Chapitre 49: Something missing
"Something's missing?" Graham couldn't help but repeat William's words. He too began to ponder. Indeed, after watching the first episode of "The Pacific", the familiar formula, the familiar taste, seemed to lack the same fervor that had ignited their spirits when they watched "Band of Brothers" for the first time. So, what was missing, exactly?
William furrowed his brow, unable to put his finger on the exact reason. "I don't know, but I just feel like there's a slight lack of chemistry. We're not professional critics, after all, just passionate viewers."
William and Graham exchanged glances, and for a moment, they fell into silence. The heightened emotions before the premiere now seemed to be suspended in mid-air, unable to descend. This feeling was rather awkward. "I'm not saying I don't like it," William explained, "To be honest, I find the series still quite captivating. I really like it. It's undoubtedly a remarkable creation by Spielberg and Hanks. However…"
It was this "however" that left them perplexed. Graham suddenly proposed, "How about we check out the comments on Yahoo Community and IMDb? After exchanging thoughts with others, we might find answers to our questions."
"Great idea!" William regained his vigor. As a passionate fan of "Band of Brothers", he more than anyone else hoped that "The Pacific" could become a second classic.
So, William dashed back to his room like a whirlwind, with Graham following closely behind. In the living room, the Taylor couple sat, amused and barely reacting in time to the chaotic footsteps on the stairs. "Billy, how's the show? Is it good?" Mrs. Taylor called out with raised voice, only to receive no response. They exchanged a knowing glance and chuckled helplessly.
Opening Yahoo Community, the top-ranked thread was none other than the discussion thread for the first episode of "The Pacific". Less than ten minutes had passed since the episode ended, and the thread already had over five hundred posts. It was estimated that a small portion of fans were participating in the discussion while watching the live broadcast.
Clicking into the thread, as expected, the earliest posts were all exclaiming their excitement for the show's long-awaited premiere. It wasn't until around the fiftieth post that people gradually began discussing the episode. William and Graham clearly weren't the only two viewers who felt something amiss. In the thread, many expressed similar doubts, sensing that the show lacked a certain spark. Some even expressed their frustration more vehemently, asserting that the quality of "The Pacific" was incredibly poor and didn't hold a candle to "Band of Brothers". They considered it trash.
It wasn't until the two hundred and thirty-first post that a lengthy response caught William's attention and halted his scrolling.
"No doubt, due to the immense presence of "Band of Brothers" as a legendary series, all viewers had monumental expectations for "The Pacific". However, after actually watching it, there's an inevitable sense of disparity. Yet, I hold a different viewpoint.
When "Band of Brothers" first aired, the premiere episode didn't leave everyone in awe. The brilliance of the series stemmed from the cohesiveness and elevation of the content across its ten episodes. Upon revisiting the first episode later, the experience was entirely different, so the impression of the first episode was elevated. Now, with "The Pacific", we've only seen the first episode. Condemning the entire miniseries based on the first episode would clearly be biased.
The first episode of "The Pacific" gives the impression of something lacking, in simple terms, a core concept.
In "Band of Brothers", each episode had a core concept, sometimes even a different protagonist or central character. This led to a tightly woven main storyline, highlighting narrative pace and focus. However, in "The Pacific", the first episode lacks this cohesive core concept. As a result, the content feels somewhat scattered, and the pacing appears somewhat imbalanced."
The content of the first episode can be divided into three parts. The first part depicts the characters' daily lives before departure, the second part portrays their struggle to adapt upon landing on Guadalcanal, and the third part unfolds the thrilling events of their first encounter with the enemy.
Each of these three parts carries a distinct focus, especially regarding the three main characters. However, as the story progresses, only one of them remains, leading to a sense of confusion for the audience: Has the story been left incomplete? Additionally, the thematic development centered around Robert Leckie lacks the powerful impact it aimed for.
It's evident that "The Pacific" intends to highlight psychological contrasts, juxtaposing the warmth of family life before entering the battlefield with the brutal and bloody realities of war. The conclusion of that deadly game before them, which deeply shook not only Robert Leckie but also every viewer before their television screens, vividly portrays the chilling distortion war imposes upon human nature.
From this perspective, the series continues the quality of its predecessor. Regrettably, it employs surface-level execution techniques, and the crowded content of the first episode fails to provide fully fleshed-out character profiles. Attempting to accomplish too much within the first episode is indeed a formidable task.
