How a British military drama turned South African landscapes into global conflict zones
In short: Created by Tony Grounds, the BBC series Our Girl followed the lives of army medics across four seasons. While the show was set in locations like Afghanistan, Nepal, and Kenya, production relied heavily on South African terrain to replicate these diverse environments, blending intense combat sequences with personal character journeys.
The series originated from a 2013 pilot starring Lacey Turner as Molly Dawes, a young woman who finds purpose through military training. Writer Tony Grounds conceived the show after visiting an army base and hearing about a recruit who transformed from an angry youth into a professional combat medic. This focus on disenfranchised individuals finding their calling remained a core theme as the show evolved. Following the pilot's success, the series expanded into a multi-season drama that explored the experiences of foot soldiers during the British Army's withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent humanitarian missions.
Production was a logistical feat, with South Africa serving as the primary filming hub. The first series, set in Afghanistan, was shot over 49 days in the Serra Della Camp, where high winds frequently damaged sets and required steel hawsers for stability. For the second series, the production team utilized a township near Cape Town to portray a Kenyan refugee camp, employing local residents as extras. By the third series, the show moved to Nepal for its first half, while the second half utilized Malaysia and Bangladesh to depict various international settings, demonstrating a creative approach to global storytelling on a production budget.
Critical reception was mixed throughout the show's run. While early seasons were praised for their performances and action sequences, later series faced criticism for perceived military glamourisation and tonal inconsistencies. Viewers and critics noted issues ranging from medical inaccuracies to plot holes, such as concerns over phone battery life in the third series. Despite these challenges, the show maintained a dedicated following until its conclusion in 2020. Michelle Keegan, who took over as the lead character Georgie Lane in the second series, anchored the show's later years, eventually departing when the production team decided it was the right time to move on after the fourth series.
The show's legacy is defined by its attempt to humanize soldiers, portraying them as citizens, siblings, and parents first. Grounds aimed to foster sympathy for the military while maintaining a hopeful narrative. Although the series faced scrutiny for its depiction of army life, it remained a significant example of British television's effort to blend high-stakes military action with the intimate, often messy, realities of personal growth and human connection.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Our Girl
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