a Vietnamese refugee, coming over in 1975. I've recently devoted my husband's and my time and efforts to honoring the Vietnam vets in our area.

    This was the 1st time we had seen any documentary by Ken Burns, and it was obvious why he’s so revered, since he is a masterful storyteller. The series had been advertised as one that would show all sides of the war. We were really looking    I am a Vietnamese refugee, coming over in 1975. I've recently devoted my husband's and my time and efforts to honoring the Vietnam vets in our area.

    This was the 1st time we had seen any documentary by Ken Burns, and it was obvious why he’s so revered, since he is a masterful storyteller. The series had been advertised as one that would show all sides of the war. We were really looking forward to a documentary that would be fair to all sides. This is where things went wrong, because our expectations were in one place, and the reality of the series was in a very different place. That space in between is where our disappointment lay.

    Generally speaking, the series started off with romanticizing Ho Chi Minh, nearly canonizing him, when this was far from the truth of the type of man he was. The Communist fighters were also exalted, while the US and ARVN military units were made to look like bumbling fools most of the time. Our takeaway from the series was that the creators felt there shouldn’t have been any US interference in Vietnam, that HCM just wanted to liberate and unify his beloved country, and that US involvement just resulted in lots of unnecessary deaths overseas and strife at home. What the series didn’t say, however, is that HCM wanted to unify Vietnam, but under his control (or Communist control), and didn’t care if he killed every last Vietnamese person doing it.

    After many frustrating hours of watching episodes 1 through 9, we also had high hopes for the series to wrap up on an intense note for episode 10. Unfortunately, we didn’t even get that from the final episode. We compared it to a recent unsatisfactory meal, where we had eaten a bowl of rice that had no flavor to it, that made us feel really full, but not satiated, so therefore, empty, at the same time.

    In spite of this, we are very grateful for this series generating more awareness about the war and about the mistreatment of its veterans during and afterwards. This has allowed many good conversations to be had, and we hope they continue.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best TV Season of 2017
98
#98 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Sep 29, 2017
    90
    Hour for hour, it’s one of the best things I’ve seen on TV this year--but because it frequently comes so close to becoming not just impressive but important, challenging, even agenda-setting. But it never quite pushes itself over that line.
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  2. Cleveland Plain Dealer
    Reviewed by: Mark Dawidziak
    Sep 18, 2017
    100
    Time and again, over a span of more than 35 years, we find Burns constructing bridges that insightfully and profoundly link Americans with their history. Nowhere has that been more powerfully true than in the 18 hours of his stunningly realized, intricately detailed 10-part film, The Vietnam War.
    Read full review
  3. Salon
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Sep 18, 2017
    100
    All of it folds together into an immersive and wrenching creation that left me genuinely curious as to whether viewers will have the stamina to spend several nights in a row with the series. Certainly watching The Vietnam War is one of the most worthwhile ways to spend time with your television this fall. Just as certainly, committing to doing so will wear a person out.
    Read full review
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