Melbourne
- Episode aired Mar 28, 2010
- TV-MA
- 56m
After arduous months in Guadalcanal, exhausted Marines are given rest and recreation in Melbourne, where they find the girls friendly and the beer cold.After arduous months in Guadalcanal, exhausted Marines are given rest and recreation in Melbourne, where they find the girls friendly and the beer cold.After arduous months in Guadalcanal, exhausted Marines are given rest and recreation in Melbourne, where they find the girls friendly and the beer cold.
- PFC Eugene Sledge
- (as Joe Mazzello)
- (credit only)
Featured reviews
The performances in this episode stand out, particularly Dale's portrayal of Leckie. He captures the quiet intensity and confusion of a soldier trying to find his place in a world that now feels foreign to him. The chemistry between Leckie and Stella is heartfelt but bittersweet, as their relationship is tinged with the knowledge that it cannot last. Claire van der Boom brings a delicate vulnerability to her role, providing a nuanced portrayal of a woman caught between love and the reality of war. The episode's quieter moments, such as their time together at her family's home, are deeply emotional and contrast sharply with the violence of the previous episodes.
Jeremy Podeswa's direction is restrained, focusing more on character interactions than action. The pacing of the episode slows down considerably compared to the frenetic energy of "Basilone," allowing the audience to explore the soldiers' emotional state. This shift is both a strength and a weakness, as it offers valuable character development but may feel like a lull in the broader narrative arc of the war. Still, Podeswa effectively captures the disorientation and longing for normalcy that the soldiers experience. The use of natural lighting and softer tones in the cinematography emphasizes the temporary peace Melbourne offers, making the impending return to war all the more poignant.
The episode's thematic depth is commendable, tackling issues such as PTSD, alienation, and the fleeting nature of happiness in wartime. The stark contrast between the soldiers' camaraderie and their isolation in civilian settings underscores the internal conflict they face. The romantic subplot, while not central to the overall war narrative, serves as a metaphor for the impermanence of life during wartime, with Leckie's relationship symbolizing the fragility of any sense of normalcy.
However, "Melbourne" may be criticized for its slower pace and limited action, which might not satisfy viewers looking for more battlefield drama. The episode is a necessary emotional breather in the series but could have benefited from deeper exploration of other characters' experiences in Melbourne, as it heavily focuses on Leckie. That said, it sets up the emotional stakes for future episodes, giving the audience a deeper connection to the characters as they prepare to face the next phase of the Pacific campaign.
In conclusion, "Melbourne" is a quiet but impactful episode that shifts the narrative focus to the emotional scars of war. The strong performances, particularly from James Badge Dale and Claire van der Boom, add depth to the characters, while the direction and cinematography create a serene yet melancholic atmosphere. Though the pacing may feel slow, the episode effectively explores the personal struggles of the soldiers, making it a crucial part of the broader story in The Pacific.
I am not in a position to determine the veracity of such stories, but sufficeth to say, that this episode was painful to watch ... time dragged on and yet before I knew it, it was over with very little to show for it. BOB managed to include a few side stories including the usual drinking, bars, women, etc., but it was done amist episodes which carried more punch. In none of those was the main storyline about the side story of soldiers.
I believe the only shots fired in this episode where at the cows from the passing trains which carried the service men back to combat.
Okay, despite all the good bits that I will like to say about the miniseries "The Pacific", I just couldn't stand two episode in this show, which are E03 & E08. Why the heck did either the screenplay writer or the director as well as the producers find it interesting to put so many sex scenes in a movie that was suppose to present a bloody HELL in the war? And why should the personal "romance" of John Basilone take almost an entire episode?? Why did the producers think the audiences who are paying their respect to that part of history and to those who sacrificed tremendously should care about some marines' love story? Honestly, I don't get it! I think it is ridiculous that almost 90 out of 540 minutes in this series contributed to that kind of stuff. E01 and E10 are not very good as well. They could have dug much deeper rather than showing, yes again, some "romance"!
