History YMMV / StrikeBack

* FoeYay: Leatherby makes a pretty unsubtle pass at Stonebridge in the third episode of ''Shadow Warfare.''
** Zarkova and Coltrane in ''Revolution''. Neither of them trusts each other--understandable, as she's a DoubleAgent, and he even has WaterTorture inflicted on her at one point, yet dialogue implies that they can't keep their hands off each other.
** Novin dislikes and distrusts Zarkova as well, but is also somewhat attracted to her.

** ''Vengeance'': [[EvilCounterpart Craig Hanson]] is Michael Stonebridge's ArchEnemy throughout the season. After his brother is killed by Michael during a botched SAS training mission, Hanson retaliated by [[StuffedIntoTheFridge murdering Stonebridge's wife, Kerry]]. Not long after, Hanson decided to become a mercenary and auditioned to be part of [[TheDragon Karl Matlock]]'s crew. When Matlock refuses to hire him, Hanson single-handedly neutralizes Matlock's security detail and sneaks into [[BigBad Conrad Knox]]'s mansion; Knox then convinces Matlock to hire him. As Knox's mercenary, Hanson assisted Knox with his schemes, using all of his skills to elude Section 20, attempt to kill Michael several times, and eliminate any law enforcement officers or soldiers in his path. After Knox's initial plans fail, Hanson helps Knox escape minutes before he can be captured. After getting arrested, Hanson escapes from police custody and later murders Matlock when he tries to abandon Knox, taking his place to set off nuclear bombs in Johannesburg. During his final confrontation with Stonebridge, Hanson tries to convince him that they're [[NotSoDifferentRemark not so different]] before attempting to kill him.

** ''Vengeance'': [[EvilCounterpart Craig Hanson]] is Michael Stonebridge's ArchEnemy throughout the season. After his brother is killed by Michael during a botched SAS training mission, Hanson retaliated by [[StuffedIntoTheFridge murdering Stonebridge's wife, Kerry]]. Not long after, Hanson decided to become a mercenary and auditioned to be part of [[TheDragon Karl Matlock]]'s crew. When Matlock refuses to hire him, Hanson single-handedly neutralizes Matlock's security detail and sneaks into [[BigBad Conrad Knox]]'s mansion; Knox then convinces Matlock to hire him. As Knox's mercenary, Hanson assisted Knox with his schemes, using all of his skills to elude Section 20, attempt to kill Michael several times, and eliminate any law enforcement officers or soldiers in his path. After Knox's initial plans fail, Hanson helps Knox escape minutes before he can be captured. After getting arrested, Hanson escapes from police custody and later murders Matlock when he tries to abandon Knox, taking his place to set off nuclear bombs in Johannesburg. During his final confrontation with Stonebridge, Hanson tries to convince him that they're NotSoDifferent before attempting to kill him.

* CompleteMonster: While most of the villains in the series have [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes loved ones]] or [[EvenEvilHasStandards some form of honor]], these two, from "Project Dawn", have neither.

** [[BigBad Latif]], a [[MiddleEasternTerrorists Pakistani terrorist leader]], is the mastermind behind "Project Dawn", which aims to strike back at the West for "Trojan Horse" [[note]]a plan involving planting nerve gas in Iraq, possibly to justify [[UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror the US invasion of Iraq]][[/note]]; his actions, however, would [[DisproportionateRetribution possibly kill thousands of innocent people]]. After kidnapping and executing John Porter from the first season, [[DeadPersonImpersonation Latif poses as a Pakistani intelligence officer]] so he can assist Section 20. He also sends a group of terrorists to storm a hotel in hopes of finding a scientist named Mahmood, with dozens killed in the chaos. After the crisis is resolved, Latif reveals himself to Mahmood and proceeds to interrogate and kill her. With the assistance of several mercenaries, Latif uses the intelligence he gained from Mahmood to find hidden caches of [[DeadlyGas VX nerve gas]] around the world. He then conspires with drug and ArmsDealer Fatmir Hasani to construct an organ farm so that his doctor, Irina Mullova, will have plenty of candidates to aid him with his plans. Once Latif acquires the location of the final nerve gas cache from [[TheMole Joseph Allen]], he immediately has Allen killed, shortly before having Fatmir killed as well [[YouHaveFailedMe for taking a risk that nearly exposed him to Section 20]]. With Mullova's help, Latif plants the nerve gas with two suicide bombers so they can attack a World Summit. Latif murders Mullova [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness after her work is done]], lures his men to Section 20 where they kill most of their personnel, and then kidnaps Colonel Grant and Pakistani presidential candidate General Akmal Ramiz. Furious over their knowledge of Trojan Horse, Latif demands that they confess to the operation on camera, or he'll set off one of the two bombs. He murders Ramiz after he refuses, but Grant complies. Even after she confesses, Latif activates the bomb anyway in hopes of killing thousands.

