World War 3 series hailed as 'terrifyingly real' as fans praise 'must see' TV
The eponymous series is simply titled World War III, and sees war break out between the Soviet Union and the United States
Viewers are buzzing about the "terrifyingly real" World War 3 mini-series, which has been hailed as a "must-see" since its original broadcast in 1982. The series features a star-studded cast including David Soul, Brian Keith, Rock Hudson, Cathy Lee Crosby, and Jeroen Krabbe.
Set in a then-futuristic 1987, it imagines a third world war erupting during a tense period of the Cold War.
Titled "World War III," the series depicts a harrowing conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States, complete with intense military drama and the impact on civilians, as a fictional president orders a media blackout during the Soviet invasion of Alaska.
The narrative drives toward a devastating finale and was even turned into a novelization just before the show aired. While it presents an eerie alternate history today, at the time, it represented a frighteningly possible future, reports the Express.
Recent reviews on IMDb, even from 2015, commend the series for its believability, with one viewer commenting: "A showdown over dwindling essential resources could be as plausible now. I have since added a hitch as a soldier, a political science degree, and three decades more experience in the real world, so I should be so much more skeptical of almost forgotten TV miniseries scripts, right? Not this one."
Another viewer described it as "chillingly credible", stating: "I can believe that this is how it would happen... the approach of the end of the world, propelled by miscalculation, obstinacy, and pride, set in motion at a half-forgotten army base and snowballing along unknown to almost everyone but a handful of foot-soldiers on the one hand and a handful of world leaders on the other."
The production was also marked by real-life tragedy. Director Boris Sagal tragically died in a helicopter accident during the early stages of production, leading to David Greene stepping in as his replacement.
Rock Hudson revealed that the series was initially left open-ended, with the potential for another season – but following Sagal's death, the ending was changed, concluding with a photo montage of people gazing up at the sky in anticipation of a dreadful finale.
