Band of Brothers was released in 2001 (Image: HBO)
Band of Brothers has long been rated among the best war-based TV shows of all time, and despite its continued praise, one period drama buff has disagreed. The history fan proudly proclaimed Netflix’s hit series The Barbarians as “better.” The hit war drama follows the gruelling Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D., when the Roman Empire clashed with the rebellious Germanic tribes led by chieftain Arminius. Throughout the episodes, the leader (played by Laurence Rapp) is torn between the mighty empire that raised him and his own tribal people, leading to the epic historical clash.
The Barbarian scored massive inter<a href="https://comicvibe.com/national-sports-day-2026-targets-over-5-3m-participants/” title=”National Sports Day 2026 targets over 5.3m participants”>national success after hitting screens, earning a 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, praised for its epic action, Latin and German authenticity, and for challenging the traditional Roman-centric narrative. It was also hailed in the US and quickly became Netflix’s top-watched show, outperforming major hits like Money Heist and Dark.
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Barbarians premiered on Netflix in 2020 (Image: Netflix)
Sharing their reaction, one fan wrote: “I really enjoyed this series, depicting an historical event I knew nothing about. I loved the costumes, the sets, the authentic-sounding accents (Latin and German) and the story of Arminius and how his childhood shaped him.”
“I have just finished the whole episodes at once … mind-blowing plot as well as amazing acting and performance of the whole cast. Definitely is well-paid time to be spent on this mini TV show,” another added.
A third praised: “The series has an outstanding story, and the first episode put me straight into a trance. The characters are also good with a good cast, hope more comes. I love it!”
“Absolute masterpiece. Great acting, authentic costumes, and historically very precise. The Romans spoke Latin. This is an example of what a historical series should look like,” echoed another.
The Barbarians is based on the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (Image: Netflix)
A thrilled fan reviewed: “First season is incredible, it’s historically accurate, the story is powerful, acting and cast are amazing. Their use of Latin and German is just something I never saw before. Just incredible. I love this better than Band of Brothers.”
As a sixth gushed: “Incredible historical accuracy, well-written and fresh storyline, and excellent production quality. I don’t speak German, but even the dubbed-in voice actors did a really immersive job. 10/10, would absolutely recommend!”
In a major blow for fans, Netflix quietly axed The Barbarians without a third season, leaving the major cliffhanger ending in season two unresolved.
After cast members and the production studio confirmed that the series will not be picked up for a third instalment, disappointed viewers have created ongoing campaigns, such as the Save the Barbarians Petition, to urge the streaming platform to reconsider.
