# The Long Road Home (2017)

> A seven-episode dramatization of the 2004 Black Sunday ambush in Sadr City, following soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division fighting for survival.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/63726

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 7
- Episode runtime: 47 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: war, drama
- Created by: Mikko Alanne
- Network: National Geographic
- Cast: Michael Kelly, E.J. Bonilla, Noel Fisher, Darius Homayoun, Jon Beavers, Franklin Silverio, Ezekiel Z. Swinford, Joey Luthman
- TMDB rating: 7.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210820/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: brutal
- Tone: grim, intense, sobering, gritty, emotionally weighty

## What critics say

Audience reception is positive, with viewers appreciating the war drama's depiction of a fierce ambush although the single season earned a modest rating.

## Synopsis

The Long Road Home (2017) is a US National Geographic limited series created by Mikko Alanne, a seven-episode war drama dramatizing the 1st Cavalry Division ambush known as Black Sunday in Sadr City, Baghdad. Michael Kelly plays Lt. Col. Gary Volesky, a commander trying to keep his scattered soldiers alive, while E.J. Bonilla plays Lt. Shane Aguero and Noel Fisher plays Pvt Tomas Young, all caught in the same sprawling fight. The engine of the story is the desperate struggle to reach trapped men through streets lined with insurgents, with each episode built from firefights, convoys under attack, and improvised rescues. Set in 2004 Iraq, the show moves with grounded urgency and a gritty, sweltering atmosphere, its tone sober and emotionally weighty rather than triumphal. Viewers who loved Black Hawk Down, Band of Brothers and Generation Kill will find the same mix of true-event military grit and soldier camaraderie. Its brief run and unflinching focus make it a focused, intense viewing experience for anyone drawn to Iraq war drama.

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