Ultimate Force

This covert combat series focuses on the Red Troop, an elite group of soldiers from the British military's Special Air Service group.

Ultimate Force (2002-2008) is a British military action series created by Chris Ryan and Rob Heyland for ITV1. Centered on the Red Troop, an elite unit drawn from the Special Air Service, the show follows soldiers led by Aidan Dempsey (Miles Anderson), with Henry Garvie (Ross Kemp) and Jamie Dow (Jamie Draven) among the men at the heart of its missions. Each episode is built around a covert combat operation, with the team infiltrating hostile territory, facing sudden danger, and relying on tight discipline and loyalty to finish the job. The series runs across four seasons and twenty-one episodes of roughly seventy minutes each, unfolding as a serialized military drama with recurring characters and escalating stakes. Its tone is tense, gritty and physical, with a focus on the strain of combat and the bonds formed under pressure. Set in contemporary Britain and the world beyond it, it appeals to viewers who enjoy grounded war stories and the pared-down realism of special forces operations, and fans of Spooks, Band of Brothers and 24 will find a similar appetite for high-stakes, team-driven action.

• Spooksshared military action tone, special forces covert operations, British ensemble combat drama
• Band of Brothersshared special forces team focus and gritty combat action
• 24shared covert operations, elite soldier team, action-driven serialized format

Created by

Chris Ryan, Rob Heyland

Release Date

2002-09-16

Episode runtime

70 min

Rating

7.5 / 10 (22)

What is Ultimate Force about?

An elite British SAS unit, the Red Troop, is sent on dangerous covert combat missions.

What is Ultimate Force like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ultimate Force as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.

Is Ultimate Force violent?

Yes. Ember rates the violence in Ultimate Force as brutal.

Which shows are like Ultimate Force?

Shows with a similar feel include Spooks, Band of Brothers, and 24.

How long is Ultimate Force?

Ultimate Force: 4 seasons, 21 episodes.

Is Ultimate Force still running?

No, Ultimate Force has ended.