The Pacific miniseries - Episodes 2 & 3

 

EPISODE 2 (Basilone)  -  This episode continues on Guadalcanal with Leckie and Basilone.  An intense naval bombardment is featured.  The Army arrives and to contrast how the two branches were treated, Leckie and others steal from an Army supply depot.  The scene points out that the soldiers were given better weapons than the Marines.  The episode is dominated by the incident where Basilone earns his Medal of Honor, but loses one of his best friends.  Later, he speaks of the randomness of death.  He gets third degree wounds from carrying his sizzling machine gun barrel.  It is part of an amazing night battle that is among the best combat scenes ever shot.  Admirably, the film does not copy the “Saving Private Ryan” style, but has its own look and feel.  Themes include the mental and physical exhaustion of battle.  Another is that the Japanese make suicidal frontal attacks.  This foreshadows future combat.  Meanwhile back in the States, Sledge is finally going to get to enlist. The episode ends with the conclusion of the battle.  Although the episode features Chesty Puller, it does not give the big picture of the battle.  The episode is great for showing the nature of the combat in the early stages, but is not interested in the big picture.  One problem with the episode is it does not show some of the hardships the men endured -  rain, mud, critters, etc.  

 Grade = A

EPISODE 3 (Melbourne)   -  The series moves to Australia as both Leckie’s and Basilone’s units recuperate and then retrain.  There is lots of fraternization and drinking.  Leckie hooks up with a beautiful lass and becomes part of her family.  The relationship develops rapidly because this being HBO there has to be a sex scene.  The girl is all in until she shocks Leckie with a jilting that hits him hard.  This may be a true story, but it does avoid the cliches of a wartime romance.  And highlights how painful it was to get a letter telling you that a loved one died or seeing the name of someone you knew in the newspaper list of casualties.  Meanwhile, Basilone is awarded his Medal of Honor and told he will be going stateside for a bond tour.  The episode ends with Basilone saying goodbye to his best friend.  This nicely taps into the bromances that occur with men who have gone through combat together.  Themes include the temporariness of wartime romances and the disconnect between the frontlines and the rear areas.  Combat junkies can skip this episode.  It should keep females viewing.   

Grade = B-