"Band of Brothers" excelled in portraying various facets of war in each episode, examining different aspects of the battlefield from diverse perspectives. The collection of vivid, flesh-and-blood characters added to the formidable impact of "Band of Brothers". Now, it's discernible that "The Pacific" intends to focus on three central characters. While this concept awaits further exploration in upcoming episodes, the drawback is a potential weakening of group cohesion, while the advantage lies in granting each character a richer and more vivid portrayal.
Personally, I'm filled with anticipation for "The Pacific". If "Band of Brothers" unveiled the reality and brutality of war, then will "The Pacific" be able to illustrate the effects of war on every individual? Otherwise, the emphasis on family dynamics might seem redundant. If successful, "The Pacific" could indeed stand shoulder to shoulder with "Band of Brothers"!
Hence, it's premature to conclude the merits and flaws of the series. The remarkable impression left by "Band of Brothers" is undeniable. "The Pacific" is at least deserving of more time and opportunity. A ten-episode miniseries isn't too much to ask for, is it?
Worth noting is that among the three main characters introduced so far, the one that leaves the most profound impression isn't Robert Leckie, who supports the main narrative of the first episode, nor is it John Basilone, the widely acclaimed war hero. Instead, it's the young heir from the wealthy family. Is anyone else of the same opinion?
At his entrance, sunlight and time seemed to linger, unable to resist his presence. The regrets, anger, struggle, bitterness, and longing within his bright eyes effortlessly sketched his character. It's almost unbelievable; I'm now looking forward to what will happen when he steps onto the battlefield. He wouldn't become cannon fodder, right? He appears to be one of the three main characters!"
This extended response triggered heated follow-up discussions—agreements, counterarguments, scoffs, curses, rational analyses, bystanders enjoying the spectacle, sudden realizations—all blended in a lively and animated debate.
However, one point stood out with consensus: this is a miniseries that requires the development of subsequent episodes to make a comprehensive judgment.
Only a small group of fervent viewers believed that the poor quality of the first episode had already ruined the entire series. For a sibling piece to the divine "Band of Brothers", such an offense was deemed unforgivable. They even fervently rallied fellow netizens to support "The Pacific" on IMDb. Yet, judging by the current trend in IMDb ratings, the number of viewers willing to respond to this call was indeed meager.
Upon reading this response, William suddenly brightened, "So that's it!" His eyes regained their sparkle, "Clearly, Spielberg and the team have greater ambitions this time. They want to delve into more profound matters. They can't merely replicate the formula of "Band of Brothers". After all, in the realm of comradeship, nothing can surpass "Band of Brothers". So, the first episode is just a beginning!"
William couldn't help but clench his fist, his spirits soaring once more. Due to his excessively high expectations, he was too eager, nearly hoping the first episode would be so breathtakingly fantastic that it would leave him breathless. However, in reality, that was impossible because it was a miniseries, not a film. Even "Band of Brothers", with its brilliance and classic status, was crafted from the content of ten episodes.
"No wonder!" Graham also had a sudden realization, "I was saying that while watching, it's gripping and emotionally complex, incredibly brilliant. But after it's over, you feel like something's missing." Graham bumped William's shoulder and excitedly added, "That final scene was truly masterfully shot. I think it's even better than "Band of Brothers", reminding me of that scene where Winters shot the isolated German soldier!"
"The thing that left the deepest impression on me, just like that online user..." William leaned closer to the screen, reading the comment from a user named "Brandomania", probably a fan of Marlon Brando. "It's that young heir from the wealthy family." William then chuckled, "Because he's the only unfortunate one in the first episode, trying to enlist in the military but failing."
Graham rolled his eyes in a speechless manner, "By your logic, the most impressive thing for me would be Robert Leckie's attempt to write a letter to that girl. She's genuinely beautiful."
"You see, I'm not the only one who thinks that way." William flipped through the thread again and pulled Graham to continue reading.
"Brandomania, I agree, I agree. That young heir from the wealthy family is truly outstanding. His performance seems to radiate a natural aura, making it impossible to look away!"
"Does no one else think that the wealthy family's young heir is incredibly handsome? Oh my goodness, the sight of him riding his bicycle against the wind, his eyes revealing shattered despair, I'm practically melting for him."
"That intelligentsia family's young heir is undeniably exceptional. While Robert Leckie has a lot of inner struggles to perform, it always feels like something's off. But that heir hasn't even been on screen for three minutes, and he effortlessly molds his character. Honestly, I'm already impatient to see him step onto the battlefield!"
"What intelligentsia family's young heir? His name is Eugene! Eugene! They've said it many times in the TV series, for heaven's sake, the ignorance."
"Does anyone know who plays the role of the wealthy family's young heir?"
...
As the discussions went on, it seemed they were beginning to veer off-topic.
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