The Reel Rejects - BAND OF BROTHERS 1x05 & 1x06 REACTION - TWO OF THE SERIES' MOST EMOTIONAL EPISODES

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Starting point is 00:00:26 Don't wait. Visit your local GMC dealer today and make it yours. Have you ever wondered why songs on the radio are popular? Why does certain movies get made, even though the premise seems completely random? Why are concert tickets costing you $3,000, but nobody makes any money touring? Well, on my podcast, breaking down the biz, we answer all those questions and more. I'm Seth Schachner. I have over two decades of experience in the entertainment and the music industry,

Starting point is 00:00:53 and every week I talk to insiders that lend insight and expertise on the media you know and love, past, present, and future. subscribe now on your favorite podcasting platform or watch us on YouTube so you never miss a beat. Let's make sense of this industry together. So Banda Brothers Season 1, Episode 5. Let's commence. All right, that was Band of Brothers, season 1, episodes 5 and 6. If you are listening to us on Apple or Spotify, please give us a five-star rating. If you're on YouTube, please make sure you do all the YouTube stuff. Hit the like button.

Starting point is 00:01:28 We would very much appreciate it. Share the video, and if you hit that notification bell, you'll be notified. of any videos such as these that get popped up here on YouTube, but also special thanks to the people editing these videos. We appreciate it so much. Also, if you don't mind joining us over on our Patreon page, Greg and John exclusively, our cover and highlight many other TV shows and stuff over there. So it also goes a long way in supporting us, keeps the lights on,

Starting point is 00:01:57 keeps the host coming back in. We got a lot of goodies over there, rejignation shop.com. John, what did you think of those episodes? Oh, man, this was a terrific. Yeah, it's a terrific little duo here. Definitely heavy. I mean, like the whole show is heavy. But now you really feel, and appropriately so,

Starting point is 00:02:15 because we're in the middle section of the show, it really feels like we're in the thick of things like we've been through a lot. You can feel the hardening and the, you know, somewhat of the maturing of some of the, you know, privates that we joined up with. we see the, you know, continued, you know, sort of dignity, but also toll, you know, sort of on winters especially.

Starting point is 00:02:42 And yeah, like to focus these couple episodes on leadership and then on, you know, the struggle, the life, the experience of the medic is just so fascinating. Yeah, because it's two situations where you have to be like especially poised and you have to have like a different set of ideas running in your head alongside the regular underlying, you know, we're in a war zone stuff that everybody has to be aware of and thinking about. And so, yeah, I really loved the, again, in loving that the show, you know, so nicely handles both being an ensemble piece, but also zeroing in on characters and then using those characters to exemplify certain themes. Yeah, these were two really standout episodes in a series that has been stand out from the get-go.

Starting point is 00:03:27 And yeah, I mean, these two characters that you follow largely getting a different look at Winters more as a human as well as, you know, the leader we know him as. And then getting this look on Eugene, yeah, who really, like, I loved getting to know him in this episode, like a truly standout character. Yeah, he definitely has a presence to him, as you said earlier. And the first episode, just really quickly, I thought that was, they were both incredible episodes, but getting to see Winter, you know, we know he's an incredible leader. And then when he gets this, when they give him a new role, you know, promoted, rather. And then he's, has mixed feelings about it. And then, you know, you still see that how much he cares about the easy company.

Starting point is 00:04:14 And it's fascinating to see those array of emotions on him. And I think it's just a real three-dimensional performance just by the actor, Damien Lewis, his name is he's just really incredible. and very provocative and you just get so immersed in his performance. And, yeah, it's fascinating, too, the way they intercut between how he's typing up the report and the way they're showing the battle, like how he's reflecting on it. I thought that was such a fascinating way. And Tom Hanks really did an incredible job in that episode. And then the contrast to the next episode between the actual medic and seeing what they have to go through.

