This article isn't an in-depth study but an overview on why you should consider watching:
The Pacific (2010)
Mini-Series (10 Episodes)
Made by HBO
Watch on HBO Now
After the success of producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks Band of Brothers, it was only natural to tackle the Pacific front story. Through various biographies on people's experiences, the mini-series combines those for a visually dazzling telling.
➡️ BACKGROUND: The Pacific front was a horror show compared to the European side. To paraphrase, one character said, "At least we had Paris and London, you guys got nothing but jungle rot and malaria." I'm not saying things like Battle of the Bulge and Normandy weren't terrible, so don't take me out of context. My point is that the normal conditions for a European soldier were manageable while the Pacific islands soldiers were subjected to degradation. Of course, I don't believe I could have handled either conflict.
I believe this statement is a fact. The battle scenes are better than/equal to the best war scenes put to screen. Episode 5 is a great example as we follow Eugene Sledge deploying on the beach of Peleliu. It begins as a one-shot for several minutes, and it rivals Saving Private Ryan's Normandy invasion scene. Of course, both come from the mind of Steven Spielberg. If you put a gun to my head, Ryan wins but only by a little. Also, the battle from episode 2 involving Jon Berenthal (The Walking Dead, The Punisher, Baby Driver) is overwhelming at times.
➡️ CHARACTERS: A show is only as good as its performers. Joseph Mazzello steals the show. Did you say you don't know him? Have you ever seen Jurassic Park or Bohemian Rhapsody? He's the kid named Tim in the former and a Queen member in the latter. Remember, Spielberg also made Jurassic Park. He portrays Eugene Sledge whose book "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa" was widely used in the making. He's a southern kid from Mobile, Alabama too, so maybe that'll motivate you!
My 2nd favorite performance comes from James Badge Dale as Robert Leckie. His book, "Helmet for my Pillow", is also heavily used in this mini-series. You follow his character heavily for the first half of the miniseries.\
Other characters to watch for include Jon Seda as Sgt. John Basilone, Jacob Pitts (from FX's Justified) as Bill 'Hoosier' Smith, and Rami Malek as Merriell 'Snafu' Shelton. That last name should sound familiar as it's the Oscar winner who played Freddy Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. Yes, he and Mazzello reunited to play Queen band members. It's interesting since their characters in the miniseries have a lot of chemistry.
➡️ THEMES: The Pacific tackles a lot of moral dilemmas as well. Many soldiers blurred the line between right and wrong. Who is their enemy and who isn't? Can you become desensitized to the gore of war? Also, you can't forget that your enemy is still a person. Much like Americans, some were drafted or forced into action you might say. Then, there's the other side. The Japanese army was quite different than their German comrades. They did some horrific things to try and win.
During all of this, there are still a couple of love storylines. That's a good show that manages to effectively juggle these two polar narratives.
So if you enjoy excellent acting, intriguing stories, and astounding battle scenes, you should view this show immediately! If you hate good shows, I guess don't see it. *Give it a shot!!!*
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