Part Eight (The Pacific)

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"Part Eight"
The Pacific episode
Episode no.Episode 8
Directed by
Written by
Cinematography by Stephen F. Windon
Editing byAlan Cody
Original release dateMay 2, 2010 (2010-05-02)
Running time57 minutes
Episode chronology
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"Part Seven"		Next →
"Part Nine"

"Part Eight" is the eighth episode of the American war drama miniseries The Pacific . The episode was written by co-producers Robert Schenkkan and Michelle Ashford, and directed by David Nutter and Jeremy Podeswa. It originally aired on HBO on May 2, 2010.

Contents

The series focuses on the United States Marine Corps's actions in the Pacific Theater of Operations within the wider Pacific War. It primarily centers on the experiences of three Marines (Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge, and John Basilone) who were in different regiments (1st, 5th, and 7th, respectively) of the 1st Marine Division. The episode follows Basilone's insatisfaction with his post-war status, and his decision to become involved again with the Marines.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.34 million household viewers and gained a 0.8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the performances, production values and themes.

Plot

In Pavuvu, The 1st Marine Division recovers after the events at Peleliu. De L'Eau tells Sledge and Snafu that he was transferred to a new division, fearing their role in a more dangerous military tactic. In New York City, Basilone continues selling war bonds by participating in many campaigns.

Basilone is back at New Jersey with his family, but he is unhappy with his new life. He talks with Lieutenant General Alexander Vandegrift to express his insatisfaction. Vandegrift suggests reducing his service, but Basilone actually wants to be more involved with the Marines again and asks to serve as a gunnery sergeant. He starts training recruits at Camp Pendleton, where many of them idolize him for his actions in Guadalcanal. As he focuses on training two struggling soldiers, he becomes smitten with a nurse, whose friend invites him to a social event. There, he learns that her name is Sergeant Lena Riggi and takes an interest in her. He invites her to dine with him, but she is not interested in a new relationship.

As time passes, Basilone continues his duties while growing closer to Riggi. While his service is over, Basilone decides to re-enlist to continue fighting in the Pacific. Riggi is disappointed, but understands his decision. Before he leaves, they decide to get married and enjoy their honeymoon. After making love, Riggi gives Basilone her necklace while he is on service. In February 1945, Basilone and his soldiers land at Iwo Jima. Despite Basilone's leadership, the unit faces severe losses on the first day. The unit makes its way through the battlefield despite heavy gunfire. As Basilone tries to lead his men back to the beach, he is killed by a sniper, shocking his unit. In America, Riggi visits the beach she and Basilone frequented, crying over her husband's death.

Production

Development

The episode was written by co-producers Robert Schenkkan and Michelle Ashford, and directed by David Nutter and Jeremy Podeswa. This was Schenkkan's third writing credit, Ashford's second writing credit, Nutter's second directing credit, and Podeswa's second directing credit. [1]

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Part Eight" was seen by an estimated 2.34 million household viewers with a 0.8 in the 18–49 demographics. This means that 0.8 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. [2] This was a 9% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 2.55 million household viewers with a 0.9 in the 18-49 demographics. [3]

Critical reviews

"Part Eight" received critical acclaim. Ramsey Isler of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8.2 out of 10 and wrote, "There's been a lot of debate surrounding the slower "character development" episodes of this series. Those who were looking for a gritty, bloody chronicle of the hardships of war have been critical of The Pacific's extended departures from the battlefield in a war series, while others grow weary of rampant bloodshed and appreciate the cinematic human elements of the story and enjoy getting to know the personal effects of the war. Although episodes like this one can understandably turn off some viewers, the quality of this story can't be denied, even if it wasn't quite what you're looking for." [4]

Emily St. James of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "I'm sure many will question just why the series, which had been building up a head of steam, would choose to follow up hours of almost pure intensity with what amounts to a doomed romance, but the hour took on an emotional intensity of its own. I was horrified and amazed by much of the last two episodes, but I don't know that I ever found them as deeply moving as I found this simple story about love and duty." [5]

Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger wrote, "the final shot of the Iwo Jima sequence - with the camera pulling up to show Basilone lying among so many other dead men - was a potent reminder of the hundreds upon thousands of less famous Americans died under similar circumstances to the great John Basilone, and how many of them left their own version of Lena behind." [6] Tim Basham of Paste wrote, "All the while, Basilone is at the center. We see his determined resolve to accomplish his task, but we also see the results of how well he has trained those around him. And it is the anguish on their faces that brings us to tears when their revered sergeant finally falls." [7]

Paul MacInnes of The Guardian wrote, "It's fair to say that this week's final scenes are not typical of those that have gone before. On more than the odd occasion, the makers of The Pacific seem to have prized verisimilitude above all else, including engaging their audience. The drama has sometimes been slow, at other times chaotic, but always tending towards docudrama. With the death of Basilone, however, the rules were suddenly changed. Effects and tricks were applied to make sure that heartstrings were tugged. And quite right too." [8] Den of Geek wrote, "Understated in its exploration of their commitment to both each other and the service, episode 8 of The Pacific serves as fine testament to the many war-time romances that ended in tragedy, made even more poignant by the fact that Lena never remarried." [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Iwo Jima</span> Major World War II battle in the Pacific Theater

The Battle of Iwo Jima was a major battle in which the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and United States Navy (USN) landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) during World War II. The American invasion, designated Operation Detachment, had the purpose of capturing the island with its two airfields: South Field and Central Field.

<i>Sands of Iwo Jima</i> 1949 film

Sands of Iwo Jima is a 1949 war film starring John Wayne that follows a group of United States Marines from training to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. The film, which also features John Agar, Adele Mara and Forrest Tucker, was written by Harry Brown and James Edward Grant, and directed by Allan Dwan. The picture was a Republic Pictures production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iwo Jima</span> One of the Japanese Volcano Islands

Iwo Jima, officially romanized and pronounced Iōtō, is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands, which lie south of the Bonin Islands and together with them make up the Ogasawara Archipelago. Together with the Izu Islands, they make up Japan's Nanpō Islands. Although 1,200 km (750 mi) south of Tokyo on Honshu, Iwo Jima is administered as part of the Ogasawara Subprefecture of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

<i>Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima</i> 1945 photograph by Joe Rosenthal

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is an iconic photograph of six United States Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in the final stages of the Pacific War. Taken by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press on February 23, 1945, the photograph was published in Sunday newspapers two days later and reprinted in thousands of publications. It won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Photography and has come to be regarded in the United States as one of the most recognizable images of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Seda</span> American actor

Jon Seda is an American actor. Seda was an amateur boxer who auditioned for and was given a role in the 1992 boxing film Gladiator. He played the role of Chris Pérez alongside Jennifer Lopez in the movie Selena, and portrayed U.S. Marine John Basilone, recipient of the Medal of Honor, in Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's The Pacific. On television, he had roles as Detective Antonio Dawson in NBC's Chicago P.D., and as Paul Falsone in NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Basilone</span> US Marine Corps sergeant and Medal of Honor recipient (1916–1945)

John Basilone was a United States Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle for Henderson Field in the Guadalcanal campaign, and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these decorations in World War II.

<i>Flags of Our Fathers</i> (film) 2006 film by Clint Eastwood

Flags of Our Fathers is a 2006 American war drama film directed, co-produced, and scored by Clint Eastwood and written by William Broyles Jr. and Paul Haggis. It is based on the 2000 book of the same name written by James Bradley and Ron Powers about the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima, the five Marines and one Navy corpsman who were involved in raising the flag on Iwo Jima, and the after effects of that event on their lives. Taken from the American viewpoint of the Battle of Iwo Jima, the film is a companion piece to Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima, which depicts the same battle from the Japanese viewpoint; the two films were shot back to back.