Starting point is 00:04:52 Because, like, those are really scary words to have to hear in a bat. I mean, being in a battle in itself is already scary. Having to hear those words just shout it over and over and over again, medic. And then also having to be a fire and then run into it. And like, it's already hard enough being a medic just in general. Like, it just in a normal place with no war. Like you have to, you know, people's lives are literally in your hands. But then when literal bullets are being like, it's literally like a never-ending type of thing,

Starting point is 00:05:21 especially in that position. And then there's a little light array of sunshine. in light, he meets this nice woman who's literally doing the same thing as him. Yeah. And you know, they don't I mean, they kind of do express their feelings without actually saying it. You know,

Starting point is 00:05:38 she passes him along chocolate. It's kind of like love language in itself. And then they don't actually get to like have their, their happy ending and he, you know, she, you know, it's, that's, that's, that's war. But then her, the spirit

Starting point is 00:05:54 of the act lives on in the little bit of cloth there. Like, beautiful. And he doesn't even get to really reminisce in the moment. Like, he grabs, you know, the thing that was on her head. And then it's like, no, get back into action right now. Yeah, let's use what, let's use what you're talking about to segue. Because let's start with Care Bear, because that's kind of what Care Bear is asking about.

Starting point is 00:06:14 It's a good segue. Carebear says Band of Brothers is a profound depiction of the mass trauma of combat, the brutality of basic survival and the psychological toll of the fog of war, which these, couple of episodes really exemplified, especially the second one. However, the show also attempts to find instances of true human connection as we see with the civilian nurse. How does the writing of the show balance depictions of violence with these quieter touches of humanity? I think it balances out perfect. I mean, you've got that levity of that. It's nice to be, I mean, the war itself is so much suspense, tension, and horror that it's nice to have those moments that I think it balances it out properly so that we get a little bit away from it, as well as these soldiers. because they remember what they're fighting for and stuff like, you know, having chocolate or like a cigarette or whatever. It's, it's, it's, it's, the little things. Uh, so that they, uh, are able to push through with that, that fortitude, uh, in those crazy, as situations when they're battling. So I'm glad that that we have that. It's not just all war. So, yeah, I love that. I mean,

Starting point is 00:07:19 yeah, the whole show has, as you've said, kind of depicted this, this shared traumatic event and the highs and lows that the human spirit goes through in that situation. And especially the fog of war stuff. I thought these complimented each other really nicely because yeah, both winters and Eugene in their own ways need to get out of here for a second and like recalibrate and and remind yourself of like what else is out there in the world and what we're fighting for and and you know, get back in touch with your humanity because yeah, once you spend so much time with all your kind of moments of respite, subject to interruption. One thing they do really well in this show across the border, they constantly interrupt you with situations and violence and other things. So yeah, these moments of

Starting point is 00:08:04 humanity become very precious and even watching, you know, Damien Lewis just on his own out in Paris and watching the way in which he has these little human moments, he has these flashbacks to the battlefield. He has, you know, what seems like, you know, something of a, of a meditative time, but also a time that isn't fully, you know, he's not like he's getting down. Like, he's still kind of lonely and it's still kind of melancholy. And so, yeah, it reminds you that, like, there's a really, really delicate balance because, like, it's so hard to want to go back after a moment. And you watch these different moments where they're pulling Eugene out of the foxhole. And at first, he's like, okay, I'm up. And there are other times where they've really

Starting point is 00:08:46 got to kind of work at it. And yeah, I just think they do a really nice job of emphasizing the importance of these little human moments, but also showing how delicate they are in the face of so much constant carnage that you're going to have to be pulled back into, you know, and the looming, you know, death all around. I agree. But yeah. Good stuff. All right.

Starting point is 00:09:09 Next question is from Lauren. Having watched this series a number of times, I think the previous episodes only chip away at the sense of purpose the men initially enlisted with, but these two episodes really stripped that purpose away. Do you think this tonal shift is best portrayed by highlighting the two calmest characters or more so the continued struggles of war for the company faces as a whole? I think it's both. 100%. Because yeah, like these are two figures that you want and need to be calm in the face of so much chaos. You know, you need your medic to be somebody that you're relieved to see and who can in these, you know, crazy moments keep their head and focus on patching you up and getting you

