Since this is the last episode, I want to reflect on the miniseries as a whole as well as the final part itself. When the miniseries started and even close to halfway through the miniseries, it was largely directionless, going from island to island and from character to character without much semblance of a real narrative from start to finish. It wasn't until the Peleliu episodes when the miniseries clearly on the psychological aspect of the war and how it affected each character. (Maybe I wasn't watching close enough in the previous episodes, but it's my opinion...)
"Part 10" was the culmination of all of this with the war over and soldiers coming home. After fighting for years and years, everyone has to realize that this is what life isn't suppose to be like. War isn't normal, and most importantly, the human psyche isn't built for constant combat and the hellhole of the Pacific. The characters we've been following for 9 hours in harsh, unforgiving environments must come back to the United States where not much has changed. Everyone's storyline is wrapped up nicely, but in very different ways.
Lena Riggi goes to meet Basilone's family and they are a bit testy at first even though Lena is clearly still reeling. (After "Part 8," I read an old article about her and apparently they had a pretty bad relationship in real life.) Soon, however, Lena gives them Basilone's Medal of Honor and Lena is accepted.
Leckie, after a long absence (I don't think we've seen him since the airfield episode), comes back and has a somewhat easy time reintegrating back into society and winning Vera.
Sledge, on the other hand, is a completely different story. In the beginning of the miniseries, Sledge was the random guy who we saw maybe once per episode at boot camp while Leckie and Basilone. He came into his own and really dominated the last few episodes along with Snafu as the once fresh-faced kid was transformed into a Jap killer. Again, he dominated the episode His return home is marked by PTSD and a general apathy towards anything. Sledge's story ends as he lifts a flower to the sky, attempting to cover the sun, but the rays still come through. There are some things that will always be there.
The episode ends showing the real people behind each character and a little backstory. Although The Pacific offered little in terms of narrative, the intent never was to create something that flowed particularly well from episode to episode. The writers played on the strengths of the unbearable environment and what it could do to people, and there was a story to boot, The Pacific should be considered a resounding success.
Score: 9.6/10
