I've seen the first two episodes. What it seems to lack is the build up that BoB had... they more or less just jump right into the action without really introducing the characters.

One main strength of BoB was the slower introduction of characters through basic training and seeing the gradual transition from training to the real deal.

I also think the European theater has a bit more of a 'romantic' element that adds something to the show. But it really is too early to say. Also, this is just one man's opinion

Anyway, I like The Pacific thus far and I'm so glad it is here. The next episode is called 'Melbourne' i think. A bunch of American soldiers in Australia could sure be fun to watch! (if that is indeed the situation)

Soldiers?

Heh.

There were a few soldiers in Australia, I'm sure. But, I have a feeling we're going to see Marines portrayed this Sunday.

Note to self - must write in to all the daily newspapers in this country that continually bloody talk about the upcoming series by refering to the 1st Marine Division soldiers that came to Melbourne an 1943. MARINES people, marines.

Are marines not soldiers?

It is more of an insult to Marines...not necessarily incorrect in the strict definition, but don't walk up to a Gunny and say, "Nice uniform soldier!"

Unless, of course, you LIKE fighting!

I always thought it was a matter of respect for people to call Marines, Marines. They earned that title and I think it's only proper to call them Marines.

Had to break my girl of that habit the first few weeks we lived in Norfolk, Va!

Got a laugh from a couple Marines in a store once while looking for something, she spied said item near the Marines and said "It's over there by those 2 soldiers, honey!"

I said "Those aren't soldiers, baby, those are Marines. Just be glad you didn't call them sailors!"

Cue the 2 Marines cracking up, I hadn't even realized they heard the whole exchange!

Gave her a brief rundown on the differences on the way home, but to this day she thinks the whole thing is stupid since they're all on the same side. Although she always gets it right, now...

The Pacific chronicles about 3 years worth of time in the same number of episodes as BoB spans about 10 months.

They don't have to time to waste and diddle on training/character intros.

I think you wont offend a marine if you call them solider first. After all they are soldiers, just they are technically a marine. Same as if you always call a soldier "Sir" when unsure of their rank, you can't go wrong. Especially on a world wide scale, soldier is perfectly acceptable along with sir. You can always be corrected.

Ex Army myself so its just my opinion.

But they can blow a whole episode on getting laid in Melbourne.

It was a huge portion of Robert Leckie's experience. 9 months to be exact but your point is taken. Personally I'm peeved at the fact that Okinawa (though I'm pumped to see the episode) is covered in one episode and I didn't think the Guadalcanal episodes were the greatest. Episode 3 was better to me though.

Not to get too much further off topic, but.......

A soldier is someone who is part of the land component of a national defensive force.

Marines, although used in a different way recently, primary roles were in the littoral zone (which is just offshore, the coast) and around 50 miles inland. So, really a Marine is not a soldier. The name comes from the French Marin or of the sea who got it from the Latin marinus or maritime (of the sea,ocean, sailing, sailors). So, ironically it is much more appropriate to call them sailors before soldiers lol.

I'll grant you that, but in the context of a ten hour series that can barely scratch the surface of what went on, it seemed to be an excessive amount of time devoted to boning the Greek girlfriend. That story could have been covered in much less time, leaving more room for important battles. But instead they chose to roast a leg of lamb, clear vines from the roof, steal flowers... is this a war picture?

You don't think they ever got any R&R? Getting rest, regrouping, training exercises and "standing by to stand by" (ie boredom) like in Melbourne and Pavuvu/Banika/Guadalcanal were a HUGE timeline in Pacific Theater veteran's experiences (late)1943-1945. Just be thankful they aren't covering more of it to try to keep it "realistic" !

If the series was strictly proportional to the amount of time they are covering in the series than Melbourne would've had 2 episodes.

Marines never call each other soldiers. We always call each other Marines, devil dogs, jarhead etc but not soldiers.

The series is somewhat proportional to the people the story is about namely Basilone, Leckie and Sledge. There were a lot of events in the first two episodes that were very important on Guadalcanal that were given little or no real time or development in the series. The Goettge patrol that was slaughtered while trying to "rescue" a group of japanese soldiers and Korean laborors was unmentioned likely because none of the main characters were involved or near it. Also, the Navy pulling out and leaving the Marines on their own. This was mentioned but someone not familiar with the implications might not get the gravity of what that meant to the Marines. Not saying these decision are right or wrong but the story is being told from the three primary characters point of view and what we see is relative to what they experienced and saw. Another example is General Vandegrift; He was scarceley seen in episodes 1 and 2 likely because Basilone and Leckie scarcely saw him. 10 episodes for the pacific campaign is not a lot. BoB could have used more episodes too. An hour or two for some of these campaigns is simply not enough time to tell the story or impress upon the viewer the sacrifice and valor that was displayed every hour of every day on these islands.