Starting point is 00:09:48 off the field and the people who do that. It's a, you know, it's a, you know, you know, whole other aspect of bravery. Like, it's all bravery and courage and, and all that. But, but, but yeah, to not be focused on covering yourself and others, but, you know, performing a human act is really striking. And, yeah, I mean, you know, somebody who is, like they said, like kind of a born soldier, somebody who, yeah, is, like, poised and, and analytical, but who's also still a human, you know, yeah I would say that what you've kind of highlighted in the second part of your question here kind of gets at the heart of the whole thing is that like you as the individual you know you know focusing in on the calmness characters gives you a lot of interesting insight into their humanity and into the shared humanity but also it's the hardest thing to maintain in the face of so much chaos and so for winters to be as calm and collected and able to empower as he is is really striking. And for Eugene to, you know, I'm a little more worried about him, but like, you know, for him to be, you know, continually sort of spiritually in conversation with the vocation of what he's doing here is really striking. And yeah, like to be on a couple of episodes where things are going pretty bad. And, uh, and we, it feels like we're outgunned and outnumbered and desperate. You know, yeah, I think both of these aspects are very much in conversation. Yeah. And I like that they stay on the two commas characters because it's already so chaotic. and crazy. So it helps give a little, you know, levity for us as well, as well as the surrounding

Starting point is 00:11:24 crew. And I think, you know, when they do those, those intros with the real guys, uh, they were talking about like, you know, having that leadership and how important that is. And, you know, especially with a guy like Winters and watching him just be calm cool and collected, no matter what the state of the situation is or no matter how harsh the conditions. I mean, the dude's just shaving in a wind, it's snowy outside and they're being under fire. And then immediately stops. Stops and just goes handles and then goes back to shave. So, yeah, and then with a guy like Eugene, too, I mean, there were times too where he was

Starting point is 00:12:00 pretty calm, cool, and collected. And then there's other times where he's, like, very deep in thought in, like a trance type situation. Then I like that. He used the beauty of the relationship that he, you know, he gathered with Renee, like, to help him push through that into that, that. that fortitude as well. Like he called,

Starting point is 00:12:17 I forgot that guy's name at the end, but he said, babe, like, he was a madge. He was, yeah, he was thinking of her. And that's like,

Starting point is 00:12:23 that's going to help him hopefully push forward and continue, you know, her memory, uh, is going to help him. So, especially in his position, because it's harder when you're the medic in a sense,

Starting point is 00:12:34 because you're patching people up and you don't know if they're going to make it home. Sure. You're very much in the moment. Whereas if you're a leader, you're very much in the more overhead, the big, the bigger picture. Yeah. Yeah, you got to do the tactical and you have to, morale has to be picked up

Starting point is 00:12:53 on a whim, so all that for sure. But it's fascinating those two perspectives and POVs, and I thought that they did an amazing job both episodes. So, Hondo P. All right, last questions from Jay Rushden. What up Jay? Yes. Thank you. Hi. What role would you be in the Army choices the Jay is giving us are following. the following. Sniper, flamethrower, medic,

Starting point is 00:13:16 troop leader, grenade lobber, mechanic, translator, driver, or chaplet? I would probably, if any of those,

Starting point is 00:13:24 I'd probably pick sniper because I feel like I'd be in the safest position because I'm so far in the distance and people

Starting point is 00:13:31 that, but that's just me. And I've played games where I have been a sniper and it seems like the one where I'd be

Starting point is 00:13:38 the best at, I guess. Seems like its own fascinating little location. Yeah, I don't know. What about you?

Starting point is 00:13:43 I don't know. I'm a good. I'm a good driver. You are a good driver. I've been in the car with you several times. I don't know if I could ever claim to be like, I would choose slash be well suited to one of these combat oriented roles. Like,

Starting point is 00:13:56 I guess sniper is the most appealing of those. I mean, medic or even a chaplain. Like, I'm not the most like specifically religious guy, but like being the person to help spiritually ground to the people seems like a very valuable and thing I might be good at. Or hell,

Starting point is 00:14:13 if I knew the languages, being the translator. I want to help people communicate. Yeah, I know silently, which I guess I would do that if that was a position out there. But let us know what you guys would choose to be. And let us know what you thought of these episodes. These are two of my favorites. I mean, they've all been great, but these are definitely two same notes. And I love seeing, yeah, the juxtaposition of him alone writing up the report as like a promoted officer versus then him out living the experience and the two

Starting point is 00:14:39 different sides. Yeah, both of these were terrific. It's a great show so far. I'm curious to see how it's going to follow now. I think we got four more. So, yeah, be on the lookout for the next two. And if you joined us, if you stayed with us this far, rather we appreciate you. And we'll see you for episodes seven and eight. Take care. See you later.

Starting point is 00:15:01 Be well.

The Reel Rejects - BAND OF BROTHERS 1x05 & 1x06 REACTION - TWO OF THE SERIES' MOST EMOTIONAL EPISODES

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