X Company

This Canadian series is based on a real life training camp that was operating during WWII schooling allied spies in the tradecraft needed to carry out sabotage and espionage against the Nazis, set exclusively in France for this season. The focus is on four young men and one young woman and how they learn to fight and survive in the field. Our team is composed of: Aurora Luft, a French woman who is also a Jew and becomes the team leader after her boyfriend Rene is MIA after a mission. She is brave and idealistic. Alfred Graves, a Canadian and former vaudevillian who performed a mentalist act and possesses a photographic memory. He is a newcomer to the team and poorly suited to combat as he’s afraid of loud noises and seems to suffer from a form of Asperger’s. Neil Mackay, a professional British soldier and skilled unarmed combat fighter who lost his entire family in the Blitz. Tom Cummings is an American and former advertising man who would rather use his wits to get out of a jam than his weapon. Harry James, he appears to be Canadian and is an expert in radio operations, explosives and constructing spy gadgets; kind of like a cross between Sgt Carter on “Hogan’s Heroes” and “Q” in the James Bond films. For the most part the show is a well written and suspenseful drama that moves at a brisk pace. The acting by this cast of relative unknowns (at least in America) is quite good and believable. The situations portrayed are mostly realistic depicting the extreme peril these people risked in the fight against the oppression of the Third Reich. Decent attention is paid to details such as uniforms, weapons, vehicles and set dressing capturing the 1942 period in France. There were a few things that didn’t make sense such as in the beginning having the team return to Camp X in Ontario after every mission; in later episodes they remain in place in France. Another thing that I found highly unlikely was parachuting into occupied Europe in broad daylight which would have been suicidal. A few times the team benefits from the kind of Nazi bungling you used to see in “Hogan’s Heroes”. For example an SS guard lets two of the team disguised as electricians into a secure building without any papers or work order and neither he nor anyone else escorts them while they are inside free to do whatever. The eight episode first season ends with a cliffhanger when Alfred is captured by the Gestapo and despite orders that he can never be taken alive Aurora is unable to shoot him when she has the opportunity. I will definitely purchase the remaining two seasons to see how this story ends. Bonus features include a brief Canadian news story about the real Camp X. There are also a number of “Webisodes” that were made to look like old black & white training films starring Harry discussing various topics such as ciphers, explosives, lock picking and such.

A great history lesson on excitable DVD’s. I watched it on TV and since have bought the DVD series on Amazon

A great series! The show just sucks you in. I started watching on a whim when it was on Hulu and binged the first seven episodes in one evening. But then it was removed from Hulu the following day - I was so caught up by it, I had to finish so I purchased the series and I’m so glad I did! You will love, hate, love to hate and hate to love these characters. There is so much depth to each character and the roles are played exceptionally well. I love that this series gives more depth to both sides of the story than just your typical Allies good Germans bad plot. This series is well worth the watch.

Good historical action/drama

I think X Company is a great WWII espionage and covert drama. I enjoyed the show on cable and I wanted to purchase the DVD so I can watch it anytime I want to.

There is great suspense and realism to this series. I highly recommend it. I love World War II films and this series, although not quite up to "Band of Brothers," is extraordinary and well worth the purchase. I anticipate watching it several more times. If you like great adventure, drama and suspense you will love this series even if you're not a World War II film buff. The acting is superb and you won't feel like this is a low-budget series, even though it likely is they have a lot of location scenes and the CBC should be commended for the production values.My only complaint and caution is this series is so good you're going to be disappointed when you realize there is so much more they could have done with it after just three seasons. Hopefully, they will make more seasons in the future. It is one of those series that you find yourself thinking about when you're not watching it.Well worth the price for sure!

I thoroughly enjoyed this TV series. The acting was very good and the costumes were almost perfect. Being a student of history and serving in the military makes historical accuracy very important to me. I do know a great deal about the German SS during World War II and I noticed that some of the ranks are incorrect. For instance there is an actor wearing a uniform with his collar tabs signifying a Major in the SS, but he is addressed as a Captain. They also have a mix of the wrong period insignia such as having a mix of pre 1942 SS insignia and the post 1942 SS insignia that they used until the end of the war. I’m not going to point out every example but there are a few more. To the untrained eye this would not be noticeable, but the show is still outstanding! My only other complaint would be the lack of subtitles. Sometimes when you have actors that speak with an accent it can be very difficult to understand what they’re saying. It makes it easier if you can put on the subtitles to figure it out. Other than that I would say almost perfect.

DVDs arrived in great condition and much sooner than expected. Great service

X Company is one of my favourite series! I was introduced to it while staying with friends in Canada, but when I came back to Australia I was shocked that it wasn’t easily available! The series keeps you on the edge of your seat every episode, and the story is incredibly captivating. I recommend it to everyone who has an interest in WWII especially.

The dialogue /audio between the characters is sometimes impossible to interpret & subsequently it becomes very difficult to follow the plot.Sub-titles would have greatly added to the appreciation of the intricate plot lines.

Great series worth watching soon be getting next series

Absolutely loved season1&2 will be ordering season 3 soon!

I have long been interested in the 1930's and 1940's and have watched nearly every BBC and U.S. series on DVD (e.g., Foyle's War, Island at War, Wish Me Luck, The Enemy Within, Winds of War, Land Girls, etc.) produced about that era. I heard about X Company online, but because I live in the U.S. I wasn't able to watch the initial broadcast airing. So, sight unseen I took a chance and purchased the DVD and I must say not only is it worth every dollar, it is clearly better than many of the other series about this era that I mentioned above. I literally sat down and watched the entire eight part series in a day and a half. I was (and am) hooked. The program is outstanding telling the little known story of Canada's X Company. The acting is incredible -- I came to care for each and every one of the operatives...especially Alfred and Harry. The story lines are action packed and highly emotional. It may sound a bit corny...but I found myself actually holding my breath while watching each program unfold. It was as if I had to remind myself to breathe because the stories were so engrossing that I felt I was there and not sitting in the comfort of my home. This is definitely TV at its very, very best. What is most humbling is to known that X Company really existed...my hat is off to the real X Company members who demonstrated such strength and courage. As for this program, the writers, directors, actors, producers, etc. have done an incredible job with this show and I am waiting eagerly for the second season...I know I will definitely be buying it as soon as the DVD is released. In sum...a FANTASTIC program! Don't miss out on it.