Strike Back - Season 1 -

Head of Section 20, whose shared history with Porter in Iraq hides a dark secret. Layla Thompson

Previous action dramas featured lone wolves. Strike Back gave us a bromance for the ages. Stonebridge (the brains) and Scott (the brawn with a mouth) spent the first few episodes handcuffed together—literally. Their banter is sharp, their mutual disrespect eventually morphing into a brotherhood forged in fire. The chemistry between Winchester and Stapleton is the engine that drives the entire franchise.

Unlike the serialized, 10-episode arcs of subsequent seasons, Strike Back – Season 1 adopts a unique structural approach. Comprising six episodes, the season is divided into three distinct two-part stories. Each arc takes Porter to a different global hotspot—Iraq, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan—connected by a conspiracy that links back to the fateful night in Basra. Strike Back - Season 1

Fast forward to the present day (2010), Porter is a shell of his former self, working menial security jobs until a figure from his past—his former commanding officer, Hugh Collinson—recruits him into Section 20. This setup allows the season to explore a protagonist who is damaged, desperate, and driven by a need for atonement. Armitage brings a weight to the role that grounds the explosive action in human drama, making Strike Back – Season 1 feel more like a psychological thriller with action elements than a pure shooter.

The season consists of six episodes, originally aired in three two-part blocks on Head of Section 20, whose shared history with

The series was praised for its commitment to military realism, utilizing SAS and SBS instructors to train the cast.

Lock and load. Section 20 is deployed.

The first season of , often referred to as Chris Ryan's Strike Back or Strike Back: Origins , is a high-octane military action drama that debuted in 2010. Based on the novel by former SAS soldier Chris Ryan, it follows the life of John Porter (played by Richard Armitage ), a former SAS sergeant seeking redemption after a botched mission in Iraq. Season Overview

Unlike the "monster-of-the-week" format common in 2011, Project Dawn is a ten-hour movie. Every episode ends on a cliffhanger. The virus threat is constantly evolving, alliances shift, and the terrorist plot has genuine geopolitical layers involving the British government's dark secrets. Stonebridge (the brains) and Scott (the brawn with

The season established the "Section 20 formula" that other shows (like SEAL Team and The Terminal List ) would later imitate: a small, multinational team, ambiguous morality, massive stakes, and action that rivals Hollywood blockbusters.