** [[ArcVillain Episodes 5 and 6]]: [[ScaryBlackMan Tahir]] is the leader of a group of [[AfricanTerrorists Janjaweed rebels]] who RapePillageAndBurn as they please, also kidnapping children in hopes of [[ChildSoldiers raising them to be soldiers]]. After Tahir's rebels kidnap Dr. Clare Somersby, the daughter of [[ArmsDealer Gerald Crawford]], and her entourage, Tahir guns down Clare's fiancé, deeming him invaluable. When Tahir agrees to give Clare back to her father in exchange for the weapons he promised him, Tahir responds by cutting off her right ear upon discovering that Crawford is still short on the weapons. He brings Clare back to his camp and spends his time tormenting her; he dares her to dig through a mass grave in order to find her fiancé's body, and later tries to seduce her, all while his soldiers are getting ready to gang rape Clare's friend. After Stonebridge and Crawford storm Tahir's camp and rescue Clare, he gathers what soldiers he has left to try and hunt them all down.

** [[ArcVillain Episodes 5 and 6]]: [[ScaryBlackMan Tahir]] is the leader of a group of [[AfricanTerrorists Janjaweed rebels]] who RapePillageAndBurn as they please, also kidnapping children in hopes of [[ChildSoldiers raising them to be soldiers]]. After Tahir's rebels kidnap Dr. Clare Somersby, the daughter of [[ArmsDealer Gerald Crawford]], and her entourage, Tahir guns down Clare's fiancé, deeming him invaluable. When Tahir agrees to give Clare back to her father in exchange for the weapons he promised him, Tahir responds by EarAche cutting off her right ear upon discovering that Crawford is still short on the weapons. He brings Clare back to his camp and spends his time tormenting her; he dares her to dig through a mass grave in order to find her fiancé's body, and later tries to seduce her, all while his soldiers are getting ready to gang rape Clare's friend. After Stonebridge and Crawford storm Tahir's camp and rescue Clare, he gathers what soldiers he has left to try and hunt them all down.

** [[ArcVillain Episodes 5 and 6]]: [[ScaryBlackMan Tahir]] is the leader of a group of [[AfricanTerrorists Janjaweed rebels]] who RapePillageAndBurn as they please, also kidnapping children in hopes of [[ChildSoldiers raising them to be soldiers]]. After Tahir's rebels kidnap Dr. Clare Somersby, the daughter of [[ArmsDealer Gerald Crawford]], and her entourage, Tahir guns down Clare's fiancé, deeming him invaluable. When Tahir agrees to give Clare back to her father in exchange for the weapons he promised him, Tahir responds by [[EarAche cutting off her right ear]] upon discovering that Crawford is still short on the weapons. He brings Clare back to his camp and spends his time tormenting her; he dares her to dig through a mass grave in order to find her fiancé's body, and later tries to seduce her, all while his soldiers are getting ready to gang rape Clare's friend. After Stonebridge and Crawford storm Tahir's camp and rescue Clare, he gathers what soldiers he has left to try and hunt them all down.

