Discover the true stories of Black Hawk Down survivors and how Somali citizens remember the 1993 battle that changed history. Watch Netflix’s documentary.
In 1993, two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mogadishu. An intense 18-hour battle followed. Eighteen American soldiers died. Over 300 Somalis lost their lives. The battle changed history. The movie Black Hawk Down is based on this real event. Survivors have shared their true stories.
Netflix’s Surviving Black Hawk Down was released on Feb. 10. The documentary gives survivors a voice. Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant was captured. “They chained me up,” he recalled. He thought death was near.
On Oct. 3, 1993, a U.S. task force entered Mogadishu. Their mission was to capture two Somali National Alliance leaders. The United Nations blamed these leaders for an ambush. That attack had killed two dozen Pakistani soldiers.
What seemed like a quick mission turned into chaos. Eighteen U.S. soldiers died. Eighty-four were wounded. Somali leaders said 312 militiamen and citizens died. Around 814 others suffered injuries.
Netflix’s Surviving Black Hawk Down features real testimonials. Soldiers, civilians, and former enemies share their experiences. Now, where are the survivors today? Here’s everything we know about them.
The 1993 Battle of Mogadishu was a deadly fight. People also call it the Black Hawk Down incident. The U.S. military went to Somalia. Their mission was to capture top leaders of Mohamed Farrah Aidid’s group.
They expected a quick mission. But everything went wrong. Somali fighters shot down two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters. The soldiers inside were trapped. U.S. forces rushed to save them. A fierce 18-hour battle began.
The American soldiers were surrounded. They faced heavy gunfire. Somali fighters outnumbered them. Civilians were caught in the crossfire. The battle ended with heavy losses. Eighteen American soldiers died. Hundreds of Somalis were killed. Many more were injured.
Author Mark Bowden wrote about this battle. His 1999 book, Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, became famous. Director Ridley Scott turned it into a 2001 film. Josh Hartnett and Ewan McGregor starred. The movie won two Academy Awards.
Mohamed Farrah Aidid was a Somali military officer. In the early 1990s, he helped remove dictator Mohamed Siad Barre from power. After that, Somalia fell into a civil war. Rival groups fought to control the country.
Aidid led one of these groups, the Somali National Alliance (SNA). The United Nations blamed Aidid for violent attacks. One major attack happened in June 1993. His forces ambushed Pakistani peacekeepers. Many soldiers died.
The U.N. and the U.S. decided to target Aidid. They said they wanted to bring democracy to Somalia. One mission led to the Black Hawk Down incident. U.S. troops planned to capture two of Aidid’s top men. They received intelligence about a meeting in Mogadishu.
They sent soldiers and helicopters. But Somali fighters shot down two Black Hawk helicopters. A brutal 18-hour battle followed. Many soldiers died. Aidid survived this battle. He remained in power. In 1996, he suffered a heart attack and died.
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Michael Durant was a U.S. Army pilot. He flew one of the Black Hawk helicopters shot down by Somali fighters. He survived the crash. He fought on the ground with Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart and Master Sergeant Gary Gordon.
The battle became more intense. Both soldiers died while defending Durant. Somali fighters captured him. He remained a prisoner for 11 days. Aidid later agreed to release him.
Durant suffered serious injuries. He had a gunshot wound. His leg, back, and eye socket were broken. His captors gave him medical care. When released, he was handed over to American soldiers. Doctors said he would fully recover.
The 2001 film Black Hawk Down told his story. Actor Ron Eldard played Durant in the movie.
Eighteen U.S. soldiers died in the Battle of Mogadishu. Many more were injured. Delta Force veteran Tom Satterly shared his experience in Surviving Black Hawk Down.
He described the chaos. “The heat hits you. You’re sweating. Sand sticks to everything. Everybody’s against us,” he said. He believed in his mission. “We’re the good guys. We’re America. We wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t right.”
The battle was brutal. Eighty-four U.S. soldiers suffered injuries. The experience changed their lives forever.
