Every country and culture has something to be proud of, and when it comes to the ole’ US of A, here’s five series that remind us why we love ours.
For those of us in the United States, the past week has left us feeling unusually patriotic leading up to the Fourth of July. We lost the World Cup, but for a few weeks, we gained a sense of unity, a sense of pride, a reason to cling to the edge of our seat and hope.
It’s been a long time since we’ve felt like an “underdog,” and these past few weeks as we’ve watched the US soccer team fight and scramble and lose on a global stage amidst the eve of our country’s birthday, we’ve come to a realization: as a country, we do actually have a best self. A self that cheers unabashedly. A self that is worth cheering for. Moments and memories of persistence, of discovery, of daring. Moments that remind us why we’re not just proud to be American, but proud to be human.
So as you continue to cheer for Tim Howard and fire up the bbq this Fourth of July, we present five series that’ll get you in the patriotic spirit.
‘Band of Brothers’
Since premiering in 2001, HBO’s World War II miniseries has turned into an American classic. Based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose’s book, Band of Brothers follows the story of the men in “Easy” Company — the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. From their training in Atlanta, to the parachute drops on D-Day, to the liberation of concentration camps, and finally, the end of the war, we watch this company of men sacrifice for their ideals of freedom and justice, from the Medic who risks his life to save others, to Major Winters who becomes the American hero we long to believe in.
What makes the series most impactful is the recorded interviews of the surviving Easy Company veterans that prelude each episode installment. To see these men from the “Greatest Generation” now in their 70’s and 80’s recounting the choices they made and the lives they both lost and saved puts perspective on the cinematic part of the series and grounds it in reality. As the names of the veterans interviewed are finally revealed in the final episode, we find out what became of each of the men whose stories we’ve been following. The interviews candidly remind us that these men all volunteered for their job in the War, and they did so because they believed in their mission, and they wanted to be surrounded by other people with the confidence to believe in each other.
‘Sleepy Hollow’
Featuring one of network television’s most nonchalantly diverse casts, Sleepy Hollow is a series that isn’t afraid to both admit America’s faults and embrace it’s accomplishments in democracy. With a Revolutionary War soldier in their midst, the characters in Sleepy Hollow can’t help but constantly reevaluate what it means to be an American, and stooped in history AND science-fiction fantastical mystery, Sleepy Hollow asks the hard questions of its heroes while taking us on a wild, apocalyptic ride.
‘The Avengers’
Created to represent the best the United States has to offer, the Avengers are a symbol of the greatest aspects that have helped America succeed. From Iron Man, the genius inventor and entrepreneur, to immigrants like Black Widow, to Captain America, the tiny, scrappy kid who became a hero not because he was born with ability, but because he chose to become strong, we love the Avengers because they are the most aspirational versions of ourselves and our country reflected back through the lens of superhumanity. Yes, when we watch them, we know they are better than we can ever hope to be, but they present the hope that if only we illuminate our own strengths and give in to our bravery, we too can become our best selves.
‘Modern Family’
The network comedy that best represents the constantly evolving face of America, Modern Family is a sitcom that encapsulates all the best parts of celebrating the Fourth of July. A hodgepodge of different personalities and cultures, the Pritchett’s and Dunphy’s come together via their unifying values: their deep love and commitment for each other.
‘John Adams’
If you need a reason to be proud to be an American this Fourth of July, HBO’s historical miniseries based on David McCullough’s best-selling book is hard to beat. Following John Adams from the horrific Boston Massacre to the creation of the Declaration of Independence, to the formation of the Constitution, this series takes pride in all the blood, sweat and tears that built the foundations of freedom in this country, but with the pragmatic John Adams as our guide, the difficulties and politics at the formation of the union are still on full display.
As we watch John Adams interact with everyone from the cocky, flamboyant genius Franklin, to the quiet, steadfast and imposing Washington, to the seemingly flighty but brilliant wordsmith Jefferson, we are reminded that our country only exists because a group of idealistic men believed they could do what no one else was attempting at the time: rule themselves. And after watching the struggle and sacrifices they went through to make their vision a reality, the emotion behind Jefferson’s words ring true: all men are created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Our country has a history of grasping at infinity. Of reaching for the impossible with a confidence that can best be described as a mixture of stupidity and naivete and the bravery of blind faith. And once a year, we set up the barbeque, light some fire in the sky, and remind ourselves to be grateful.