Waco

This mini-series is quite intriguing.

At the very beginning, the scene of the BATF raid bears a very close resemblance to video and photos of the historical incident.

Taylor Kitsch does a very good job in portrayal of Koresh, based on videos of Koresh. Much of the first episode is very well filmed. The two books it is based on, by different men with different perspectives could well be worth reading. The book The Davidian Massacre, by Carol Moore is a good source of information.

As a nitpicker, I could pick on a few issues. While the BATF originally entrapped Randy Weaver in order to blackmail him to become an informant, it was the US Marshals that killed his son, lied to cover it up. The actor that portrays Randy Weaver does not resemble Randy Weaver. Weaver's talks with Col. Bo Gritz, and Officer Jack Mc Lamb went on for quite a while, and eventually did lead to his surrender, and his vindication in court.

This mini-series would also be improved if it provided more background of the Branch Davidian, possibly in flash-backs.

Telling this story in the form of a mini-series is interesting. Viewers can watch one episode, then research the story on their own, and discuss it with others, and then watch the next episode.

I would urge viewers to do that, rather than paying attention to the politically correct trolls. Good people of all political persuasions and religious beliefs agree that law enforcement officers should be required to follow the law, and never be given a free pass if they murder citizens.

An amazing drama with great performances all around. As the title of my review implies, the tragedy comes down to stubbornness on both sides of this conflict. While the Branch Davidians are depicted more sympathetically than I expected, including David Koresh, he is still shown as uncompromising on certain issues despite the cost to his people and his followers as unable to break with him when it is in their best interest. And he is matched by those in charge of the ATF and FBI forces, who are smarting from the initial failed attempt to arrest Koresh and perhaps seeking revenge for the ATF men who died. Gary Noesner is the FBI negotiator who is trying to find a way to save lives. Even if you followed this story as it unfolded in the news, you will learn some things. And yet this dramatization does not neatly tie up all the loose ends and answer all the questions, leaving the viewer with much to ponder.

For anyone that was not alive in 1993, or living under a rock, this miniseries takes a look, from all sides, at the standoff in Waco Texas, led by the FBI and ATF versus one David Koresh. Fearing the amount of guns being hoarded at the retreat occupied by the religious group, the ATF tries to serve a warrant that turns into a firefight and a 51 day stand-off.

This series explores these event from both side, told by the survivors, from both sides. I do not know where other reviewers on here can substantiate the claims that this is factually inaccurate, given that the information comes from those that lived. Surely there is the typical embellishment that is typical for anything that is produced by Hollywood, you know, to amp up the drama. This does raise a lot of good questions though. Does the government go too far some times? I think we can all agree to this. Who actually shot first? Who or what started the fire?

I feel it was necessary to end the conflict, as it did stretch on for almost two months, but was it ended in the best manor? This with some other questions will never be answered, I am sure. The real tragedy here is that 25 children died, and these are wholly innocent lives. They did not choose to be there and it is beyond sad that this had happened to them. As for the reviewer that said they all deserved to die, who are you to judge? Children never deserve death.

All I can say is WOW. Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch are incredible in their roles as an FBI agent and cult leader. Although you don't want to root for Kitsch's character, you can't help but be drawn in by his outstanding deliverance from David's vision of the bible. Michael Shannon portrays his character in an exact delivery on an apposite side of what David believed, but has a severe sense of conflict with the FBI that he shows in his alone time.

If this initial episode is just the fire cracker of what we all know is to come, I cannot wait for the following episodes.

Every actor in this is incredible. The resemblance of Koresh to Kitsch is uncanny, even the voice. This man has many movies in his future, his acting is superb and the screen loves him. This movie seems pretty accurate so far, and it really delves into the human side of every single person involved. It is almost if there are multiple protagonists - the children, Koresh, the FBI negotiator who clearly wanted to end this with no violence, and the lost souls whom we only slowly get to know. There are no dull moments. I am loving this series so far....