Connor Swindells plays David Stirling in SAS Rogue Heroes, the BBC One series that dramatizes the founding of the SAS during World War Two. Steven Knight created the show, which premiered in October 2022 and ran for two seasons across 12 episodes, ending in January 2025. The series follows Stirling’s vision for a commando unit operating behind enemy lines in the desert and later in Europe, drawing on Ben Macintyre’s 2016 book of the same name.
Trailer, via BBC.
The Cairo Hospital Origin
The show opens in a Cairo hospital in 1941. After a failed training exercise, Stirling has the idea of creating a special unit that can operate deep behind enemy lines. That origin story sets the tone for the entire series: a man with an idea, a hospital bed, and a war that refuses to wait for him.
Swindells carries the weight of that origin. He plays Stirling as driven, stubborn, and unyielding, the kind of leader who convinces others through sheer force of will rather than rank. The show trusts the audience to follow his thought process, and Swindells delivers it with a quiet intensity that keeps the premise grounded even as the scale grows.
“After a failed training exercise, British Army officer David Stirling has the idea of creating a special commando unit.”
Paddy Mayne and the Commando Unit
Jack O’Connell plays Paddy Mayne, a fellow officer who joins Stirling’s nascent unit. Their partnership forms the heart of the first season, with Mayne providing the tactical brilliance that Stirling lacks. Together they build a team that operates outside conventional military structures, a group of men willing to accept casualties in exchange for missions that matter.
The chemistry between Swindells and O’Connell drives the early episodes. Their arguments feel earned, not manufactured for spectacle. The show understands that the SAS was built on friction as much as on shared purpose, and it captures both sides of that tension.
Eve Mansour and the Women Behind the War
Sofia Boutella plays Eve Mansour, a character who adds depth beyond the standard wartime romance. Her presence grounds the series in human terms, reminding viewers that this war touched families and communities as much as battlefields. Boutella brings a warmth to the role that cuts through the action sequences, making her scenes some of the most memorable of the series.
The Second Season Shift
The second season shifts focus to the SAS’s operations in the European theatre of war. The stakes change, and so does the scope of the storytelling. The show broadens its canvas while holding onto the intimate character work that defined the first season.
The new locations and new enemies keep the series fresh, even as the central idea remains unchanged. Stirling’s methods have consequences, and the second season explores those consequences with a maturity that matches the scale of the conflict.
A Renewal Confirmed
In September 2025, the show was renewed for a third series. That renewal confirms the appetite for this story, and it suggests that Knight and his team have more ground to cover.
The renewal is notable because it extends a historical drama beyond its established timeline. The SAS’s history is rich enough to support further seasons, and the show has proven its ability to balance spectacle with character. Whether the third season lives up to the promise of the first two remains to be seen, but the renewal itself speaks to the strength of the foundation laid by Knight and his cast.
What Works and What Falls Short
The show is at its best when it stays close to the characters. Swindells, O’Connell, and Boutella anchor the series with performances that hold up under the strain of its ambitious plotting. When the camera lingers on their faces during tense conversations, the show feels alive.
Where the series stumbles is in its handling of the larger war. The second season tries to capture the sweep of the European campaign, and it occasionally loses focus on individual stories in favor of grand set pieces. The result is a finale that feels less personal than the beginning of the series, though it still delivers on its promises.
The Final Verdict
SAS Rogue Heroes is a solid historical drama that respects its source material while finding room for dramatic invention. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. The story of the SAS’s founding is compelling enough on its own, and Knight’s direction keeps the pacing tight and the stakes high.
The show earns its 7.8 out of 10 score. It’s a worthwhile watch for anyone interested in World War Two history, military drama, or strong ensemble acting. The first season is the strongest, but the second holds its own and sets the stage for the promised third season.
The show’s renewal is a vote of confidence in the material, and it’s a vote of confidence in the cast’s ability to carry it. Swindells and O’Connell have already proven themselves capable of carrying a major series, and Boutella has shown she can hold her own alongside them.
For now, the story ends with Stirling and his unit facing a war that shows no signs of letting up. The third season will determine whether the legacy of the SAS can survive the telling.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
