The Pacific – Everyone goes home

The Pacific has finally come to an end. The much hyped (even by me) epic faux-sequel to Band of Brothers never quite lived up to its precursor, but still was pretty damn entertaining and, at times, awe-inspiring. The series showed us that the war against Japan was a much different type of conflict than that in the European Theatre of Operations, though fought by the same type of boys. The finale gave us an opportunity to follow our heroes just for a bit after their war ended.

A different type of war made for a different type of show. Overall, I think the narrative suffered from trying to follow three different groups of men throughout the war. To me, the stories of John Basilone and Robert Leckie were more compelling than that of Eugene Sledge, though the Sledgehammer’s journey seemed more central to the overall story. While I may have not loved the way the story was told, I cannot deny that these men’s experiences were a tale I think everyone should see.

The episode was filled with incredible little moments from their trips home:

• The celebration that erupted in Lecke’s hospital ward. Most everyone in the room was excited, but I appreciated the soldier who wept, and the nurse that consoled him. To have fought and lost so much, only to have it all end so suddenly, and from so far away?
• Basilone’s widow and family trying keep their shared grief in check as they met each other for the first time.
• Snafu’s farewell to Burgin, showing signs of compassion that he never really let sneak out during the war. Then, his subsequent goodbye to Sledge, trying to avoid having to show any more.
• Sledge, lost amongst his family, sitting in his own house.
• Vera and Leckie stealing a stolen glance during a prayer (and his mother catching them doing it).
• Sledge and his father taking a walk on the farm.

Now that our journey is complete, I’m going to miss The Pacific. I know I was a bit tough on it during its run, but it was only because I expected perfection. Bravo to Executive Producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg and everyone involved.

Notes & Quotes:

• “What do we do know? What an idiot.” – Snafu
• Loved the airborne soldier who wouldn’t take Leckie’s tip because he knew how much harder the war was for the Marines.
• Not sure why, but I was surprised Leckie didn’t send his letters to Vera.
• “If you think that I’m gonna stand at the altar, and lose Mary Houston to the likes of you … Well hell yes!” – Sledge
• “I thought that. Every guy back has thought that. You’ve just got to pull yourself out of bed in the morning and get on with your day. You do that enough times in a row, and you forget some things … For a while anyways.” – Sidney Phillips

Clacked by Ivey West
on May 16, 2010 @ 23:00 EST5EDT