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Image features SAS Duty Before Glory book cover, an image of Tony Rushmer and a sepia toned photo of Reg Seekings, Eric Musk and Bob Seekings, courtesy of Bob Seekings' family.

Episodes

Ep 79 – SAS: Duty Before Glory – A Conversation with Tony Rushmer

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we’re joined by journalist and author Tony Rushmer, whose book SAS: Duty Before Glory tells the story of Reg Seekings, one of the original members of the Special Air Service. Tony talks to us about how a documentary during lock down led him from sports journalism to writing about this WWII history that started in the Fens.

Alongside our returning guest George, we take a closer look at Reg Seekings: his humour, his friendship with Johnny Cooper, and his stoic yet warm nature. Tony shares how he came to know the Seekings family, his conversations with the late Mike Sadler, and the rich archival work and Reg’s personal recollections that shaped his writing. We also touch on the portrayal of the SAS in Rogue Heroes and how storytelling, fictional or not, keeps history alive for new generations.

We’re also happy to report that Tony recommends five excellent books on WWII at the veryend, so stick around to find out.

16/10/2025 No Comments

Episodes

Ep 78 – U-571 – A Deep Dive into This Submarine Thriller

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we take on U-571 (2000) with returning guest Katie. This tense, incredibly fictional tale is all about American submariners capturing a German U-boat and its Enigma machine. It’s got Matthew McConaughey, Jon Bon Jovi and Matthew Settle and everyone’s damp. We explore the claustrophobic depictions and why the British were fuming about this one.
Including some real-life naval details, from the cramped quarters of the U-505 to the history of segregated Black sailors in WWII (because, let’s be real, this movie does no historical heavy lifting).

08/10/2025 No Comments

Rosie the reviewer the pacific episode 77

Episodes

Ep 77 – The Pacific – Closing Out the Best War Show of All Time (Part Three)

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we wrap up our three-part discussion of The Pacific (2010) with episodes 7-10. Brace yourself for the brutal fighting on Peleliu and Okinawa to John and Lena Basilone, his final chapter and the long road home for Eugene Sledge and Robert Leckie. Alongside our returning guest George, we talk about leadership, disillusionment, the role of civilians, and the way grief and memory follow these men long after the war ends.

03/10/2025 No Comments

Episodes

Ep 76 – The Pacific – Episodes 4-6 the Battle of Peleliu and More (Part Two)

Joining us to discuss episodes 4-6 of The Pacific (2010) is our friend Merc. We get into the meaty middle part of the show, saying hello to some new favourites (and clinging to them before they have to leave us again) while watching others go home. Its’ Peleliu time, which means everyone is having a terrible time. And Pavuvu, which is apparently not much better.

26/09/2025 No Comments

Episodes

Ep 75 – The Pacific – Discussing Episodes 1-3 and a Lot of Bob Leckie (Part One)

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, Bec returns to the pod to talk about the first three episodes of our favourite HBO War drama The Pacific (2010). Together, we discuss the show’s opening, the amazing theme, the great friendships… and we can’t stop gushing about Bob Leckie. Sorry. Not really.

18/09/2025 No Comments

Rosie the Reviewer their finest title card

Episodes

Ep 74 – Their Finest – Wartime Propaganda with The Donut Dollies

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we’re joined by Winnie and Gabby from the Donut Dollies podcast to discuss Their Finest (2016), Lone Scherfig’s adaptation of Lissa Evans’ novel Their Finest Hour and a Half. Together we unpack the film’s blend of romance, tragedy, and wartime propaganda, as well as how it compares to the book. Surprisingly much debate about Sam Claflin’s casting, the power of women in the Ministry of Information, and why Bill Nighy steals every scene as Ambrose Hilliard. Plus, the real history of women in Britain’s propaganda machine.

11/09/2025 No Comments

Episodes

Ep 73 – Hemingway & Gellhorn – Who is the Better War Correspondent?

This week on Rosie the Reviewer, we’re diving into the 2012 HBO film Hemingway & Gellhorn. It’s all about the messy relationship between war reporter Martha Gellhorn and Ernest Hemingway. We get into the Spanish Civil War (and yes, the movie really drags its feet before getting to WWII), and honestly, we’re not sure either of them is all that likable. Plus, we talk about Caroline Moorehead’s biography Gellhorn: A Twentieth-Century Life, Martha’s own novel Point of No Return, and her travel memoir, Travels with Myself and Another.

04/09/2025 No Comments

Episodes

Ep 72 – Valkyrie – The Tom Cruise Eye-Patch Thriller That Actually Surprised Us

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we tackle Valkyrie (2008), the Tom Cruise-led film about the real-life July 20 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. We dig into the movie’s balance between Hollywood drama and historical accuracy, the cast full of familiar faces, and whether Cruise managed to not be too Cruise-y.

30/08/2025 No Comments

Episodes

Ep 71 – Grave of the Fireflies – Studio Ghibli’s Animated WWII Film You Should Only Watch Once

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we discuss Grave of the Fireflies (1988), the harrowing Studio Ghibli animation that left us emotionally wrecked. We follow the story of Seita and Setsuko, two siblings trying to survive in Kobe, Japan during the final months of World War II. We discuss the film’s gut-wrenching portrayal of innocence lost and being forgotten, and why this is possibly the greatest movie you’ll never want to watch again.

