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Waco
S1.E3
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IMDbPro

Operation Showtime

  • Episode aired Feb 7, 2018
  • TV-14
  • 47m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
1K
YOUR RATING
Taylor Kitsch in Waco (2018)
CrimeDramaHistoryThriller

With the ATF siege in motion, assault vehicles storm the Mount Carmel compound and exchange gunfire, which begins a 51-day standoff.With the ATF siege in motion, assault vehicles storm the Mount Carmel compound and exchange gunfire, which begins a 51-day standoff.With the ATF siege in motion, assault vehicles storm the Mount Carmel compound and exchange gunfire, which begins a 51-day standoff.

  • Directors
    • John Erick Dowdle
    • Dennie Gordon
  • Writers
    • John Erick Dowdle
    • Drew Dowdle
    • David Thibodeau
  • Stars
    • Michael Shannon
    • Taylor Kitsch
    • Andrea Riseborough
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.4/10
    1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • John Erick Dowdle
      • Dennie Gordon
    • Writers
      • John Erick Dowdle
      • Drew Dowdle
      • David Thibodeau
    • Stars
      • Michael Shannon
      • Taylor Kitsch
      • Andrea Riseborough
    • 2User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast38

    Edit
    Michael Shannon
    Michael Shannon
    • Gary Noesner
    Taylor Kitsch
    Taylor Kitsch
    • David Koresh
    Andrea Riseborough
    Andrea Riseborough
    • Judy Schneider
    Paul Sparks
    Paul Sparks
    • Steve Schneider
    Rory Culkin
    Rory Culkin
    • David Thibodeau
    Shea Whigham
    Shea Whigham
    • Mitch Decker
    Melissa Benoist
    Melissa Benoist
    • Rachel Koresh
    John Leguizamo
    John Leguizamo
    • Jacob Vazquez
    Julia Garner
    Julia Garner
    • Michele Jones
    Glenn Fleshler
    Glenn Fleshler
    • Tony Prince
    Camryn Manheim
    Camryn Manheim
    • Balenda Thibodeau
    Eric Lange
    Eric Lange
    • Ron Engelman
    Christopher Stanley
    Christopher Stanley
    • Edward Wiggins
    Michael Hyland
    Michael Hyland
    • Walter Graves
    Demore Barnes
    Demore Barnes
    • Wayne Martin
    Annika Marks
    Annika Marks
    • Kathy Schroeder
    Ralph Alderman
    • Sheriff Harwell
    Andy Umberger
    Andy Umberger
    • Perry Jones
    • Directors
      • John Erick Dowdle
      • Dennie Gordon
    • Writers
      • John Erick Dowdle
      • Drew Dowdle
      • David Thibodeau
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      "Operation Showtime" was the ATF's code name for the planned raid of the Mount Carmel compound.
    • Goofs
      In the episode the ATF is shown shooting penned dogs, then there is a general flurry of mostly-ATF gunfire that starts the battle. There's no compelling evidence the ATF fired first or the gun battle was simply a mistake. There is documentary evidence (video) and testimony both from agents and journalists there to cover the event that the Branch Davidians opened fire as soon as the ATF began to demand they all come out over bullhorns.
    • Quotes

      David Koresh: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down! Please, stop!

      Edward Wiggins: Keep your hands in the air and get on the ground now!

      David Koresh: There are women and children in here!

    • Connections
      References The Lonely Man (1957)

    User reviews2

    Featured review
    6/10

    Operation Showtime

    So now we know why the first episode had FBI negotiator Gary Noesner being critical of FBI tactics in the Ruby Ridge siege.

    Even though Jacob Vazquez infiltrated the Branch Davidians, he did not see them as dangerous and told the ATF not to go in heavy handed. Vazquez is ignored as the ATF go in with all guns blazing. The situation in the compound quickly escalates with casualties in both sides.

    Even though the real life scenario was complex. The narrative here is that Koresh's people shoot at law enforcement as an act of defence. Secondly there is an argument being made the military force is being used against civilians. A radio personality described the difference between law enforcement and military force.

    It certainly looks like in this drama that ATF were ill prepared, unsure as to what was going on and they even did not take some basic communication equipment with them. When the FBI takeover the incident at Waco is a mess.

    The episode does seem to have a sympathetic slant towards Koresh and his followers. Some of the media pundits seen on television news shows at the time who are castigating Koresh. It is implied that the law enforcement authorities wanted Koresh to be painted out as a loon and might have manipulated the media towards that direction. Yet Koresh did release that 60 minute tape where he is reading from the Bible when he should had been better at giving his side of the story.

    This was a fast moving episode. The build up of the first two episodes is over and now it certainly gets messy.
    • Prismark10
    • Oct 31, 2019
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 7, 2018 (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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