TNT’s new limited series “High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam” examines the Iraq invasion through the lens of former CIA analyst John Nixon’s experiences. Based on Nixon’s 2016 memoir, the eight-episode drama explores how the United States launched a war against Iraq based on the false premise that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction—a claim later proven entirely unfounded.
The series follows Nixon as he becomes increasingly convinced that Hussein does not actually possess the weapons the Bush administration claims to be seeking. Despite his decades of studying Hussein and understanding Iraqi culture, Nixon struggles to persuade CIA leadership to pursue his alternative theories. The narrative depicts Nixon’s eventual deployment to Baghdad during Operation Red Dawn, which ultimately leads to Hussein’s capture in an underground tunnel.
While the show features compelling interrogation scenes between Nixon and Hussein, these moments are undermined by repetitive war footage and awkward dialogue that feels lifted directly from intelligence reports. Actor Joel Kinnaman struggles in the lead role, though Waleed Zuaiter delivers a nuanced performance as Hussein. The series effectively illustrates the human costs of the conflict, including the horrors of Abu Ghraib prison and the countless civilian casualties, offering viewers a sobering look at how flawed intelligence and administration stubbornness prolonged a devastating war.
Originally reported by Variety →
About the Author
