User reviews

Highly recommend watching this in Hebrew with subtitles, the dubbed version doesn't do it justice. A great insight into the war especially for those of us that weren't born when it happened. Think Israeli Band of Brothers. Poignant moment when two young innocent Arab and Israeli kids meet, really illustrates the futility of war. I sense the directors really tried not to glorify the cause of either side and deserve great credit for doing so.

Let's get the negatives out of the way first.

Yes, the geek kid is extremely annoying. But his character does experience growth. So there's that. Also, the guy playing Caspi over acts as well.

As to people moaning about bad dubbing, why are you watching a dubbed version? NEVER watch dubbed versions of anything. On Netflix, in particular, every show that is dubbed is awful. Great shows like "Money Heist" and "Babylon Berlin" sound like high school productions if you watch them dubbed. And, yes, there is both a dubbed version and an original language version available of "Valley of Tears" on HBO Max. So, stop complaining if you're not watching with subtitles.

But, all that aside, this is a pretty mesmerizing show. It really sucks you into the moment in time. Many of the details are accurate depictions of the chaos and noise, fear and horror of war. No, not everyone marches into battle like John Wayne or leads troops expertly like George Patton. I appreciate the reality of it all. Together with "1917," these are two of the best anti-war films in a long time. And, yes, pretty much all war films are anti-war films.

This series is very well done from the point of realism. One certainly gets the feel of being in battle with people fighting for their very right to exist. The war was hard on all sides and resulted in loss of life. The personal stories are very dramatic. Bear in mind however that this is a soap opera so be prepared for very melodramatic and "soapy" dialog! The worst thing one could say about the series would be the toupees used to evoke the 1970s feel really looked a bit silly. However it did not detract from the excellence of the production. It is well worth the watch and it helps if you know the back story to the war and the culture of the region. Do not under any circumstances watch the dubbed version! Watch only the original version in Hebrew and Arabic and read the subtitles!

As former tank crew member in IDF, I watched the show and at first shot I said they use real ammo no stunt can move a 90 ton tank like a shot can. Went online and found out they did use. The inside tank fighting talks is precise to the letter, the signs on each tank are precised. Cant believe they may have trained actors to use a tank because inside without any knowledge is life threatening ! Every scene is a masterpiece and down to the very detail!

Do NOT watch the dubbed version, it's terribly done.

Watch it in the original hebrew with english subtitles.

Yes, some characters are initially whiny and crybabies but what people fail to understand is that they are intelligence soldiers who didn't have a minute of combat training and were caught in that situation.

The acting and script were on point.

The only downside for me was the political correctness: No girl was in a combat zone in the north but somehow they stuck that in the script because they just "had to", that was a pity.

Insane emphasis was put on realism when creating the series and the detailing and the realism goes down to the most minute details.

Real masterpiece

Chilled to the bone right now, This is the highest quality TV i've seen coming from Israel, well done.

Really well told drama about the Yom Kippur War on the Syrian front. A lot of the narrative elements were gossip among veterans after the war and good to see on the screen. Action filled while the plot is strong. Easy to see how Israel's leaders were heavily criticized for lack of preparation, when Israel fought for her life in yet another war.

Can't wait to see more episodes, especially about Egyptian front on the Sinai, where my dad served!

Considering the hype and the budget the end result is pretty disappointing. It is only 'ok'. It sometimes shines but mostly awkward to watch and unconvincing.

So grateful to have something decent again to watch, even if most of us know the plot is well documented. There are one or two details to which they could have paid more attention, but these should not really bother you. This was meant to be the trap that would push the state of Israel into the Sea, but it just goes to show that when people are fighting for their cilivization how much they can pull together, bury common differences and use the gifts and special circumstances prescribed to them to overturn the odds. If you insist on poking the bear, be prepared for the consequences.

This is quite an assault on our senses in all senses. The sheer horror and senselessness of young men going to war over political and religious differences. This series really captures the awful reality of average people thrown into the cauldron of horror brought on by fanatical political and religious leaders.

Such a sad sad indictment on so called humanity.

That said, it is terrifically made, acted, directed. The gritty reality is palpable. The cinematography is superb. The plot is a little ridiculous at times and the coincidental interactions absurd, but that aside.

