Though both World War II HBO miniseries are hugely acclaimed, the Band of Brothers vs The Pacific debate rages on and there are a number of notable reasons that The Pacific is actually better than Band of Brothers. Despite having similarities in content and style, the series have significant differences that make one a better watch than the other. Although many fans would argue that Bands of Brothers reigns supreme in the Band of Brothers vs The Pacific debate, The Pacific has a perspective and tone that make it far superior to its predecessor.
Both Band of Brothers and The Pacific tell the true stories of World War II soldiers. While Band of Brothers follows Easy Company from their training in boot camp and to Europe where they see the war end, The Pacific explores the lives of three Marines as they participate in the Pacific Theater of Operations in the Pacific War. Although The Pacific is a companion piece to Band of Brothers, it diverges from the original in several ways, many of which improve upon the classic World War II story. Here are six ways The Pacific is better than Band of Brothers.
10 The Pacific Depicts The Struggles Post-War
Band of Brothers did a great job immersing the audience in the war and part of its storytelling tactic was to not give the audience reprieve from the war. The Pacific is far more interested in these other aspects especially the lives of the soldiers after the battle is over. Band of Brothers’ ending gives a brief narration about what happened to Easy Company when they went back home but The Pacific goes into much greater detail. Interestingly, it is also not interested in just exploring the negative impact combat has had on these men.
Leckie is shown to be a different man when he returns, stronger and more confident which allows him to find love and pursue a career as a journalist. Of course, there are also the struggles depicted in Eugene’s time after the war contrasting Leckie’s. He doesn’t know how to make sense of life without combat and realizes that being a soldier is the only thing he has been good at. He is filled with trauma, but both of these depictions enrich the overall story of war.
9 The Pacific Shows The Pain Of The Loved Ones Left Behind
Family members are mentioned in Band of Brothers but the audience doesn’t have any idea of what is going on with the people back home when the men are fighting in the war. The Pacific gives a glimpse at the struggles others had to face while back at home. There are interesting aspects rarely explored in war movies like Eugene’s father playing up his heart murmurs to ensure he doesn’t go to war, knowing what happened to the soldiers of World War I when they returned.
The character of Lena shows the grief and worry of the wives back home with her initially refusing Basilone’s advances out of fear of being involved with a soldier. There is also an interesting exploration of the guilt of the men who don’t fight. This is seen with Eugene staying behind due to medical issues and with Basilone when he becomes a USO promoter.
8 The Pacific Touches On The Dehumanizing Aspects Of War
There are certain aspects of Band of Brothers that show the dark side of American soldiers as they can become merciless and uncaring. However, Band of Brothers explores this through secondary characters who are only seen in this way. The Pacific shows that war can take an ordinary and gentle man and gradually darken his soul through the horrors of his experiences. The audience follows Eugene through the war as he begins as a soldier who is filled with fear and has no real hatred for his enemies. However, once in the war, he gradually becomes more brutal and his humanity is peeled away.
7 The Pacific Focuses On The Soldier Rather Than The Company
The story of the members of Easy Company is undoubtedly an interesting one. Band of Brothers succeeds in showing them as an exemplary team in some of the biggest battles in the war while also highlighting key soldiers. However, the key difference between Band of Brothers and The Pacific is that The Pacific is about the soldier rather than the company. In Leckie, Basilone, and Eugene, the audience is taken on a journey with these soldiers before, during, and after the war. While the soldiers around them are key, it feels like these men are facing the war on their own with their own points of view.
6 The Pacific Focuses On Lesser Known Parts of WWII
While Band of Brothers follows the familiar World War II story of American soldiers in Europe, The Pacific tells a different, lesser-known tale of the Pacific Islands, which is not nearly as popular but is equally, or more interesting. For many who watch World War II true stories like Band of Brothers, the focus on major battles such as the invasion of Normandy can become repetitive. Luckily, The Pacific does not suffer from this quality. Exploring the Pacific islands gives a completely fresh look at the war and also shines a light on the men who actually fought there.
