Iwo Jima

In a series that has given us nothing but non-stop mud, blood, and melancholia, episode 8 finally tosses us a lifeline - a love story! Some reviewers seem appalled by this sudden departure from constant suffering, but honestly, it was a welcome relief. Melbourne doesn't count, because it was also a let down, with Leckie stumbling around.

After watching seven episodes of grim-faced men slogging through hell, a bit of wartime romance was like a breath of fresh, makeup-scented air. Annie Parisse's Lena brought just the right amount of '40s glam, all lipstick and courage, showing that while the men were off fighting, the women were waging their own battles.

And for a brief, shining moment, we were reminded that somewhere out there, life was going on, people were falling in love, and not everything was a slow march to death. The setting stayed suitably martial, because God forbid we forget there's a war happening, but the break from unrelenting despair was much needed.

Of course, they couldn't let us have nice things for long - cue the Iwo Jima landing. My first time through, I was gutted by the outcome, and not in the emotional, cathartic way. More like, "Wait, we're back to this again?"

Honestly, they could've saved Iwo Jima for the next episode and let Basilone's story breathe a bit more. He's the character with the most emotional weight, but somehow, he's squeezed into the tiniest corner of the narrative, while Leckie (whose only redeeming feature is that he's based on a real person) seems to get far more screen time for... what, exactly? Looking mildly annoyed at everything?

At the end of the day, it's not the characters' fault. They're doing the best they can with what they were given, but the fragmented, gloomy storytelling feels as disconnected as the soldiers were from the lives they left behind. And while I understand the Pacific theatre was brutal, couldn't they have chosen more compelling personalities to show it through? At least throw in a character who knows how to tell a joke or two.

Episode 8 of The Pacific, titled "Iwo Jima," shifts its focus to the brutal and infamous battle that played a pivotal role in the Pacific War. The episode closely follows the experiences of John Basilone (Jon Seda), who, after a period of frustration with his role as a war hero back in the U. S., returns to the battlefield as a gunnery sergeant. This episode captures his deep desire to fight alongside his men once again, leading him to one of the most devastating and intense battles of the war. The horrific combat scenes on Iwo Jima and Basilone's personal journey define the episode, culminating in a powerful yet tragic narrative arc.

The episode excels in portraying the chaos and carnage of the battle. The direction by David Nutter is relentless, immersing viewers in the visceral experience of the Iwo Jima assault. The episode opens with tension as the Marines prepare for the landing, knowing the heavy resistance they will face. Once the battle begins, the action is intense and brutal, with a relentless barrage of gunfire, explosions, and close-quarters combat. Nutter's direction effectively captures the claustrophobic nature of the battlefield, particularly in the scenes depicting the black volcanic sand of Iwo Jima, which offers no cover or respite for the Marines. The episode's pace is swift, with little time for reflection, mirroring the urgency and danger of the battle.

Jon Seda's performance as John Basilone is the emotional core of the episode. His portrayal of Basilone's return to combat is filled with a sense of duty and determination, making his ultimate fate all the more poignant. Seda brings a quiet intensity to the role, conveying Basilone's internal struggle between his sense of obligation to his fellow soldiers and his growing disillusionment with the war. In the moments leading up to his death, Seda's performance is particularly affecting, as Basilone exhibits both leadership and selflessness, embodying the qualities that made him a revered figure in the military. His death in battle is a significant moment, handled with a sense of tragedy and respect, highlighting the high cost of heroism.

The cinematography in "Iwo Jima" is another standout element. The harsh, desolate landscape of the island is depicted in stark, gritty detail, amplifying the sense of doom that pervades the episode. The use of muted colors and shadows enhances the bleakness of the situation, contrasting sharply with the vibrant imagery from earlier episodes when the characters were in training or on leave. The battle scenes are shot with a documentary-like realism, pulling the viewer into the action and allowing them to feel the fear and confusion of the Marines as they navigate the treacherous terrain under constant fire.

Despite the many strengths of the episode, one potential critique is that it relies heavily on the chaos of combat to drive the narrative, leaving less room for character development outside of Basilone's storyline. While the battle scenes are expertly executed and necessary to depict the intensity of Iwo Jima, some viewers may find the lack of deeper exploration into the other characters' experiences during this episode to be a missed opportunity. The focus on action limits the quieter moments of introspection or camaraderie that have defined previous episodes in the series.

In terms of thematic exploration, "Iwo Jima" delves deeply into the concepts of sacrifice and heroism. The episode doesn't shy away from showing the horrific cost of war, both physically and emotionally. Basilone's decision to return to the front lines, despite being celebrated as a hero in America, underscores the internal conflicts soldiers face between personal survival and a sense of duty. His ultimate sacrifice serves as a sobering reminder of the many lives lost in the pursuit of victory, and the episode effectively raises questions about the meaning of heroism and the heavy toll it exacts on those who serve.

In conclusion, "Iwo Jima" is a harrowing and emotionally charged episode that showcases both the brutality of war and the personal sacrifices made by soldiers like John Basilone. The direction, cinematography, and performances, particularly by Jon Seda, elevate the episode, making it one of the most memorable and intense chapters of The Pacific. While the focus on action and combat might leave less room for other characters to shine, the episode remains a powerful depiction of one of the most critical battles in the Pacific Theater. Its exploration of heroism, duty, and sacrifice leaves a lasting impact, contributing to the broader themes of the series as a whole.

