The Pacific (2010)

Ten episodes, and a harder watch than Band of Brothers, its companion piece. Instead of one company it follows three Marines, Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge and John Basilone, drawing mainly on Sledge's With the Old Breed and Leckie's Helmet for My Pillow. That split focus makes it feel more scattered at first, but it suits the subject: the Pacific war comes across as island after island of heat, disease and grinding fear rather than a steady march to victory. The Peleliu and Okinawa episodes built around Sledge are some of the most punishing viewing on this list. It cost over $200 million and won the Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries.