History Series / SecretArmy

Parodied by the sitcom ''Series/AlloAllo'' [[WeirdAlEffect so successfully that the sitcom is more well-known than the original.]] Despite the serious tone and the fact it's played completely straight, if you've seen ''Allo Allo'' you'll probably find it impossible to take seriously.

''Secret Army'' is a 1970s drama centered around a UsefulNotes/WorldWarII Belgian resistance group called Lifeline, operating in and around Brussels. Parodied by the sitcom ''Series/AlloAllo'' [[WeirdAlEffect so successfully that the sitcom is more well-known than the original.]] Despite the serious tone and the fact it's played completely straight, if you've seen ''Allo Allo'' you'll probably find it impossible to take seriously.

''Secret Army'' is a 1970s drama centered around a WorldWarTwo Belgian resistance group called Lifeline, operating in and around Brussels. Parodied by the sitcom ''Series/AlloAllo'' [[WeirdAlEffect so successfully that the sitcom is more well-known than the original.]] Despite the serious tone and the fact it's played completely straight, if you've seen ''Allo Allo'' you'll probably find it impossible to take seriously.

''Secret Army'' is a 1970s drama centered around a WorldWarTwo Belgian resistance group called Lifeline, operating in and around Brussels. Parodied by the sitcom ''Series/AlloAllo'' [[WeirdAlEffect so successfully that the sitcom is more well-known than the original.]] Despite the serious tone and the fact it's played completely straight if you've seen ''Allo Allo'' you'll probably find it impossible to take seriously.

'''''Secret Army''''' is a 1970s drama centered around a WorldWarTwo Belgian resistance group called Lifeline, operating in and around Brussels. Parodied by the sitcom ''Series/AlloAllo'' [[WeirdAlEffect so successfully that the sitcom is more well-known than the original.]] Despite the serious tone and the fact it's played completely straight if you've seen ''Allo Allo'' you'll probably find it impossible to take seriously.

''Secret Army'' is a 1970s drama centered around a WorldWarTwo Belgian resistance group called Lifeline, operating in and around Brussels. Parodied by the sitcom ''Series/AlloAllo'' [[WeirdAlEffect so successfully that the sitcom is more well-known than the original.]]

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: At the beginning of series two, Yvette is killed in a bombing raid.]]
** [[spoiler:Also, Reinhardt in the final episode, as he is executed by a firing squad orchestrated by a revenge hungry Kessler.]]
** [[spoiler:As well as Bradley in 'Sound of Thunder'.]]

*** [[spoiler:As well as Bradley in 'Sound of Thunder'.]]

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: At the beginning of series two, Yvette is killed in a bombing raid. Also, Reinhardt in the final episode, as he is executed by a firing squad orchestrated by a revenge hungry Kessler.]]

* CodeName: Lisa's - and, later, Albert's - is Yvette.

* FirstNameBasis: When John Curtis is first introduced, Yvette refers to him as 'Mr. Curtis', later moving onto 'Curtis', and finally just 'John'. Later, Bradley asks to be addressed by his first name, Nick.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Lifeline successfully remained hidden throughout the occupation of Belgium. But Monique has fallen out of love with Albert and moves to Britain, Natalie has lost both her parents and her two love interests and the honourable Reinhardt is executed by a revenge seeking Kessler on trumped up charges. [[KarmaHoudini Kessler then escapes with his mistress.]]]]
* BlackAndGreyMorality: Many of the Germans in this series are variously {{Punch Clock Villain}}s or those who believe MyCountryRightOrWrong. Even the nastiest character, Kessler the Gestapo chief has depth to his character. He is flawlessly sweet to his girlfriend, unlike Resistance leader Albert, who is quite ghastly to his. The various resistance groups argue among themselves and contain some rather nasty individuals. The Communists in particular are shown as backstabbers and Lifeline send British pilots home so they can continue bombing German cities. Lifeline also think nothing of [[spoiler: killing a single mother in a hit and run before she could alert the German authorities to a hidden airman in series 1.]]
* BritishBrevity: Something of an aversion. While the show only ran for three seasons, those seasons were 16, 13, and 14 (counting the unaired "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy") episodes, respectively.

* ChristmasEpisode: The Episode "Guests at God's table" in series 2. It is also the episode in which Monique recognises and acknowledges the MoralDissonance of their activities.

* GlamorousWartimeSinger: Monique becomes this from Series 2 onwards as the Candide moves from a cafe to a new upmarket venue. Aided by the fact that [[TheCastShowOff actress Angela Richards wrote and sang many of the songs]].

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: At the beginning of series 2, Lisa Colbert, Lifeline's founder and leader, is killed in a bombing raid. Also, Reinhardt in the final episode, as he is executed by a firing squad orchestrated by a revenge hungry Kessler.]]

* PutOnABus: In the finale of season one, [[spoiler:to escape to Switzerland, Curtis poses as the driver of a bus full of Hitler Youth on a day trip. [[LongBusTrip He never returns, despite mentioning that he probably will]], and is only ever mentioned again a few times.]]