** [[ScaryBlackMan Tahir]], from [[ArcVillain episodes 5 and 6]], is the leader of a group of [[AfricanTerrorists Janjaweed rebels]] who RapePillageAndBurn as they please, also kidnapping children in hopes of [[ChildSoldiers raising them to be soldiers]]. After Tahir's rebels kidnap Dr. Clare Somersby, the daughter of [[ArmsDealer Gerald Crawford]], and her entourage, Tahir guns down Clare's fiancé, deeming him invaluable. When Tahir agrees to give Clare back to her father in exchange for the weapons he promised him, Tahir responds by [[EarAche cutting off her right ear]] upon discovering that Crawford is still short on the weapons. He brings Clare back to his camp and spends his time tormenting her; he dares her to dig through a mass grave in order to find her fiancé's body, and later tries to seduce her, all while his soldiers are getting ready to gang rape Clare's friend. After Stonebridge and Crawford storm Tahir's camp and rescue Clare, he gathers what soldiers he has left to try and hunt them all down.

** Latif. He made it so only one photo of him exists (years old, bearded and in sunglasses), manages to infiltrate Section 20 in his first appearance, manipulate everyone around him, and nearly succeed in his goal, being one step ahead of everyone until the last episode.

* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: Stapleton and Winchester get to really stretch their dramatic chops in Project Dawn Episode 9, when Scott quits and Stonebridge has to talk him down.

* HilariousInHindsight: All three of the show's leads ended up in major roles on 2015 NBC shows. They haven't crossed over though.
** Richard Armitage played ArcVillain Francis Dolarhyde on {{Series/Hannibal}}.
** Sullivan Stapleton landed the male lead role on {{Series/Blindspot}}.
** Philip Winchester got the lead role on Series/ThePlayer.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Andrew Lincoln as Collinson in series 1/''Origins'', which aired on [=Sky1=] in May 2010. ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' premiered on AMC on Halloween of the same year.
* TookTheBadFilmSeriously: No one expected much of the show when Cinemax involved, believing that it would be nothing more than an excuse plot hung on gratuitous sex and violence. Audiences were pleasantly surprised to find out that the writing and performances were top-notch and that the show featured some truly spectacular stunt work. Opinions are mixed on the copious sex scenes, however.

** [[BigBad Latif]], a [[MiddleEasternTerrorists Pakistani terrorist leader]], is the mastermind behind "Project Dawn", which aims to strike back at the West for "Trojan Horse" [[note]]a plan involving planting nerve gas in Iraq, possibly to justify [[UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror the US invasion of Iraq]][[/note]]; his actions, however, would [[DisproportionateRetribution possibly kill thousands of innocent people]]. After kidnapping and executing John Porter from the first season, [[DeadPersonImpersonation Latif poses as a Pakistani intelligence officer]] so he can assist Section 20. He also sends a group of terrorists to storm a hotel in hopes of finding a scientist named Mahmood, with dozens killed in the chaos. After the crisis is resolved, Latif reveals himself to Mahmood and proceeds to interrogate and kill her. With the assistance of several mercenaries, Latif uses the intelligence he gained from Mahmood to find hidden caches of [[DeadlyGas VX nerve gas]] around the world. He then conspires with drug and ArmsDealer Fatmir Hasani to construct an organ farm so that his doctor, Irina Mullova, will have plenty of candidates to aid him with his plans. Once Latif acquires the location of the final nerve gas cache from [[ReverseMole Joseph Allen]], he immediately has Allen killed, shortly before having Fatmir killed as well [[YouHaveFailedMe for taking a risk that nearly exposed him to Section 20]]. With Mullova's help, Latif plants the nerve gas with two suicide bombers so they can attack a World Summit. Latif murders Mullova [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness after her work is done]], lures his men to Section 20 where they kill most of their personnel, and then kidnaps Colonel Grant and Pakistani presidential candidate General Akmal Ramiz. Furious over their knowledge of Trojan Horse, Latif demands that they confess to the operation on camera, or he'll set off one of the two bombs. He murders Ramiz after he refuses, but Grant complies. Even after she confesses, Latif activates the bomb anyway in hopes of killing thousands.