22/08/2025 No Comments

Rabbit holes

“When the Nazis Have Feelings”, Why We Keep Redeeming Faber

X Company’s Faber cries, and we’re meant to feel something. But what happens when World War II villains become emotionally complex and maybe even… sympathetic? This piece explores the discomfort and consequences of redemption arcs for Nazis on screen.

15/08/2025 No Comments

Rosie the Reviewer episode 70. Walking with the Enemy

Episodes

Ep 70 – Walking with the Enemy – Hungarian WWII History Unpacked (with our friend Katie!)

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we review Walking with the Enemy (2013), exploring its depiction of WWII Hungary, the life of Elek Cohen (loosely based on Pinchas Rosenbaum), and the country’s political shifts during the war. We discuss standout performances, the film’s narrative choices, and are joined by our friend Katie, who shares insights into Hungary during WWII.

15/08/2025 No Comments

Episodes

Ep 69 – Masters of the Air – Tuskegee Airmen, POW Marches and Closing Thoughts (Part Three)

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we’re wrapping up our three-part journey through Masters of the Air with a look at episodes 7-9. We’re once again joined by George! From the marches out of Stalag Luft III to Rosie Rosenthal’s decision to fly more missions and Croz sleeping through D-Day. We get into the show’s depiction of the Tuskegee Airmen and see where everybody ends up. Safe flight, Masters!

08/08/2025 No Comments

Episodes

Ep 68 – Masters of the Air – Rosie Rosenthal, Black Week and the Hundredth’s Losses (Part Two)

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we continue our Masters of the Air series with episodes 4 through 6. George is back again to help us cover everything from Quinn and Bailey’s escape routes to Black Week, and welcome Rosie Rosenthal. We break down new character arcs, major missions, and quiet emotional … uh, breakdowns, including Bucky’s slow downward spiral, Crosby’s grief, and Rosie finding his rhythm (with some help from Artie Shaw).

01/08/2025 No Comments

Episodes

Ep 67 – Masters of the Air – The Spielberg-Hanks WWII Saga (Part One)

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we cover the first three episodes of Masters of the Air, the latest Spielberg-Hanks WWII series following the Bloody Hundredth Bomb Group. Joined by our resident SAS Rogue Heroes correspondent George to talk about not the SAS, we unpack what works and what doesn’t. From Buck and Bucky banter to B-17 flight scenes you come to a WWII show for. We talk ball turrets, bike races, bomber boys, what we think is a missed opportunity to cast a critical look at the morality of bombing strategies.

Plus: why Harry Crosby’s memoir is a must-read, how the ground crew kept the B-17s flying, and straight-out-of-Blackadder Brits.

25/07/2025 No Comments

Episodes

Ep 66 – The Imitation Game – Alan Turing, Oscar Bait and the Spy Subplot No One Asked For

In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we take on The Imitation Game (2014) and unpick all the ways it does Alan Turing dirty. With guest George (our usual SAS Rogue Heroes correspondent) taking on several sidequests with us this summer), we tackle the unnecessary spy plot, the myth of the lone genius, and why turning one of history’s most brilliant minds into a socially inept robot is just lazy, disrespectful writing. Sam did all the reading, Maartje Googled for one minute and George has actually been to Bletchley Park. All of us instantly agree: this movie is not it.

We talk queer erasure, posthumous pardons, codebreaking accuracy (or lack thereof), and Sam explains EXACTLY how Turing’s codebreaking machine works ;).

This movie is Oscar bait biopic mayhem (it worked, I guess), and we have some strong thoughts.

18/07/2025 No Comments

The Rosie the Reviewer Podcast

Blogs

Ep 79 – SAS: Duty Before Glory – A Conversation with Tony Rushmer

Ep 78 – U-571 – A Deep Dive into This Submarine Thriller

Ep 77 – The Pacific – Closing Out the Best War Show of All Time (Part Three)

Ep 76 – The Pacific – Episodes 4-6 the Battle of Peleliu and More (Part Two)

Ep 75 – The Pacific – Discussing Episodes 1-3 and a Lot of Bob Leckie (Part One)

Ep 74 – Their Finest – Wartime Propaganda with The Donut Dollies

Ep 73 – Hemingway & Gellhorn – Who is the Better War Correspondent?

Ep 72 – Valkyrie – The Tom Cruise Eye-Patch Thriller That Actually Surprised Us

Ep 71 – Grave of the Fireflies – Studio Ghibli’s Animated WWII Film You Should Only Watch Once

“When the Nazis Have Feelings”, Why We Keep Redeeming Faber

Ep 70 – Walking with the Enemy – Hungarian WWII History Unpacked (with our friend Katie!)

Ep 69 – Masters of the Air – Tuskegee Airmen, POW Marches and Closing Thoughts (Part Three)

Ep 68 – Masters of the Air – Rosie Rosenthal, Black Week and the Hundredth’s Losses (Part Two)

Ep 67 – Masters of the Air – The Spielberg-Hanks WWII Saga (Part One)

Ep 66 – The Imitation Game – Alan Turing, Oscar Bait and the Spy Subplot No One Asked For

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