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The Black Hawk Down incident caused heavy Somali casualties. Leaders first estimated that 312 people died. Later, Mark Bowden reported a higher number. He wrote that over 500 Somalis had been killed. More than 800 others suffered injuries.
Binti Ali Wardhere shared her painful experience. In Surviving Black Hawk Down, she told BBC about the attack. A shell hit her house and partially severed her hand. Her husband, Mohamed Aden, died in the battle. Two of her sons, Abdulkadir and Abdurahman, were also killed. Four of her other children suffered injuries. One of them lost his sight forever.
Binti blamed American forces. “They destroyed my house. They killed my husband, my two sons, and my brother. They left my family in misery,” she said. She demanded justice. “At the very least, they must admit what they have done and compensate us.”
Cameraman Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, also called Ahmed Five, documented the battle. He recorded the destruction in Mogadishu. His footage helped people outside Somalia see the impact of the mission. The images sparked criticism of U.S. involvement.
Ahmed later spoke about Surviving Black Hawk Down. He told BBC, “This time, Somalis had the chance to share their story. It is crucial to tell both sides.” His work gave Somali voices a platform. Many believed their side had been ignored for too long.
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Newly elected President Bill Clinton ordered U.S. troops to leave Somalia by 1994. But the civil war in Somalia continued for decades. Smithsonian Magazine reported this.
Maj. Gen. William Garrison accepted full responsibility for the incident. He wrote a letter to President Clinton. The New York Times reported this. His military career ended after that. He retired in 1996. He moved to a farm in Hico, Texas. The Daily Beast said he never gave an interview about the battle.
Many surviving U.S. soldiers continued serving in the Army. Michael Durant flew more missions. He retired in 2001. Later, he became the CEO of an aviation training company. In 2022, he ran for the U.S. Senate in Alabama. He sought the Republican nomination but lost. ABC News reported this.
Other veterans chose different careers. Tom Satterly started a nonprofit to help Special Operations soldiers and their families. Brad Thomas became a musician. He plays guitar and writes songs for a grunge band called Silence & Light.
Larry Perino now works as an associate vice president at Navy Federal Credit Union. Despite moving forward, they still struggle. The soldiers in Surviving Black Hawk Down shared their battles with trauma. The violence they saw still affects them.
David Diemer, a former Army Ranger, spoke about this. He now owns a security company. “You gotta separate it in your mind,” he said. “I don’t know. Maybe someday I’ll go crazy. I have no idea. But you know, it was my job.”
Former Somali militia members felt the same way. But for them, the loss felt even worse. “For Americans, October 3rd is tragic,” said Yasin Dheere. He was a member of the Aidid militia. “For us, it was a dark moment.”
He still struggles with the memories. “When I think about it, my head starts hurting,” he said. “It left me with a grudge and pain.” Mogadishu residents also still suffer from the battle’s effects.
“Dying is one thing,” said Binti Adan in Surviving Black Hawk Down. “But my daughter being blind hurts my stomach. She lost her home in the battle. It was just a battlefield to them,” she said. “It was a home to me.”
The 1993 battle, also called Black Hawk Down, was an 18-hour fight after Somali fighters shot down two U.S. helicopters. Eighteen U.S. soldiers and hundreds of Somalis died.
Aidid was a Somali warlord leading the Somali National Alliance. He was targeted by the U.S. for attacks on peacekeepers and died in 1996 after a heart attack.
Durant, a U.S. pilot, was captured after his Black Hawk was shot down. He was held for 11 days before being released and later retired in 2001.
Eighteen U.S. soldiers and over 500 Somalis died, with more than 800 others injured in the intense urban battle.
Yellow jackets Season 3 premieres February 14, 2025! Get details on the release schedule, cast, plot twists, and what to expect from this gripping thriller.
The highly awaited third season of Yellowjackets is coming soon! It premiered on February 14, 2025, with a double-episode debut on Paramount+ and Showtime. Fans are excited to see what happens after the shocking Season 2 finale. Let’s dive into all the details!
Season 3 will have ten episodes. Each new episode will be released weekly. The premiere falls on Valentine’s Day, which fits the show’s dark themes.
