Has the series finally kicked into high gear? This episode was much more engaging than the previous eps, and fairly flew past.
There were some good, large combat scenes in this one. Up until now I was curious as to how they could spend so much money on making the series. Well, still curious, just a little less.
I’ve been reading the book by Hugh Ambrose and enjoying that as well (a little more than halfway through it).
I’m souring on it. It’s too…Spielbergian. Every quiet moment is a moment for deep, philosophical reflection on the nature of war and man. This new kid in the last episode? I could his disenchantment with how unromantic war is coming from a mile away. I foresee him having to kill a Jap in close quarters and being really upset about it. And the action scenes in this last episode didn’t work for me. Even the beach landing, which Spielberg is pretty much the master of, felt like it was missing something.
I’m really not sure what this show is trying to be. It’s certainly not going for historical depth, and the characters seem too stock to really care about from a dramatic viewpoint (and that grizzled sergeant on the beach…was he supposed to be tough or did he have some kind of mental illness?). Aside from Lucky, I don’t really care about any of the characters, but even Lucky has that totally unnecessary bedwetting problem, which is another problem I have. Rather than delivering compelling fighting action, the show seems more interested in showing me Marines digging out teeth from corpses and men vomiting or having mental breakdowns.
I watched Treme afterwards, and it was like a breath of fresh air. In one episode it’s already delivered up 6 characters I’m interested in.
*I could SEE his disenchantment
moidalize I agree with the portrayal of Sledge, although he comes off as even worse of a disillusioned kid in the pacific book ( I haven’t read the book he wrote though yet).
The sergeant you mentioned screamed, “I’m the technical adviser who was given a quick role in the movie”
I like sid and leckie.
I think that’s a fair analysis. I guess I was just relieved that it wasn’t another hour of dark screen. I’m curious as to whether the book talks about these characters in the same terms as Spielberg portrays them, i.e., did one of them actually have the involuntary urinary problems?
His name’s Leckie? Screw that, he’s Lucky to me. That’s another problem…I don’t know who any of these people are.
He’s an actual person from Sledge’s book.
Yeah, I’m liking dat show, me. 
I’m definitely pleased to have the Bunk and Lester Freamon back in my life.
This episode probably had the best battle scenes of the series so far. I think it does fall short in many areas, character mepathy for the audience being the key one, especially when compared to the brilliance of Band of Brothers. Nonetheless, I am glad ofor this series, because the Pacific Island campaigns seem to get short shrift compared to the Eurpoean front. I think this would have been better as a documentary, I really like the openings with the actual soldiers who went through this hell.
This series, while having flaws, seems to be improving in my opinion. I knew it was going to primarily focus on two characters (Leckie & Sledge) but they have done a poor job with the developing any other characters. As we’ve reached the mid-way point, I’m starting to become more interested in these two.
The night battles never bothered me like they have some and this last episode delivered some prolonged intensity. Having read Sledge’s book, I am looking forward to next week and the charge across that open space to the airfield. As much as I disliked his book, two things stuck with me - how dark and frightening it was with most of the fighting being at night and that charge to the airfield.
Speaking about the book, one thing that also got mentioned quite a lot was the infiltrations by Japanese into the lines to cut the throat of a soldier in his foxhole at night. Really haven’t seen that so far, only the one accidental shooting of the medic who went to pee without telling anyone.
Anyway, I’m hooked and have really tried in the last couple episodes to disconnect the expectations that were set by Band of Brothers and just enjoy this for what they present.
I don’t have HBO, so I haven’t been able to watch any of this series, and I’ve just run across this thread. Have they done anything on Bataan or the POWs?
Thanks so much, I really appreciate it.
He’s an actual person from his book, Helmet for My Pillow, which along with two of Sledge’s books (*With the Old Breed *and China Marine) as well as some other source material form the basis for the story(ies) being told in the mini-series.
I hear the complaints on character development. I have found myself doing a great deal fo side-reading to keep up with this.
I’m watching it, but do not like the main character at all and overall find it pales in comparison to bob. not enough action imo and too much focus on underdeveloped characters, the only one who’s name i know is leckie
No Bataan, and they’re way past that chronologically in the narrative. No POW stuff so far.
No, Helmet for My Pillow is Leckie’s book. The gunny who cursed out the LT at the range, was doing bayonet drills by his tent and was showering in the rain was a WWI vet who spent 25 years in the USMC. He’s a real person and he was in Sledge’s book.
For anybody who may have wondered why a GSGT was able to get away with screaming at an officer, the range master is god on the range, and his instructions followed to the letter. I’ve twice come close to being shot on a weapons range because some idiot couldn’t follow instructions.
My brother, who did two hitches in the Marine Corps, shot me in the leg at an indoor range. Firearms discipline seems to come hard for some people.
:smack: for some reason I thought that Leckie was who you were talking about. On reread, I see that is obviously not the case. Carry on.