Day of Days

The episode begins with interviews with American veterans of World War II, which lets the viewer know that the following program is as close to the true story as a reenactment can be. Like Saving Private Ryan, it opens with a graphic, disturbing scene as the US paratroopers prepare to jump into Normandy. Planes burst into flames, men are shot. The cinematography is beautiful, which helps immerse the viewer, who feels the same fear as the soldiers themselves. The cast is mostly character actors, with few familiar names, even to a film buff like me. This is good, as it prevents the viewer from having any preconceptions about the characters. The set pieces are masterfully designed, noting the cows chewing cud in the background while soldiers are talking. It doesn't look like a Hollywood film set; it looks like a once-inhabited village. This is the first episode of Band of Brothers I have seen. I will most definitely watch all the other episodes.

On the D-Day, the allied paratroopers jump behind the German lines and the Easy Company is scattered in Normandy and many of the survivors have lost their weapons. Sgt. Richard D. Winters gathers a couple of soldiers and they head to the Battalion. The squad is assigned to destroy three German cannons in their first war experience. Will they succeed?

"Band of Brothers" wannabe "Combat!" but there is a great difference between the shows. "Combat!" was created by Robert Altman and released seventeen years after the end of World War II, in a time that there was no CGI. Therefore the fight scenes are extremely realistic and believable. Further, the characters are well developed and with human attitudes. "Band of Brothers" has the usual exaggeration of recent films, with excessive use of CGIs, and so far a poor character development.

"Day of Days" has a storyline in general good, but the scene where the American soldier executes the German POWs is a stupid and not necessary war crime. If the viewer consider that the crime was nearby the Battalion, the soldier should at least go to Martial Court, which was usual in those years. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Day of Days"

Easy Company jumps in to Normandy.

This is an exceptional episode of television that is highly compelling, well acted and (by Hollywood standards) contains a decent level of historical accuracy.

Opening interviews are very impactful before the episode starts. When you see a soldier become emotional when briefly referencing the loss of life it is more powerful than anything movie artistry can create.

The plot is impressively told from the perspective of Lieutenant Winters and although condensed for pacing, it mostly reflects historical records and claims.

Having not served in the military I am not qualified to comment how realistic the battle scenes are, but as a viewer they do put an audience in what feels like a brutal and chaotic situation. The jump scenes are terrifying to watch and the Brécourt Manor Assault is a great piece of technical filmmaking.

The cinematography, sound effects, editing, colour grading, costumes, props, music and special effects all come together to attack your senses.

Damian Lewis leads it wonderfully and is supported well by other cast members.

Band of Brothers tells an important story that hopefully prompts those who are unfamiliar with the events to find out more.

The scene when Winters and his small force of men take out the German artillery emplacements was so intense you can practically feel the bullets whizzing by your head. The use of a non-stationary camera makes it even more real for the viewer, like a first-person experience with more realism and tension than the stationary cameras typically used in past war movies and TV shows. I think the opening combat scene of the Normandy Beach action of "Saving Private Ryan" equals (or maybe surpasses) the battle scene in "Day of Days".

In the second episode of the Hanks and Spielberg series Band of Brothers, D-Day has arrived, and all Hell is breaking loose. Explosions knock down Allied planes, gunfire blankets the night sky, and men are being killed off one by one in every direction - both in the air and on the ground. The opening to "Day of Days" is an unforgettable sequence that will stick with you; men are cremated as their planes catch fire and plummet to the earth, while the brave soldiers of Easy Company parachute to the ground, hoping to avoid certain death. The panicked faces of the men of Easy Company with Richard "Dick" Winters' calm and calculated demeanor, complement each other in a very interesting manner. Winters is someone who, under pressure, manages - or at least tries - to stay sane and in control, despite being terrified.

The episode does not focus entirely on the Normandy landings. Soldiers are scattered across the region, and we see familiar faces try to make it to their designated rendezvous points; then, there is a very well-executed scene which takes place during the day, involving some of the men taking part in an attack on a German stronghold.

"Day of Days" truly has it all. The only minor complaint that I have, is that this episode could have built upon several of its smaller character moments immediately following the dropping of Easy Company, whether for additional development or for pacing purposes, as the script does jump between men ineffectively. Things never get truly fleshed out properly among the characters, leaving room only for disorientation and a sense of misplacement. One could argue that this structure adds a necessary layer to the unfolding events, but the narrative is quite clear from the chaotic nature of the episode's opening moments. The characters we do see are subject to brief encounters with their companions that contribute very little to not just the story, but to the overarching themes of the entire series. There are much better examples of character interactions within this show, particularly in the next episode, "Carentan," between the traumatized Albert Blithe and a screaming Winters. "Day of Days" could have been stronger on this front towards the beginning, but this is the smallest of complaints.

Overall, "Day of Days" is a very impressive episode that has withstood the test of time, particularly in terms of its special effects. The visuals are slowly being outdone, both in film and television, but there's never a point in time where something looks unbelievable. Instead, we get a story told with heart alongside bold, well-orchestrated action sequences.