A high-octane, globe-spanning thriller with storylines ripped from today's headlines, Strike Back, Cinemax's first scripted prime-time original drama series, focuses on two members of a top-secret intelligence agency known as Section 20: Michael Stonebridge, a British sergeant on the elite counter-terrorism team, and Damien Scott, a former U.S. Delta Force operative who was discharged on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Stonebridge, Scott and the rest of Section 20 criss-cross the globe on the trail of a deadly international terrorist named Latif, who is planning a major attack involving a cache of WMD that could have global repercussions.

http://www.cinemax.com/strike-back/video/?bctid=1101095777001

Starts tonight at 10:00 PM. Definitely going to check it out with the free Cinemax weekend on Direct TV.

8/12/2011 9:02:11 AM

I thought Cinemax has had original series before they were just on really late

8/12/2011 9:11:14 AM

Yeah I was gonna say, wasn't it Hot Springs Hotel or something?

8/12/2011 9:53:54 AM

good point.

8/12/2011 10:04:30 AM

i'll DVR it but part of me wonders how good it can be and wasn't picked up by HBO, Showtime, or even Starz.

8/12/2011 11:58:33 AM

Quote :

"After HBO set the standard for original series with programs like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Wire and True Blood, the network is finally setting out to do the same for its sister channel. In the last few months, HBO has been investing some serious amounts of cash into original content designed specifically for Cinemax. This effort should work to not only bring in additional revenue, but also serve as an effective manor in which Cinemax may begin re-branding itself a “guy’s action network.” Though it’s unlikely the network will totally replace its naughty programming with original series like The Sector, Strike Back and Luc Besson’s The Transporter, Cinemax may at least be able to shed the stigma of decades known as the preeminent destination for teenage boys home alone on a Friday night."

a transporter series is in the works for 2012 as is "the sector" from tony and ridley scott.

http://screenrant.com/sector-cinemax-ridley-tony-scott-yman-108902/

i'm thinking strike back could actually be pretty cool

[Edited on August 12, 2011 at 12:12 PM. Reason : ]

8/12/2011 12:07:47 PM

well, i pay for Cinemax so i may as well get something out of it. i'll DVR this one. they show some of the most horrible movies, so maybe their saving grace can be a decent show.

8/12/2011 12:28:25 PM

I'm guessing Cinemax shows will be more action and less drama than HBO's shows.

8/12/2011 12:28:45 PM

LOL don't count on it. Alan Ball (True Blood) is developing an Amish drama for Cinemax.

8/12/2011 1:18:48 PM

Just watched this and Im hooked.

Shit was really good

Bout to watch episode 2 on maxgo

8/12/2011 11:56:06 PM

^x5, you highlighted the wrong section:

Quote :

"After HBO set the standard for original series with programs like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Wire and True Blood, the network is finally setting out to do the same for its sister channel. In the last few months, HBO has been investing some serious amounts of cash into original content designed specifically for Cinemax. This effort should work to not only bring in additional revenue, but also serve as an effective manor in which Cinemax may begin re-branding itself a “guy’s action network.” Though it’s unlikely the network will totally replace its naughty programming with original series like The Sector, Strike Back and Luc Besson’s The Transporter, Cinemax may at least be able to shed the stigma of decades known as the preeminent destination for teenage boys home alone on a Friday night."

8/13/2011 12:08:36 AM

Just as a heads up, I did a search for this and was surprised to see tonight's episode come up as S02E01. I checked out the wiki page and it looks like the episodes that are airing on Cinemax are indeed season 2 and Season one (6 episodes) has already aired last year in the UK. I'm not sure if they are necessary or even helpful to watch beforehand, but since I'm downloading it anyway, I went ahead and cued up the blu-ray rips of Season 1. Might as well start at the beginning. I wonder why Cinemax didn't show those to begin with too.

8/13/2011 3:03:27 AM

The premise of series 1 is the same as series 2. However, the characters and backdrop are completely different (series 1 in the UK, series 2 in the US).

8/13/2011 4:06:57 AM

I can get like halfway through episode 2 on on demand before uverse chokes and dies

8/13/2011 6:46:20 PM

Watched both episodes today. It's a blatant ripoff of 24 with a cowboy like figure thrown in the mix. They have even basically ripped off M from James Bond. That being said, it's highly entertaining. I will definitely be tuning in...or at least my DVR will.

8/13/2011 6:59:03 PM

i like shootouts and blood and violence. it's not a groundbreaking show by any means, but i was extremely entertained.

8/16/2011 5:42:51 PM

watching now. so far so good, bad American accents aside.

8/16/2011 8:07:08 PM

watched both episodes last night. i really appreciated how the show hit the ground running. definitely entertaining. i thought it was pretty funny how the terrorists were planning attacks on the UK...and the US.

8/17/2011 11:19:10 AM

yea its pretty much an action show where they replace all the bullshit drama of hbo series and throws in alot of sex i will be watching

8/17/2011 4:40:25 PM

24 meets Spartacus


i really liked in the opening scenes when the fleeing terrorist had already collapsed to his knees in pain before the gun was even fired. lol

8/17/2011 4:42:19 PM

first two eps are on cinemax's website and can be watched by anyone

http://www.cinemax.com/strike-back/#/strike-back/video/

8/18/2011 11:08:03 AM

i swear to god if you call him "buddy" one more time i'm going to punch cinemax in the face.

8/24/2011 8:24:34 AM

Cinemax still manages to deliver the tits even in the middle of all the action

9/24/2011 8:35:57 PM

^hahah yup

Def digging this show

9/24/2011 8:45:36 PM

i like this series. i'm glad cinemax picked it up for another season too. good cliffhanger last night.

10/15/2011 5:36:51 AM

Just finished last nights episode. I love this show, its like Spartacus in terms of the pacing, violence and nudity.

Still can't figure out who the mole is, I guess it has to be the boss right?

10/15/2011 11:49:27 AM

^So I was half right. Starting to like Sinclair and I think he will be good as the boss next season. Finale was pretty good, I liked this season. Show definitely doesn't hold back. Has anyone seen the miniseries or season 1 or whatever? Is it worth watching as far as connections to the current show? I have a feeling next season opens up with Stonebridge's wife and child being murdered, something major would have to be done to bring him back in.

10/23/2011 10:00:06 PM

^agreed

really enjoyed the series as a whole and am glad they picked it up for another season


I was bummed they killed off the colonel. I was hoping her and scott would hook up.

10/23/2011 11:52:15 PM

^Agreed, she was a milf.

10/24/2011 6:35:09 AM

The first UK season is pretty much the same as this season with different characters with John Porter being the lead.

Good finale. I'll resubscribe to Cinemax when it returns.


Still funny to me they cast an American to play a Brit and an Australian to play an American.




[Edited on October 25, 2011 at 9:30 PM. Reason : M]

10/25/2011 9:24:01 PM