The first two episodes will stream on Paramount+ at midnight PT / 3 AM ET on February 14, 2025. If you watch on Showtime, they will air on February 16, 2025.
Episode 1: “It Girl” – February 14 (Paramount+) / February 16 (Showtime)
Episode 2: “Dislocation” – February 14 (Paramount+) / February 16 (Showtime)
Episode 3: “Them’s the Brakes” – February 21 (Paramount+) / February 23 (Showtime)
Episode 4: “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis” – February 28 (Paramount+) / March 2 (Showtime)
Episode 5: TBA – March 7 (Paramount+) / March 9 (Showtime)
Episode 6: TBA – March 14 (Paramount+) / March 16 (Showtime)
Episode 7: TBA – March 21 (Paramount+) / March 23 (Showtime)
Episode 8: TBA – March 28 (Paramount+) / March 30 (Showtime)
Episode 9: TBA – April 4 (Paramount+) / April 6 (Showtime)
Episode 10: TBA – April 11 (Paramount+) / April 13 (Showtime)
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Familiar faces are returning this season! Here’s who you’ll see:
Exciting new faces are joining the cast! Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank will play an important role in the unfolding drama. Fans can’t wait to see what she brings to the story.
Joel McHale is also joining the show. His presence promises to add fresh energy and new dynamics to the group.
Two new characters, Robin and Britt, will appear this season. They will add complexity to the survivors’ already tangled relationships. Their arrival might shake things up even more.
Season 3 starts right after the intense Season 2 finale. Adult Natalie’s death will deeply affect the group. The survivors will keep struggling to stay alive in the harsh wilderness. They will also face the lasting scars of their traumatic past. Secrets they tried to bury will resurface, making life even harder.
The show will keep jumping between past and present timelines. It will explore how their painful experiences still shape their lives today.
Tensions will rise after shocking events like Javi’s fate and the cabin fire. The survivors will face even more danger, emotional turmoil, and unexpected twists.
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The show explores survival, trauma, friendship, and betrayal. Season 3 will dive even deeper into these themes. The characters will wrestle with guilt, fear, and their past choices. The psychological toll of their time in the wilderness will haunt them. It will affect their relationships with each other and those around them.
The show also highlights the complex nature of female friendships and rivalries. New challenges will test their loyalty, power struggles, and moral boundaries. Expect more horror elements, intense emotions, and chilling mysteries in this gripping new season!
A teaser trailer is already out. It gives small glimpses of the new season without spoiling too much. The trailer shows brief, chilling scenes. It hints at more intense drama and survival struggles.
Fans can expect more promotional content before the premiere. New clips or posters may reveal hints about character arcs. This build-up adds to the excitement. It keeps viewers guessing about the season’s twists and turns.
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Expectations are sky-high for Season 3. The previous seasons earned praise for their gripping storytelling. Fans are eager to see how unresolved mysteries unfold. They want to know how new characters will shake up the story.
Yellowjackets has built a loyal fanbase since its debut in November 2021. The show’s unique mix of horror and human drama hooked viewers. With each season, the excitement grows. Fans can’t wait to dive back into the show’s dark, complex world.
Yellowjackets returns on February 14, 2025. The new season promises more emotional depth and shocking moments. The show explores survival, trauma, and friendship in powerful ways.
It blends psychological horror with intense character drama. Whether watching on Paramount+ or Showtime, fans are in for a wild ride. Season 3 will test the characters like never before.
Yellowjackets Season 3 premieres on February 14, 2025, with a double-episode release on Paramount+. Showtime will air the episodes on February 16, 2025. New episodes will drop weekly on both platforms.
Season 3 will have 10 episodes, with two episodes debuting on premiere day. After that, episodes will release weekly until the finale in April 2025. The episodes will be available on both Paramount+ and Showtime.
Hilary Swank and Joel McHale are exciting new additions to the cast. They join returning stars like Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, and Juliette Lewis. Two new characters, Robin and Britt, will also make their debut.
