Watch The Hunt for Bin Laden

The Hunt for Bin Laden is a powerful documentary series that takes its viewers into the heart of one of the most intense manhunts in modern history. The Smithsonian Channel series focuses on the relentless efforts of the U.S. government and military to locate, detain, and ultimately kill the world's most notorious terrorist and mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden.

The series is hosted by British actor Rupert Graves, who guides viewers through the complex interconnected events that led up to the capture and killing of bin Laden by U.S. Navy SEALs in 2011. Over ten episodes, the series chronicles the key moments of the hunt, providing a dispassionate, yet riveting telling of a story that changed the course of world history.

The Hunt for Bin Laden begins with a clear understanding: bin Laden is a figure shrouded in myth and legend. To many in the Muslim world, he is depicted as a freedom fighter who took on the might of American imperialism. In the West, he is widely thought to be an evil and violent terrorist who sought only to destroy innocent lives. The series attempts to cut through these representations and offer a more comprehensive understanding of the man, his motivations, and the global network he laid out to further his ideological goals.

Against this shadowy background, Graves explores the key moments in the hunt for bin Laden. The series starts in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, as U.S. intelligence agencies began to sift through the vast amounts of information they had gathered to try and pinpoint bin Laden's location. The series presents key interviews with CIA operatives and analysts who were tasked with piecing together the jigsaw of information and misinformation that emerged from various sources on bin Laden's movements and activities.

As the series progresses, viewers see how U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan begin to ramp up in response to the ongoing search for bin Laden. The program provides insight into how the U.S. government worked with local tribes and government officials, leading to some fascinating and at times uncomfortable situations. Viewers see how U.S. forces were trying to navigate the complex politics of the region while remaining focused on the task at hand.

The Hunt for Bin Laden is a very human story, and viewers are introduced to the key figures in the hunt over its ten episodes. The series portrays the courage and tenacity of the intelligence officials, military commanders, and analysts who worked tirelessly to track bin Laden down. We see the impact that the search had on their personal lives, and the toll it took on their well-being.

The series is also intimately connected to the geopolitical context surrounding the search for bin Laden. It explores the ways in which President George W. Bush sought to frame the hunt for bin Laden within the broader context of the "war on terror," and how this framing led to some of the most significant military and political decisions of the era. The series takes a nuanced look at these issues, with Graves providing insightful commentary on the implications of these decisions.

The Hunt for Bin Laden ultimately reaches its climax in the tenth and final episode, with a vivid description of the mission that ended in bin Laden's death. The program is careful not to glorify the killing or to try and simplify the implications of bin Laden's death. Instead, it offers viewers a chance to consider the complex and often uncertain context that led to bin Laden's demise.

Overall, The Hunt for Bin Laden is an immensely compelling, well-researched series that provides a unique perspective on one of the most significant events of the 21st century. It is not just a retelling of a story that we all know; it is a thoughtful, nuanced exploration of the human, political, and military dynamics that shaped the hunt for one of the most wanted men in the world.

The Hunt for Bin Laden is a series that ran for 1 seasons (1 episodes) between April 29, 2012 and on Smithsonian Channel