But there are very good stuff in this series, things that are subtle yet touching. After watching Band of Brothers, I was touched deeply by the fraternity in a war. I had my admiration for some of the main characters in BOB. After watching this series, all I want to say is that there is no glory in this war or any war, and the only difference between wars is which one is more ugly and more devastating.
You'd think an episode set in a city would provide some sense of relief, but no - Melbourne serves only to remind us that, even off the battlefield, these characters are incapable of finding peace. The episode drifts between awkward social interactions, strained relationships, and the general malaise that defines the entire series. Leckie, our ever-present guide, stumbles through it all with his signature mix of detachment and complete lack of charisma, managing to make falling in love look as exciting as filling out a tax form.
Meanwhile, the rest of the characters wander aimlessly, struggling with the concept of downtime, as if the writers themselves weren't quite sure what to do with them. But who needs meaningful character development or emotional depth when you can just have Leckie sulk in the background and call it a day?
In the end, Melbourne feels like a vacation no one asked for, providing an uneasy and depressing breather between bouts of violence.
Did you know
- TriviaThe ship depicted arriving at the port in Australia was the USS West Point/SS America. It would become one of the most beloved and appreciated cruise ships of her day. Built in 1940 but requisitioned in 41 as a troop ship she would go on to a very successful career after the war and meet one of the most terrible and astounding fates of the time. After being sold and renamed over a half a dozen times she was sold and was going to be converted to a floating hotel in Thailand but while under tow she broke the tow lines and grounded at Playa De Garcey. She could not be pulled off the shoal and for the next 14 years she became a spectacle that drew thousands of tourists while she broke in half and slowly deteriorated. The stern collapsed first leaving the front 2/3's above the surf leaning over to port more each year until she disappeared under the waves in 2007.
- GoofsSeveral times Marines are referred to as being AWOL (Absent Without Leave). However AWOL is a term used by the Air Force and Army, the Marine Corps and the Navy use the term UA (Unauthorized Absence) for personnel who leave base without authorization.
- Quotes
PFC Robert Leckie: [strolling around drunk, he sees Stella getting onto a tram] Hey, beautiful!
[she smiles at him, the tram pulls away, and he runs after it]
PFC Sidney Phillips: Oh, what the Hell's he doing? Where's that tram go?
Girl in Bar: That's the Preston line. He'll end up in Perth!
PFC Sidney Phillips: Oh, hey, hey Leckie, c'mon!
PFC Lew 'Chuckler' Juergens: Leckie, what the Hell!
[they chase after him]
PFC Robert Leckie: [on the tram, pushing his way between people] Excuse me, sir, ma'am, I apologize. Excuse me.
[he sees Stella and grins]
PFC Sidney Phillips: Hey, Leckie!
[Leckie turns quickly and falls at Stella's feet]
PFC Lew 'Chuckler' Juergens: Whoa! Attaboy, Leckie!
Stella: Proposing already, Yank?
PFC Robert Leckie: [flirting] I'm proposing that you take a walk with me. You never know what the future may bring.
Stella: You know what "take a walk" means?
PFC Robert Leckie: Oh...
[chuckles awkwardly]
PFC Robert Leckie: ma'am, ma'am, ma'am - miss, miss, I'm a foreigner on your shores. Forgive my ignorance of your customs, but... my invitation remains an offer.
Stella: [considers, then smiles] You're a bold one sotted, let's see you in the light of day.
[she writes down her address and gives it to him. Chuckler and Sid watch from the doorway]
Stella: Collect me at home. Being sober would be a plus.
[she gets up to leave the tram]
Stella: I'm Stella, in case you were wondering what to call me.
[Leckie grins and bows proudly to his friends]
PFC Sidney Phillips: Well, you've got guts, Leckie. You'd better laminate that piece of paper.
PFC Lew 'Chuckler' Juergens: Thank you very much! That made my night. That made my night!
- ConnectionsReferences A Family Affair (1937)
Details
- Runtime
- 56m
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1