For lovers of war, hopefully this will make you lose that love. War is awful.

This series is not. Watch it!!

I'm military and have been to the Golan, and also read my bit about the war in '73. This was a chaotic war, poorly prepared for and intelligence largely ignored. More than anything, this war showed how crucial training levels and personal initiatives are. Vastly outnumbered, no strategic depth, and horribly unprepared. It shouldn't have been possible to turn that war. The series seem to catch what I can only imagine would have been a frightening battle on the brink of the abyss.

The actors make the Israeli soldiers look like a bunch of cry babies. Which is ridiculous, the one character with the glasses is extremely annoying and is always crying. He is practically trying to get everyone killed. So annoying, I almost didn't finish it because of him alone. And then you have cheesy props, like fake browning 30 cal machine guns mounted on some of the tanks. And cgi of the the uzi and other small arms firing, they couldn't use blanks. It just takes you right out of the action.

As a former IDF member during Yom KIppur war I can attest authenticity of every detail as presented in the series that makes the whole movie captivating and emotional. It's not a Hollywood's type of sugar coated movie but the a one that only few filmmakers managed to produce mainly those that experienced real trauma. I've watched it in native hebrew language which contributed to its realism.

For me as a citizen of Ukraine - a state that is fighting against aggression of Russia right now - it's very impressive story. As well as a good illustration of the words of Golda Meir (who was born in Kyiv): "They say we must be dead. And we say we want to be alive. Between life and death, I don't know of a compromise".

Also a realistic view on the chaos of war where you can see an ordinary peaceful life with music and relaxing people in towns while there are tanks fighting just several kilometers away.

This is the most expensive TV show undertaking in Israel, ever. It shows. The locations and scenes are super-realistic.

From what I have been told the storyline is based on actual events.

This is not some rah rah propaganda film. Social issues that were going on during that time are well portrayed (for example, the Panthers).

It does not shy away from the trauma and the gore of the situation, that in the first few days of the war, on both fronts, Israel could have ceased to exist.

Some of the reviewers here really are clueless. Crybaby soldiers? Absurd. These guys were overrun and outnumbered.

What was done was incredibly heroic, and brave. They were truly fighting for the existence of our country, and our lives.

What the HBO viewers don't see, is the after-show, where people who fought in the war talk about their experiences.

Next season, is Sinai, that should be equally as compelling.

Hits right in your guts. So sad but yet reflects the Yom Cipppur War at 1973

This show blew me away. Excellent storyline, great action. The only thing missing was the war in the south.

Oils of been really good. But the acting is terrible. At least the dubbed voices are terrible. Should of just used subtitles, but even then.

The dialect as spoken is with an accent as if the actors rarely if ever speak it. The expressions are though from the 70s as some expressions have changed. Great movie. Great acting. Sometimes it felt surreal: major invasion yet folks take the time to do some touring in a nice car, especially given the geography of the place, i.e. the shelling is within kms of the ride. Avinoam, this is what I am going to start screaming at any homo sapien that is so dysfunctional that every person around him wants to be the first to unload 6 bullets into him. Really hard to imagine that IDF leadership would have asked that 'psychology' person to do anything that would have decided the fate of soldiers. In a way, I thought of that imagined character as an illustration of: only the mental cases were worried about the next war while the political leadership was oblivious in its arrogance. A few seconds from Dayan in the movie led to me to this impression. I loved the background noise/story about sepharades vs. ashkenazi, the diversity of Israel back then ( and now ), reminding us this was a time when only 20-30 years had elapsed since jews from completely different planets came together ( Moroccans vs. Poles ). Some scenes were hyper powerful, i.e. the thirsty man. And what the soldier responded to Avinoam when Avinoam criticized his action. What the series fails to represent: the scale of this attack. I felt like we were in a bubble. I am left wondering why they did not showcase politicians. Maybe a Season 2?

From a Moroccan!

Avinoam was so annoying I wanted to reach out through the screen and slap him.

Great acting, the story of the war portrayed amazingly

Was really surprised by this piece, it is actually good. There are some annoying parts, but overall it was interesting, breathtaking and fealt real. With all the stupid desicions and soldiers reactions. Great time.