* MagnificentBastard: Latif. He made it so only one photo of him exists (years old, bearded and in sunglasses), manages to infiltrate Section 20 in his first appearance, manipulate everyone around him, and nearly succeed in his goal, being one step ahead of everyone until the last episode.

** [[BigBad Latif]], a [[MiddleEasternTerrorists Pakistani terrorist leader]], is the mastermind behind "Project Dawn", which aims to strike back at the West for "Trojan Horse" [[note]]a plan involving planting nerve gas in Iraq, possibly to justify [[TheWarOnTerror the US invasion of Iraq]][[/note]]; his actions, however, would [[DisproportionateRetribution possibly kill thousands of innocent people]]. After kidnapping and executing John Porter from the first season, [[DeadPersonImpersonation Latif poses as a Pakistani intelligence officer]] so he can assist Section 20. He also sends a group of terrorists to storm a hotel in hopes of finding a scientist named Mahmood, with dozens killed in the chaos. After the crisis is resolved, Latif reveals himself to Mahmood and proceeds to interrogate and kill her. With the assistance of several mercenaries, Latif uses the intelligence he gained from Mahmood to find hidden caches of [[DeadlyGas VX nerve gas]] around the world. He then conspires with drug and ArmsDealer Fatmir Hasani to construct an organ farm so that his doctor, Irina Mullova, will have plenty of candidates to aid him with his plans. Once Latif acquires the location of the final nerve gas cache from [[ReverseMole Joseph Allen]], he immediately has Allen killed, shortly before having Fatmir killed as well [[YouHaveFailedMe for taking a risk that nearly exposed him to Section 20]]. With Mullova's help, Latif plants the nerve gas with two suicide bombers so they can attack a World Summit. Latif murders Mullova [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness after her work is done]], lures his men to Section 20 where they kill most of their personnel, and then kidnaps Colonel Grant and Pakistani presidential candidate General Akmal Ramiz. Furious over their knowledge of Trojan Horse, Latif demands that they confess to the operation on camera, or he'll set off one of the two bombs. He murders Ramiz after he refuses, but Grant complies. Even after she confesses, Latif activates the bomb anyway in hopes of killing thousands.

* MagnificentBastard: Conrad Knox, from the beginning of the season he has complete control of the situation with Section 20 several steps behind him.
** [[spoiler: Leo Kamali]] from ''Shadow Warfare'', who proves himself to be one helluva GambitSpeedChess master, with everyone dancing to his tune (and he dancing around them), who also managed to stay as TheManBehindTheMan right until the last episode.

** Richard Armitage played ArcVillain Francis Dolarhyde on Series/Hannibal.
** Sullivan Stapleton landed the male lead role on Series/Blindspot.

* HeReallyCanAct: Stapleton and Winchester get to really stretch their dramatic chops in Project Dawn Episode 9, when Scott quits and Stonebridge has to talk him down.

** [[ScaryBlackMan Tahir]] from [[ArcVillain episodes 5 and 6]] is the leader of a group of [[AfricanTerrorists Janjaweed rebels]] who RapePillageAndBurn as they please, also kidnapping children in hopes of [[ChildSoldiers raising them to be soldiers]]. After Tahir's rebels kidnap Dr. Clare Somersby, the daughter of [[ArmsDealer Gerald Crawford]], and her entourage, Tahir guns down Clare's fiancé, deeming him invaluable. When Tahir agrees to give Clare back to her father in exchange for the weapons he promised him, Tahir responds by [[EarAche cutting off her right ear]] upon discovering that Crawford is still short on the weapons. He brings Clare back to his camp and spends his time tormenting her; he dares her to dig through a mass grave in order to find her fiancé's body, and later tries to seduce her, all while his soldiers are getting ready to gang rape Clare's friend. After Stonebridge and Crawford storm Tahir's camp and rescue Clare, he gathers what soldiers he has left to try and hunt them all down.