* SuspiciouslySmallArmy: The Occupation forces of Belgium never really amount to more than about 15 members of a bizarre SS/Wehrmacht unit. Major Brandt is supposed to be in charge of a Luftwaffe police unit, yet never seems to have any Luftwaffe personnel.

* TrainEscape: Of a sort. In an episode in series 2, a British airman steals a locomotive from a railway yard to escape German search parties.

* PutOnABus: In the finale of season one, [[spoiler:to escape to Switzerland, Curtis poses as the driver of a bus full of Hitler Youth on a day trip. [[LongBusTrip He never returns, despite mentioning that he probably will]]. He is only ever mentioned again a few times.]]

* PutOnABus: In the finale of season one, [[spoiler:to escape to Switzerland, Curtis poses as the driver of a bus full of Hitler Youth on a field trip]].

* NephewIsm: Sometime prior to the first episode of the show, Yvette's parents [[spoiler:(and [[TheLostLenore fiancé]])]] died and Yvette moved in with her aunt and uncle.

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: At the beginning of series 2 Lisa Colbert, lifeline's founder and leader is killed in a bombing raid. Also Reinhardt in the final episode as he is executed by a firing squad orchestrated by a revenge hungry Kessler.]]

* FirstNameBasis: When John Curtis is first introduced, Yvette refers to him as 'Mr. Curtis', later moving onto 'Curtis', and finally just 'John'. In the third series, Bradley asks to be addressed by his first name, Nick.

* BritishBrevity: Something of an aversion. While the show only ran for three seasons, those seasons were 16, 13, and 14 (Counting the unaired "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy) episodes, respectively.

* TheCynic: Reinhardt is probably the most cynical character in the whole series. A trait that makes him the only character in the whole series whose openly defiant towards Kessler.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Brandt]] After implication in an attempt to kill Hitler.

* FinalSolution: An early episode of the first series touches on The Holocaust where Curtis attempts to help a Jewish family escape from Brussels.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Watch carefully and you'll see a few actors from Allo Allo appearing in series 2 and 3.
** Creator/AnthonyHead also appears as a young German officer and [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory John Ratzenberger]] as a Canadian Sergeant.

* MissingEpisode: ''What did you do during the war daddy?'' was the final filmed episode. Supposedly pulled due to a strike at the BBC, it was supposedly actually pulled due to concerns of dodgy old age make up and whether its revenge seeking and anti-communist tract was out of place with the tone of the rest of the series. Set 25 years after WorldWarTwo it concerns the characters being interviewed for a TV series. The episode was not featured in the DVD boxed set and most interviewed cast members felt it was right to pull it. Clips sometimes appear on Website/YouTube.

* OfficerAndAGentleman: Captain Durnford is this in the third and final series as well as being a ReasonableAuthorityFigure considering that he [[spoiler: prevents Monique from having her head shaved by a lynch mob]]. Kessler is also this but only towards his girlfriend.

* TheQuisling: The Lifeline crew pretend to be quislings as a cover for their resistance activities.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse?: During the evacuation of Brussels, Kessler's military assistant Wullner is seen leaving with him. In the next episode he has disappeared.

* GlamorousWartimeSinger: Monique becomes this from Series 2 onwards as the Candide moves from a cafe to a new upmarket venue. Aided by the fact that [[CastShowOff actress Angela Richards wrote and sang many of the songs]].

* BlackandGreyMorality: Many of the Germans in this series are variously {{Punch Clock Villain}}s or those who believe MyCountryRightOrWrong. Even the nastiest character, Kessler the Gestapo chief has depth to his character. He is flawlessly sweet to his girlfriend, unlike Resistance leader Albert, who is quite ghastly to his. The various resistance groups argue among themselves and contain some rather nasty individuals. The Communists in particular are shown as backstabbers and Lifeline send British pilots home so they can continue bombing German cities. Lifeline also think nothing of [[spoiler: killing a single mother in a hit and run before she could alert the German authorities to a hidden airman in series 1.]]

* TheCynic: Reinhardtis probably the most cynical character in the whole series. A trait that makes him the only character in the whole series whose openly defiant towards Kessler.

* GlamorousWartimeSinger: Monique becomes this from Series 2 onwards as the Candide moves from a cafe to a new upmarket venue. Aided by the fact that actress Angela Richards wrote and sang many of the songs.

** Brandt also talks about it with Kessler, he is horrified by it. But Kessler tells him to shut up.

* WarIsHell: Many reminders of this throughout the series, The protagonist's often fail.

** AnthonyHead also appears as a young German officer and [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory John Ratzenberger]] as a Canadian Sergeant.

* WoundedGazelleGambit: A tactic played by undercover Germans pretending to be Allied Aircrew. Kessler takes this to the extreme and breaks the arm of one such agent so his cover will look more convincing.