Part Six (The Pacific)

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"Part Six"
The Pacific episode
Episode no.Episode 6
Directed by Tony To
Written by
Cinematography by Remi Adefarasin
Editing byEdward A. Warschilka
Original release dateApril 18, 2010 (2010-04-18)
Running time50 minutes
Episode chronology
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"Part Five"		Next →
"Part Seven"

"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.

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 Marines as they prepare to take the Peleliu airfield.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.38 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, directing, writing and pacing.

Plot

In September 1944, Phillips returns to Mobile, Alabama, where he informs Sledge's family of his actions in the battlefield. To comfort them, he lies by claiming that Sledge is not in danger and that he is safe. In Peleliu, the Division is struggling to focus due to the limited supplies and poor conditions of the area.

The Marines fight their way through the airfield to capture it, which proves to be incredibly difficult due to the heavy gunfire. Leckie helps an injured Runner through the airfield, but Runner receives another gunshot to the arm. To complicate matters, the man in charge of the radio is killed, so Leckie is assigned to recross the airfield to get a new radio to find a corpsman. As he desperately tries to find one, he is hit by a blast concussion. Back in the airfield, the Marines manage to overcome the Japanese despite the heavy losses. Many soldiers, Leckie included, are sent to a hospital ship.

Sledge talks with Haldane, questioning their role in the war. Haldane claims that everyone can be scared, as they believe in the same righteous cause. Later, Haldane declares that he will leave his position, instructed to serve in another battle, having failed in convincing his superiors in changing orders. At the hospital ship, Leckie reunites with Runner, and both wonder the fate of their friends back at Peleliu. They stare at the island from the deck, prepared to go back home.

Production

Development

The episode was written by co-executive producer Bruce C. McKenna, Laurence Andries, and co-producer Robert Schenkkan, and directed by Tony To. This was McKenna's fourth writing credit, Andries' second writing credit, Schenkkan's second writing credit, and To's first directing credit. [1]

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Part Six" was seen by an estimated 2.38 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 13% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 2.71 million household viewers with a 1.0 in the 18-49 demographics. [3]

Critical reviews

"Part Six" received critical acclaim. Ramsey Isler of IGN gave the episode a "good" 7.9 out of 10 and wrote, "Overall, it's still a good bit of TV, but it was definitely carried by the battle scenes. So far we've had episodes that focused on story, and episodes that focused on battle, but we've yet to see one that nicely balanced both." [4]

Emily St. James of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "'Part 6' of The Pacific is maybe the miniseries' most harrowing hour yet. Roughly the first two-thirds of it are dedicated to a grueling charge to take bombed out facilities and oust Japanese soldiers from them, to better establish a beachhead on the godforsaken rock of Peleliu. With Sledge and Leckie as our constants, the hour lays out exactly why these facilities are desirable and how they're going to be taken with a minimum of fuss and then gets down to the business of sending the men in to take them." [5]

Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger wrote, "If you go into a battle as horrible as the one on Peleliu, you don't always have a choice about where you have to go and what obstacles you have to get past. But if you're able to keep your wits about you, and are very lucky indeed, maybe you can make it to the other side in one piece." [6] Tim Basham of Paste wrote, "It wouldn't be unusual, and even a little understandable, for viewers of The Pacific to change channels during the HBO series' graphic battle scenes, with their vivid reenactments of Marines being torn apart by enemy fire. Detached limbs, gaping wounds and copious amounts of blood can take a psychological toll. But that's the point — by taking us as close to the events as possible, short of actually being there, we better understand the emotional impact the battles are having on the men." [7]

Paul MacInnes of The Guardian wrote, "The week's final scene sees a recuperating Leckie reunited with pal Wilbur Conley. Both had thought the other was dead. They sit, consoling each other that they are, for that moment, safe. Meanwhile in the distance, Peleliu goes up in smoke. So that was the show and, as some commenters have forewarned, I think it's getting better as time goes on." [8] Den of Geek wrote, "Episode Six of The Pacific is a transition episode. Sledge is now the hero, and Leckie's war looks over. I will miss him, but, no doubt, this isn't the last we've seen of him. Meanwhile, I look forward to Sledge's increasingly brutal fight of Peleliu and the return of John Basilone." [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Peleliu</span> World War II battle in the Pacific theater

The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II by the US military, was fought between the United States and Japan during the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign of World War II, from 15 September to 27 November 1944, on the island of Peleliu.

<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.

<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>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>Helmet for My Pillow</i> 1957 book by Robert Leckie

Helmet for My Pillow is the personal narrative written by World War II United States Marine Corps veteran, author, and military historian Robert Leckie. First published in 1957, the story begins with Leckie's enlisting in the United States Marines shortly after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidney Phillips</span> American physician

Sidney Clarke Phillips, Jr. was a United States Marine, family practice physician, and author from Mobile, Alabama. He provided source material and interviews for the making of Ken Burns' PBS documentary film The War and the HBO miniseries The Pacific. His recollections revolve around his time as a young man fighting in the Pacific War.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Haldane</span> U.S. Marine Corps captain (1917–1944)

Andrew Allison Haldane was an officer in the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific theatre during World War II. He was killed in action during the Battle of Peleliu.

<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 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 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 12, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Broadcast & Cable Nielsens: Week Ending April 18, 2010". Ratings Ryan. December 28, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  3. ↑ Berman, Marc (April 14, 2010). "The Pacific Ratings". Mediaweek . Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ↑ Isler, Ramsey (April 18, 2010). "The Pacific: "Part Six" Review". IGN . Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  5. ↑ St. James, Emily (April 18, 2010). "The Pacific: "Part Six"". The A.V. Club . Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  6. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (April 19, 2010). "The Pacific, 'Part Five': Peleliu gets worse". The Star-Ledger . Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  7. ↑ Basham, Tim (April 19, 2010). "The Pacific: "Part 6" (1.06)". Paste . Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  8. ↑ MacInnes, Paul (May 3, 2010). "The Pacific: episode six". The Guardian . Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  9. ↑ "The Pacific episode 6 review". Den of Geek . May 4, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
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