Furthermore, the change in location for The Pacific offers many more on-screen landscapes than the typical European locale. Throughout its 10 episodes, the series travels around constantly, moving from the Solomon Islands, Australia, Micronesia, and Japan. The choice to traverse several countries reminds audiences about the vastness of World War II but also keeps The Pacific’s true story exciting. Plus, in terms of entertainment, the focus on the South Pacific islands offers visuals that contrast greatly with bleak European forests, even in times of war.
5 The Pacific Explores Characters Better Than Band Of Brothers
One significant difference between Band of Brothers and The Pacific is who the shows focus on. While Band of Brothers depicts an entire company of soldiers, The Pacific has only three main characters whose lives diverge and intertwine throughout the war. The Pacific’s dynamic of “less is more” is better because it allows audiences to truly get to know the characters through several episodes rather than just one per character. Plus, the characters are portrayed not just as soldiers, but as individuals with lives outside the war.
A great example is The Pacific’s John Basilone. Throughout Basilone’s plotline, viewers see his heroic deeds, but they also get a peek into his life, including his romance with Lena. The choice to focus on Basilone’s love life improves the plot because it allows audiences to get closer to him as a character and relate to him. Then, when something tragic happens, as it does to Basilone, the emotional reaction is far greater and personal.
4 The Pacific’s Characters Are Not Perfect Soldiers
Another important aspect of the characters in The Pacific is the fact that they are not represented as perfect soldiers. While Band of Brothers tends to focus on the brave actions of its characters, The Pacific chooses to show some of the more complicated behavior of its characters along with their good deeds. Robert Leckie exemplifies this idea when he has a love affair with an Australian woman despite his engagement back home. Also, when Leckie and Eugene Sledge argue about losing faith because of the war, this adds to the idea of defecting from “goodness”. These actions are not always perfect or even related to the war, but make the character more dynamic and complex.
3 The Pacific Depicts Isolation in War
Where Band of Brothers relies heavily on the theme of brotherhood and soldiers caring for each other, The Pacific represents the opposite effect. Often, the characters are surrounded by men but feel incredibly alone and homesick. Eugene Sledge in particular represents how a man can yearn to join the war but end up losing his innocence and sense of self because of it. Sledge’s storyline also depicts soldiers entering a depression or psychosis because of the war and the way men’s relationships with each other can fray because of these conditions. This is a powerful and important aspect of warfare not as well-realized in Band of Brothers.
2 The Pacific Avoids The Glorification Band Of Brothers Uses
Similarly to how The Pacific presents real-life characters who are imperfect, the series also strays away from glorifying its main characters. The same cannot be said for Band of Brothers, which puts effort into portraying true heroes at all times. That is to say, there’s nothing wrong with giving credit where it’s due, but The Pacific’s refusal to give too much praise reflects the idea that the people fighting in World War II were not always able to do the right thing. Often, the scenarios dealt to them were difficult and affected them as such.
Additionally, the glorification of soldiers can often add a bit of glorification to war as well, as seen by the eagerness of men like Eugene Sledge to join the war. In contrast, when The Pacific avoids glorification and even pushes against it, the horrors of war become even more definable. Therefore, The Pacific’s brutal portrayal becomes more honest about how it truly looked and felt to fight in a war, rather than a story sugarcoated with patriotism and untarnished honor.
1 The Pacific Has A Darker Tone Than Band Of Brothers
The aspect of The Pacific that makes it better than Band of Brothers is its darker, and therefore more realistic, tone. Where Band of Brothers told the story of heroism and brotherhood, The Pacific aimed to show the darkness and destruction that war can cause in a person. In the same way that the series reveals parts of the war some audiences have never seen, it also brings to light the parts of war that are harder to process. Although darkness can be difficult, The Pacific’s true stories of sacrifice and hardship make it worth the watch and a more honest portrayal of the human condition in war than Band of Brothers.
While Band of Brothers and The Pacificboth have amazing merits and deserve praise, the latter has several characteristics that make it better. For those looking for an inspiring true story of bravery, Band of Brothersis a perfect choice. However, for viewers who are hoping for a new perspective on World War II and desire a nuanced look at the consequences of men fighting for their country, The Pacificis a top contender.
