Do You Remember: Over There

In honor of Memorial Day, it only seemed right to focus the latest “Do You Remember” on the short-lived 2005 FX military drama Over There.

The series was co-created by the late Steven Bochco and Chris Gerolmo, following a unit of the United States Army’s 3rd Infantry Division on its first tour of duty in Iraq and chronicled the war’s effects on the soldiers’ families in the United States. In fact, the show was the first scripted TV series set in a current, ongoing military action involving the United States.

The main cast included the following:

Josh Henderson (The Arrangement and Dallas) as Bo Rider, Jr., a star quarterback awarded a partial scholarship, who joined the Army to take advantage of the G.I. bill in order to make up for the financial shortfall in paying for college.

Luke Macfarlane (Killjoys and Brothers & Sisters) as Frank Dumphy, an Ivy League graduate from a well-to-do upbringing who chose a blue-collar, lower-class lifestyle, who deliberately never pursued a commission because he didn’t want to adopt a leadership role.

Erik Palladino (Suits and NCIS: Los Angeles) as Chris Silas, the battle-hardened veteran, who was given charge of the new recruits on the eve of his returning home.

Keith Robinson (the box office film Dreamgirls and Saints & Sinners) as Avery King, a devout Christian and gifted singer from a small Arkansas town who enlisted in a fit of anger, who quickly came to regret his decision but had exceptional marksmanship skills.

Kirk “Sticky Fingaz” Jones (The Shield and Blade: The Series) as Maurice Williams, a former drug user with lots of street smarts, who was the best in the squad with a strictly “us-or-them” attitude.

Omid Abtahi (the box office films Argo and Brothers) as Tariq Nassiri, an Arab-American assigned to the team after Bo Rider was injured, who acted as a middleman between the American soldiers and the locals.

Lizette Carrion (Dexter) as Esmeralda Del Rio, a happily-married new mother, who was a resourceful, no-nonsense soldier and part a logistics unit that supported the squad on missions.

Nicki Aycox (Cold Case and the box office film The Girl on the Train) as Brenda Mitchell, an obstinate and “pig-headed” 18-year-old, who was more of a liability than an asset to the squad, who had a lot of hardships in her teen years.

Sprague Grayden (Jericho and The Following) as Terry Rider, Bo’s wife.

Brigid Brannagh (Army Wives and Marvel’s Runaways) as Vanessa Dumphy, Frank’s wife.

Among the guest stars of the show included:

Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty, Devious Maids and the upcoming TV series Whiskey Cavalier)
Adam Storke (Prey, The Stand and Mystic Pizza)
Josh Stamberg (Drop Dead Diva and The Affair)
Rami Malek (Mr. Robot and the upcoming box office film Bohemian Rhapsody)
Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Pitch and Franklin & Bash)
Wade Williams (Prison Break and Mercy Street)
Michael Cudlitz (Southland and The Walking Dead)
Currie Graham (Murder in the First and Ten Days in the Valley)
Matt Barr (Sleepy Hollow and Valor)
Bonita Friedericy (Chuck, Impastor and Preacher)
Dean Norris (Under the Dome and Claws)
Navid Negahban (Homeland and Legion)
Faran Tahir (Warehouse 13 and 12 Monkeys)
Drew Powell (The Mentalist and Gotham)
Francia Raisa (The Secret Life of the American Teenager and grown-ish)

Over There consisted of 13 episodes, but was cancelled due to declining ratings. In fact, the show’s critics complained that the show “bends over backward not to express any opinion whatsoever about the (ongoing) current [at the time].” The series aired from July 27 to October 26, 2005.

Here is a trailer for Over There:

Do you remember Over There?