Season 3 picks up after the intense Season 2 finale, exploring the fallout of Natalie’s death. It will dive deeper into the survivors’ trauma, guilt, and fractured relationships. Past and present timelines will unravel dark secrets and shocking twists.
Death by Lightning review: The Netflix drama offers entertaining performances from Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen, but suffers from rushed storytelling.
In Netflix’s latest dive into historical catastrophe masquerading as tragic comedy, the miniseries Death by Lightning, will focus on how President James A. Garfield’s short but significant term was cut short by the deranged Charles Guiteau. Adapted from Candice Millard’s acclaimed non-fiction book, the series has all the prestige hallmarks – a stellar cast (Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen) and backing from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
Yet despite all its technical sheen and mesmerizing performances, the four-episode political drama cuts off oddly, a dazzling flash of promise that dissipates too quickly, leaving the audience with the feeling that the substance is severely undercooked in the narrative execution.
According to Collider, The series would not be what it is without its central performances. Michael Shannon brings a surprising depth of compassion and complexity to James A. Garfield. He is the unwilling, good man thrust into the nation’s highest office with a sincere dedication to civil service reform and battling the period’s widespread corruption. His political battle against the spoils system and his dream for a greater America provide the spine of the tale.
Likewise, Macfadyen as the mentally deranged assassin Charles Guiteau is an exercise in rattling restraint. Rather than barking like a lunatic, he gives us a chillingly believable narcissist whose grandiose delusions become deadly after he believes he’s been slighted by the government. Both Times Square and Ballet Mécanique are definitive performances by artists of the highest caliber and when these two extraordinary actors share even a few brief scenes, it electrifies the room.
Yet the very brevity that allows the series to have a tight focus ultimately becomes its undoing. With only four episodes, the drama speeds through Garfield’s volatile ascent; the political fights, the assassination, and the tragic fallout. The intricate, sleazy post–Civil War American political landscape which Garfield was frantically trying to clean up, seems drawn in rather than drawn out.
Crucial political and personal story lines are hurried, not allowing viewers to fully process the scope of Garfield’s vision and the pervasive institutional problems he confronted. Although the plot conforms to historical facts, it seems to be moving along a highlight reel, thus depriving the momentous events of their authentic emotional and intellectual weight.
The tragic thing about the Garfield story is not just the bullet but the subsequent, excruciating medical malpractice that resulted in his death months later—a detail beautifully and painfully unpacked in the source material.
The series nods to this, but its truncated format means the horror and absurdity of the medical ignorance doesn’t fully register. It’s in these pivotal, enduring moments that a genuine political drama finds its voice – revealing the systemic failures that magnified a personal tragedy.
Death By Lightning is a casualty of its brevity. It’s an effective (albeit superficial) flashback to a chapter in American history largely forgotten, and the work of its two stars makes it unforgettable.
But a story of this scope involving a president’s assassination, political corruption and the tragic crossroads of American determination requires more than a boiled-down treatment.
As report says, Beautifully shot and superbly acted, it’s less like a finished, fully resonant drama and more like a powerful, introductory prologue, a brilliant flash in the dark that leaves you wanting the narrative equivalent of a full tempest.
Death by Lightning is a show that glistens with stellar acting and pristine production values but doesn’t quite grant its narrative the depth it merits. But Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen give strong performances that humanize and energize the limited four-episode format that does not allow the political and emotional strands to fully unravel.
What might have been a deep dive into ambition, tragedy, and systemic collapse, instead comes across as a beautifully staged synopsis of a much bigger narrative. Ultimately Death by Lightning isn’t just gorgeous and intermittently stirring but cuts too suddenly, leaving its viewers haunted, not by what has been seen, but by what’s been left unsaid.
Welcome to FandomFans — your source for the latest buzz from Hollywood’s creative underworld. Here, we explore the art of filmmaking, knowing about how visionary directors, designers, and actors shape the worlds we escape into.
Today we break down on How Death by Lightning turns out both beautiful and at times touching but it runs out too soon. It is thus that his viewers are unsettled, not for what they see, but what goes unsaid.
