Part Nine (The Pacific)

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"Part Nine"
The Pacific episode
Episode no.Episode 9
Directed by Tim Van Patten
Written by Bruce C. McKenna
Cinematography by Stephen F. Windon
Editing by
  • Alan Cody
  • Marta Evry
Original release dateMay 9, 2010 (2010-05-09)
Running time58 minutes
Episode chronology
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"Part Eight"		Next →
"Part Ten"

"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.

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 the Division's role in the Battle of Okinawa, also exploring the feelings of hatred among the soldiers.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.81 million household viewers and gained a 0.7 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received universal acclaim from critics, who praised the production values and performances.

Plot

In May 1945, the 1st Marine Division lands at Okinawa, one month after the start of the invasion. The soldiers are hostile towards a small group of Japanese prisoners, but they are warned to not interfere unless they want to face a court-martial. They struggle in defending themselves from the attacks due to the weather, and the heavy Japanese offense.

As the days pass, Sledge and Snafu become more exhausted and frustrated with the Japanese. As they make their way through the hills, the unit is attacked when the Japanese use civilians as human shields, with some carrying bombs in their clothing. This breaks Sledge and Snafu, especially as their orders led them to this predicament. Sledge starts showing more disdain towards the Japanese, executing them despite being told not to do it, and failing to lead new replacement Marines fresh out of boot camp. Later, Sledge and Snafu stumble upon a dying woman with a baby, asking Sledge to end her suffering as the baby is taken away. Sledge contemplates pulling the trigger, but cannot bring himself to do so and instead stays with her as she dies.

With his perspective changed, Sledge abandons his disdain for the Japanese. He spares a Japanese boy, but gets angry when one of his soldiers proudly executes the boy. A few days later, Sledge, Snafu and Burgin leave for their new orders. They are informed by their lieutenant that America used "a new bomb" against Japan, which "vaporized an entire city in the blink of an eye." They leave to eat, shaken after the revelation.

Production

Development

The episode was written by co-executive producer Bruce C. McKenna, and directed by supervising producer Tim Van Patten. This was McKenna's sixth writing credit, and Van Patten's third directing credit. [1]

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Part Nine" was seen by an estimated 1.81 million household viewers with a 0.7 in the 18–49 demographics. This means that 0.7 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. [2] This was a 23% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 2.34 million household viewers with a 0.8 in the 18-49 demographics. [3]

Critical reviews

"Part Nine" received universal acclaim. Ramsey Isler of IGN gave the episode a perfect "masterpiece" 10 out of 10 and wrote, "This is the last time we'll see combat in this series, and the producers definitely saved their best cinematic work for last. I don't think any other installment in this series sums up the war and its effects better than this one. It is a remarkable, unflinching story that leaves a lasting impression." [4]

Emily St. James of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A–" grade and wrote, "War is a balancing act for even the most hardened military man, the trick of seeing that your targets aren't people but that your targets are also all people. It's one of the great themes of war fiction that soldiers who are out in the muck too long eventually end up nearly losing their souls, and tonight, The Pacific finally got around to dramatizing that sort of story with Sledge and Snafu as our guides." [5]

Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "The episode's time on Okinawa ends not long after Eugene has his moment of clarity, so it's entirely possible he would have gone back to his amoral bloodlust. But the episode, and the island conflict, ends in time for Sledge to leave it a shattered man, but not a monstrous one." [6] Tim Basham of Paste wrote, "I originally had my doubts about Joseph Mazello as Sledge at the beginning of the series. But now I love the guy — he and his commanding officer butt heads in this episode, contrasting his relationship with the late Capt. Haldane." [7]

Paul MacInnes of The Guardian wrote, "Episode nine addresses directly an issue that has been hinted at throughout the series and in interviews – that there was a great depth of hatred for the Japanese among American soldiers and that it resulted in brutality on the battlefield." [8] Den of Geek wrote, "Never afraid to show the brutality of war, The Pacific really went into overdrive this time, with an episode that was equally horrific, gripping and downright affecting." [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Okinawa</span> Major 1945 battle of the Pacific War