<i>The Pacific</i> (miniseries) 2010 American war drama television series

The Pacific is a 2010 American war drama miniseries produced by HBO, Playtone, and DreamWorks that premiered in the United States on March 14, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Field (Iwo Jima)</span> WW2 air field in Iwo Jima, Japan

South Field was a World War II airfield on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, located in the Central Pacific. The Volcano Islands are part of Japan. The airfield was located on the southern corner of Iwo Jima located on the Motoyama plateau, to the north of Mount Suribachi. South Field was significant to the overall Battle of Iwo Jima.

Charles William Tatum was an American World War II veteran, Bronze Star recipient, race car driver and builder. On 19 February 1945, he was among the first wave of marines to land on the Japanese island stronghold of Iwo Jima. He was a friend of John Basilone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John A. Butler</span> USMC Navy Cross recipient

John Augustus Butler was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. He was killed in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

"Part One" is the series premiere of the American war drama miniseries The Pacific. The episode was written by series developer Bruce C. McKenna, and directed by supervising producer Tim Van Patten. It originally aired on HBO on March 14, 2010.

"Part Two" is the second episode of the American war drama miniseries The Pacific. The episode was written by series developer Bruce C. McKenna, and directed by David Nutter. It originally aired on HBO on March 21, 2010.

"Part Three" is the third episode of the American war drama miniseries The Pacific. The episode was written by co-producer George Pelecanos and Michelle Ashford, and directed by Jeremy Podeswa. It originally aired on HBO on March 28, 2010.

"Part Four" is the fourth episode of the American war drama miniseries The Pacific. The episode was written by co-producer Robert Schenkkan and co-executive producer Graham Yost, and directed by Yost. It originally aired on HBO on April 4, 2010.

"Part Five" is the fifth episode of the American war drama miniseries The Pacific. The episode was written by Laurence Andries and co-executive producer Bruce C. McKenna, and directed by Carl Franklin. It originally aired on HBO on April 11, 2010.

"Part Six" is the sixth episode of the American war drama miniseries The Pacific. The episode was written by co-executive producer Bruce C. McKenna, Laurence Andries, and co-producer Robert Schenkkan, and directed by Tony To. It originally aired on HBO on April 18, 2010.

"Part Seven" is the seventh episode of the American war drama miniseries The Pacific. The episode was written by co-executive producer Bruce C. McKenna, and directed by supervising producer Tim Van Patten. It originally aired on HBO on April 25, 2010.

"Part Nine" is the ninth episode of the American war drama miniseries The Pacific. The episode was written by co-executive producer Bruce C. McKenna, and directed by supervising producer Tim Van Patten. It originally aired on HBO on May 9, 2010.

"Part Ten" is the tenth and final episode of the American war drama miniseries The Pacific. The episode was written by co-executive producer Bruce C. McKenna and co-producer Robert Schenkkan, and directed by Jeremy Podeswa. It originally aired on HBO on May 16, 2010.

References

  1. ↑ "The Pacific - WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  2. ↑ Seidman, Robert (May 4, 2010). "Oy "Treme," "The Pacific" + "Army Wives" & Other Sunday Cable". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Broadcast & Cable Nielsens: Week Ending April 25, 2010". Ratings Ryan. January 2, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  4. ↑ Isler, Ramsey (May 2, 2010). "The Pacific: "Part Eight" Review". IGN . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  5. ↑ St. James, Emily (May 2, 2010). "The Pacific: "Part Eight"". The A.V. Club . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  6. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (April 26, 2010). "The Pacific, 'Part Eight': Basilone on Iwo Jima". The Star-Ledger . Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  7. ↑ Basham, Tim (May 3, 2010). "The Pacific: "Part 8" (1.08)". Paste . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  8. ↑ MacInnes, Paul (May 17, 2010). "The Pacific: episode eight". The Guardian . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  9. ↑ "The Pacific episode 8 review". Den of Geek . May 18, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
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