I actually really liked this episode. I'm not gonna try to rank it though until I've seen all the episodes. It felt like this was the episode that could really get people more emotionally invested with the main characters. At this point I'm happy with the job the show is doing condensing all this time into 3 episodes. It could be much more confusing that it currently is. As everyone else has said, I feel the episodes themselves should be a bit longer, and I also feel they could give a slightly more concrete passage of time. However I always felt Helmet for My Pillow was pretty fluid with it's passage of time so maybe the show's trying to reflect that. On a side note, with the whole Stella plot, this episode reminds me a bit of the Bastogne episode in Band with Eugene and Rene, mainly the made up interaction. It works well for me though.

They spent a lot more time developing stella and her family than they did in Bastogne, though. To me that seemed like time wasted in this episode.

It was good drama but nothing memoarable really, I dunno, I'll have to watch it again sometimes but right now I don't feel like watching it all. Once is enough.

A lot of people are going to hate this episode, people on IMDB are already proclaiming the series dead (jeez ). It's already got an average score of 5.1 on TV.com compared to the first two which rated something between 8.2 and 8.4.

I can somewhat understand why some people didn't like this episode but you can't just omit a crucial part of their (the 1st Mar. Div) story. They spent almost nine months in Australia for R&R. What the hell did you think they were doing? Rolling their thumbs, eagerly waiting for the next campaign? I'm glad they showed it, and people seriously need to stop comparing this with BoB already! Christ!

Least favorite thus far, however, I still thought it was good. If you're really going to show what these fellas went through, why make up the whole Stella thing? Just show what is in the books.

This one gets a 7/10. I generally liked getting to know Leckie better. Bonus points for Basilone yarfing in Chesty's trash can and the marine fainting after reveille.

you know its gonna happen

I went to Sydney from Vietnam on R&R in August, 1969. I had sex with a couple of Aussie women. If they make a movie about me I want that in there!

Jeez, Raven, you couldn't have just found a nice church social to go to, or stayed in your room and read the Bible?

Sex on R&R??? Next thing we know you'll be telling us you drank a beer or there might have been some dope smoking in Vietnam...

Like I mentioned in the Stella thread, I think she was basically a composite character, there really wasn't time to show all of Leckie's interactions with the Melbourne ladies. Anyway, I think your review pretty much sums it up for me, good episode but will probably be most people's least favorite...

The real question is, is this episode re-watchable?? I don't know....it had its good moments and Leckie was a character worth exploring (loved the train/cow scene).

Btw, did anyone else laugh hard at the guy falling to the ground when they lined up at the stadium?

Thought that was pretty funny! I would have watched the episode again at 11 last night, but got sucked into "Casino" so I'll just watch the repeat tonight. Or tomorrow. Or Wednesday, etc., etc...

When we got to the R&R center in Sydney they said, "enjoy yourselves, we know you are all tough GI's but don't try to drink with these people"! Then, at the hotel, there was a bad ass ex RAR NCO that laid down the law. We had a great time and the people were wonderful but they were not about to let it get out of control. There were instances of guys going over the hill but that's always the case. The other cool thing was that we landed on the moon while I was there and the Aussie's had a tracking station so they were really into it! They actually made a movie about that called "The Dish".

They didn't spend much time showing the guys in the brig, but I liked the little details that they left in from the book, like the wet floor and the guys sneaking a smoke. Too bad there was no room for Oakstump and his salt sandwiches...

The Vietnam vets I've known mentioned R&R in Thailand, which sounded a bit more wild than Sydney does!
I also saw the moon landing in 69, at least according to my mother. Being 2 at the time I don't remember it too well...

I liked it. But you can tell throughout the series so far, there has been some struggle to show all 3 stories. They're close to each other, but their paths never really cross.

With Band of Brothers, they showed the story of the entire Company, and focuson 1 character each episode, throughout the Company's experiences. I think it lent itself a little better for an hour long episode, instead of telling 2-3 separate stories.

Oh, and Leckie's toast of "Slainte!" made this Fenian's night...

I enjoyed last nights episode. I think that you just have to keep in mind that it is only a television show and not everyone will be pleased with how all of the actual events are portrayed.

I am guessing that back in 1942 quiet old Melbourne would not have known what hit it.