I could not agree more with the other posters who gave this episode and in fact the entire series an "awful" rating. What is wrong with these people who were responsible for actually putting this series to film? The writers, directors, (it is not the actors fault obviously) - even the high flying big-name Producers like spielberg and tom hanks, and the others - DIDN'T THEY PREVIEW THESE EPISODES as they were being produced in the last couple of years in Australia ??? Hello? Is ANYBODY in charge of this mess?? Is there a Pilot, Is there anyone at the Helm of the SHIP ?? I do NOT think so in this series. Just as the other posters said (and well said thank you folks) - this is like a soap opera, romance, total BS, sex scenes, meaningless conversations about nothing, long drawn out slow boring melodrama scenes, in fact ONE after ANOTHER. This is a one hour show right? Each of the 10 episodes is supposed to be approx an hour. Has anyone else noticed that when each episode comes on at 9am EST, you can look at the clock, the credits and that LONG drawn out musical score wails away for a good 5 or more minutes, then Tom Hanks speaks his little ditty about the 'history' behind the episode, then they talk to a few actual WW2 Vets about the battle depicted in that episode (using the word 'depicted' VERY very loosely here too) - Btw, god bless those wonderful WW2 veterans, one of the most amazing & superb generations of Americans in history. Anyhow, by the time the interviews are over, Hanks says his mumbo-jumbo, and the credits play along with Hanz Zimmers hugely overblown & painfully slow theme music, have you ever looked at the CLOCK ?? It is usually about 9:15 or 9:20pm by then!! And nothing has actually played from the real episode yet !!!!! Then it starts, and as usual, its 80-90% soap opera melodrama BS (not actual historically accurate battle scenes), and THEN, they begin to "wrap up" the episode at about 1/4 of or 10 minutes BEFORE the hour!! By 9:50, its all over!! And you sit there and go, what the hell just happened? I didn't really see anything!! The actual episode (filmed scenes) comprise about a total of THIRTY minutes of an entire hour time slot !!! What a HUGE rip-off this series has been. ANd it was supposedly what over 200 million dollars to produce, the most expensive made-for-TV series in history, and MORE than many big-budget Hollywood movies cost!! I just am totally disappointed by this awful series (in case you could not tell) - Yes Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers, the Pacific is definitely NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!! Shame on all of you big name stars and Hollywood people who were responsible for making this letdown series !! YUCK !!!!!!!!!

Summary: 40 minutes of dating, followed by 10 minutes of incorrect history.

I come away nearly every week being disappointed with The Pacific.

Again this week we were treated to nearly 40 minutes of soppy scenes and conversation between man and woman, that would resemble anything you'd see on your day-time soap operas - with better acting, of course.

The Pacific for the most part makes World War II come across as an opportunity for men to fall in love with women, while almost treating the war as that of a secondary story line.

A few weeks ago we had an entire episode set in Australia, and again this week, we've been treated to another 40 minutes of conversation, which ends very abruptly, completely failing to give John Basilone enough credit for his bravery.

Specifically this week, my problem was with the ending.

That's right, the short 10 minute segment at the end, where you actually get to see the battle the entire episode was supposed to be about.

While watching, I looked up John Basilone on the internet and read about the facts of his achievements, and death.

History dictates that John Basilone single handedly charged forward and took out a Japanese stronghold, responsible for mowing down hundreds of Americans on Iwo Jima - helped a tank escape an artillery and mortar barrage and escape from the beach - and was then instantly killed by a mortar blast.

The Pacific depicted him as just another soldier running forward with the group, being shot through the chest - dying moments later in an uninspiring whimper.

Not to mention the "single handedly destroying a stronghold" - was actually depicted as a group of soldiers throwing grenades into a bunker in one scene.

The ending absolutely fails to stick to history, and does not give John Basilone enough credit for his bravery.

This week's episode again comprised of 40 minutes of talking/dating, and man trying to get off with woman.

There are now only 2 episodes left, and regardless of what the producers do in those 2 episodes, it is now too late for The Pacific.

After 8 episodes, we still barely know any of the characters.

None of them are particularly likable either, with the exception of Leckie, who we haven't even seen in 3 weeks.

But even he ends up in a military hospital every week, producing full episodes of talking - and not historical documentation.

I find it amazing to believe this episode was meant to be about Iwo Jima, when the battle is an afterthought - given a rushed 10 minute segment at the end of the episode.

I guess Americans can't handle watching themselves lose a battle for 50 minutes.

Another Letdown, and not even close to the quality Band of Brothers.

The battle scene at the end was not enough to save this episode.

4/10

I agree with the previous reviews decrying the Iwo Jima episode as a tad melodramatic. I disagree about its merits as both a series and the episode in particular, however. The sheer brutality, macabre reality of this series is notches beyond the romanticized military history portrayed in much of "BoB"; this is not, I should stress, a negative comparison of the series in terms of entertainment quality. "Band of Brothers" is a remarkable feat of cinema and fictionalized history, perhaps the best ever. Admittedly, "The Pacific" is in many ways an ugly, disgruntled, not entirely satisfactory little brother. To my mind, entirely mirroring the reality Is it sappy at times? Sure. It's also entirely disgusting, vivid, and revolting in its reenactment of the brutalizations brought about by modern war. The highs and lows are what make "The Pacific" a series worthy of consideration beyond naive comparisons to "BoB". It doesn't fit everyone's expectations... which is not an adequate indictment of a remarkable bit of fiction.