** [[BigBad Latif]], a [[MiddleEasternTerrorists Pakistani terrorist leader]], is the mastermind behind "Project Dawn", which aims to strike back at the West for "Trojan Horse"[[note]]a plan involving planting nerve gas in Iraq, possibly to justify [[TheWarOnTerror the US invasion of Iraq]][[/note]]; his actions, however, would [[DisproportionateRetribution possibly kill thousands of innocent people]]. After kidnapping and executing John Porter from the first season, [[DeadPersonImpersonation Latif poses as a Pakistani intelligence officer]] so he can assist Section 20. He also sends a group of terrorists to storm a hotel in hopes of finding a scientist named Mahmood, with dozens killed in the chaos. After the crisis is resolved, Latif reveals himself to Mahmood and proceeds to interrogate and kill her. With the assistance of several mercenaries, Latif uses the intelligence he gained from Mahmood to find hidden caches of [[DeadlyGas VX nerve gas]] around the world. He then conspires with drug and ArmsDealer Fatmir Hasani to construct an organ farm so that his doctor, Irina Mullova, will have plenty of candidates to aid him with his plans. Once Latif acquires the location of the final nerve gas cache from [[ReverseMole Joseph Allen]], he immediately has Allen killed, shortly before having Fatmir killed as well [[YouHaveFailedMe for taking a risk that nearly exposed him to Section 20]]. With Mullova's help, Latif plants the nerve gas with two suicide bombers so they can attack a World Summit. Latif murders Mullova [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness after her work is done]], lures his men to Section 20 where they kill most of their personnel, and then kidnaps Colonel Grant and Pakistani presidential candidate General Akmal Ramiz. Furious over their knowledge of Trojan Horse, Latif demands that they confess to the operation on camera, or he'll set off one of the two bombs. He murders Ramiz after he refuses, but Grant complies. Even after she confesses, Latif activates the bomb anyway in hopes of killing thousands.

** [[BigBad Latif]], a [[MiddleEasternTerrorists Pakistani terrorist leader]], is the mastermind behind "Project Dawn", which aims to strike back at the West for "Trojan Horse", a plan invilving planting nerve gas in Iraq, possibly to justify [[TheWarOnTerror the US invasion of Iraq]]; his actions, however, would [[DisproportionateRetribution possibly kill thousands of innocent people]]. After kidnapping and executing John Porter from the first season, [[DeadPersonImpersonation Latif poses as a Pakistani intelligence officer]] so he can assist Section 20. He also sends a group of terrorists to storm a hotel in hopes of finding a scientist named Mahmood, with dozens killed in the chaos. After the crisis is resolved, Latif reveals himself to Mahmood and proceeds to interrogate and kill her. With the assistance of several mercenaries, Latif uses the intelligence he gained from Mahmood to find hidden caches of [[DeadlyGas VX nerve gas]] around the world. He then conspires with drug and ArmsDealer Fatmir Hasani to construct an organ farm so that his doctor, Irina Mullova, will have plenty of candidates to aid him with his plans. Once Latif acquires the location of the final nerve gas cache from [[ReverseMole Joseph Allen]], he immediately has Allen killed, shortly before having Fatmir killed as well [[YouHaveFailedMe for taking a risk that nearly exposed him to Section 20]]. With Mullova's help, Latif plants the nerve gas with two suicide bombers so they can attack a World Summit. Latif murders Mullova [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness after her work is done]], lures his men to Section 20 where they kill most of their personnel, and then kidnaps Colonel Grant and Pakistani presidential candidate General Akmal Ramiz. Furious over their knowledge of Trojan Horse, Latif demands that they confess to the operation on camera, or he'll set off one of the two bombs. He murders Ramiz after he refuses, but Grant complies. Even after she confesses, Latif activates the bomb anyway in hopes of killing thousands.