Is it true that the 1st Marine Division still uses Waltzing Matilda as its battle hymn, playing it whenever they ship out? If so good on them.

A lot of troops were also sent to Brisbane. Some may be interested in reading about the so called Battle of Brisbane, if so a search on google will bring up a few results.

I enjoyed the third episode although it is indeed third in comparision to the others. While in Europe with the 3rd Army my father went missing for a couple of days in Paris so the Marines of all people deserved Melbourne. My favorite scene was when Basilone broke the big mouth aussies nose. Morgan was right, "Aren't you supposed to be in Africa fighting Rommel?"

Yes, that makes more sense. I'm showing my ignorance of the book, since I haven't read it...was going off of another post stating Stella wasn't mentioned in the book. A composite character is good for me.

just finished, kinda liked the episode made me feel more a connection with the caracters but what i didnt complete understand is what the new function for Leckie that he got as punishment(?) and i was suprised that they didnt show anything of Eugene this episode guess they show him in the next then.

Leckie was 'shanghaid" (as he put it in the book) out of H company into another company (E? Can't remember right now), where he became a scout. Wasn't done by Ivy League in the book, nor was it his punishment for the guard duty episode. But Leckie was definitely being punished by somebody for being, well, Leckie. Just came at a later date but still happened in Australia.
I always felt bad about that when i read the book but I'm glad they didn't change it (much ) for the series. I really expected them to keep him in H Company, which I could have lived with but wouldn't have liked to see...

The Vietnam vets I've known mentioned R&R in Thailand, which sounded a bit more wild than Sydney does!
I also saw the moon landing in 69, at least according to my mother. Being 2 at the time I don't remember it too well... [/quote]


No question, Australia was tame compared to Thailand. Actually none of the other R&R sites compared. You did not want to get popped for dope in Malaysia.

thanks for explanation

You have to look at the episodes in context. The first two episodes seemed a little rushed, there were a lot of characters that you have to get your head around in a very short space of time. Episode 3 was needed for the characters to develop, for the first time apart from when the marines were shelled in part 2, i cared for the characters. You could see how these young men felt being away from the violence and constant threat of death, to be around women and booze. I am usually one for all action, but i enjoyed this episode, i can finally start caring for a few characters like i cared for everyone of easy company. The producers have openly said the first 3 episodes are the weakest, so they are now out of the way, so we can move onto episode 4, which looks truly amazing! All the comparing to band of brothers is unfair, seeing that i have seen band of brothers twenty times, i know everything about it. So to compare something you already love with something you have only seen 3 episodes is not right. A fair chance has to be given to this series and i strongly believe it will not let us down.

"Thats a good thing to pray for"

Didn't really like it. It was "ok".

I'm just not feeling you detractors from this episode. The whole Stella thing sets the stage. The fact that this a Greek family in Australia is magic. Not contrived. This stuff really happened and as has been said these boys were all over the place. I really liked the raw energy of Lucky and Stella being thrown together and I also think the acting should get props. Good stuff! Lucky acting like the manchild that didn't know how lucky he was and Stella just totally being the dream come true. Nice dynamics, I thought. Not much blood and guts in this one but I thought it was really well done in the whole scheme of things. Melbourne after all. Young kids in a war. I thought it was good and can't wait for more.

Don't worry, guys. When the DVD comes out you don't have to watch Episode 3 at all.


From now on we'll just refer to it as "the Lost Episode"!

No? How about "Part 3: Melbored"

The amount of bitching on IMDB is a joke. Alot of ignorant people have no clue whats coming in the next few weeks.

Eveyone is comparing it to BOB. Some people need to keep it mind that BOB peaked around Episode 7.

indd, for me BOB peaked at the bastogne and foy episode

People are going to be in shock when the Peleliu trilogy rolls around.

Yeah, it's hard to fathom what it'll take to some people happy. They complain about the lack of action in the Pacific but the last 3 episodes of BoB weren't exactly full of fighting, except for a firefight in "The Last Patrol". Seems to me anybody who's got that big of a hardon about seeing combat on screen has never had to deal with the real thing and they should just consider themselves lucky.
Anyway, they're about to get their fill starting with episode 4, that's for sure...