The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was a major battle of the Pacific War fought on the island of Okinawa by United States Army and United States Marine Corps forces against the Imperial Japanese Army. The initial invasion of Okinawa on 1 April 1945 was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater of World War II. The Kerama Islands surrounding Okinawa were preemptively captured on 26 March by the 77th Infantry Division. The 82-day battle lasted from 1 April until 22 June 1945. After a long campaign of island hopping, the Allies were planning to use Kadena Air Base on the large island of Okinawa as a base for Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands, 340 mi (550 km) away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Leckie (author)</span> United States Marine and writer

Robert Hugh Leckie was a United States Marine and an author of books about the military history of the United States, Catholic history and culture, sports books, fiction books, autobiographies, and children's books. As a young man, he served with the 1st Marine Division during World War II; his service as a machine gunner and a scout during the war greatly influenced his work.

<i>With the Old Breed</i> Book by Eugene Sledge

With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa is a World War II memoir by United States Marine Eugene Sledge, first published in 1981. The memoir is based on notes Sledge kept tucked away in a pocket-sized Bible he carried with him during battles he fought at Peleliu and Okinawa. The book formed part of the basis of the material covered by Ken Burns' PBS documentary The War (2007), as well as the HBO miniseries The Pacific (2010), in which Sledge was portrayed by Joseph Mazzello.

<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">Eugene Sledge</span> United States Marine

Eugene Bondurant Sledge was a United States Marine, university professor, and author. His 1981 memoir With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa chronicled his combat experiences during World War II and was used as source material for the Ken Burns PBS documentary The War (2007), as well as the HBO miniseries The Pacific (2010), in which he is portrayed by Joseph Mazzello.

<i>China Marine</i> (memoir) Book by Eugene Sledge

China Marine: An Infantryman's Life after World War II is the second memoir written by United States Marine Corporal Eugene B. Sledge, published posthumously with foreword by Stephen E. Ambrose, without subtitle, on May 10, 2002 by University of Alabama Press It was republished in paperback with the full title by Oxford University Press in July 2003. This book is the sequel to his first, better known, memoir, With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa and Ambrose identifies it as the only account of the Marines stationed in postwar China. It has recently achieved wider public recognition as credited source material for the 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romus Burgin</span> United States Marine and author (1922–2019)

Romus Valton "R.V." Burgin was a United States Marine and American author. As a young man, he served in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

"Frank the Plank" is the second episode of the first season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. The episode was written by executive producer Paul Abbott and series developer John Wells, and directed by Wells. It originally aired on Showtime on January 16, 2011.

"Casey Casden" is the fourth episode of the first season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. The episode was written by producer Cindy Caponera, and directed by Todd Holland. It originally aired on Showtime on January 30, 2011.

"Summertime" is the first episode of the second season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 13th overall episode of the series and was written by series developer John Wells, and directed by co-executive producer Mark Mylod. It originally aired on Showtime on January 8, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merriell Shelton</span> United States Marine

Merriell Allesandro Shelton was a United States Marine who served in the Pacific theater during World War II. He is depicted in the 1981 memoir With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by Eugene Sledge which chronicled their combat experiences. He was also depicted in the HBO miniseries The Pacific (2010), in which he is portrayed by Rami Malek.

"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 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.

"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 18, 2024.
  2. ↑ Seidman, Robert (May 11, 2010). "Sunday Cable: NBA, "Army Wives" Tops With 18–49; "The Pacific" Dives Below 2 Million". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on June 20, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  3. ↑ 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 18, 2024.
  4. ↑ Isler, Ramsey (May 10, 2010). "The Pacific: "Part Nine" Review". IGN . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  5. ↑ St. James, Emily (May 9, 2010). "The Pacific: "Part Nine"". The A.V. Club . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  6. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (May 9, 2010). "'The Pacific' – 'Part Nine': War is even more hell than usual". HitFix . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  7. ↑ Basham, Tim (May 12, 2010). "The Pacific: "Part 9" (1.09)". Paste . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  8. ↑ MacInnes, Paul (May 24, 2010). "The Pacific: episode nine". The Guardian . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  9. ↑ "The Pacific episode 9 review". Den of Geek . May 24, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
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