Just caught this last night and saw it was the 2nd episode. So far, this show kicks major ass. Looking forward too the rest of the series.

Slate has a great article up about how realistic the depiction of the Iraq war is in this miniseries:

http://www.slate.com/id/2195528/pagenum/all/

Good read.

Thanks for the link!

watched episode 2 last night - and the characters are starting to develop, I even have some favorites.

I may have to get the Wire on DVD (I keep hearing comparisons to this show)

Ditto. Added season one to my Netflix queue last night.

Give The Wire a chance. It's starts off slow, but is well written and the acting is great.

Chris

As a courtesy can a mod please break this thread up into dated episodes? Thanks.

I didn't really think there'd be enough discussion for individual episode threads.

I don't see the need for individual threads.

Yeah, 34 posts after 2 episodes doesn't warrant individual threads. Hell, we only have one thread for Big Brother and that is 3 episodes a week.

Chris

I love Ziggy on this show and hated him on the Wire. That is good writing for you. This show is really good.

To those who haven't seen The Wire, do yourself a favor and watch it after this is over, you will not be disappointed. I also highly recommend The Corner (great mini-series and good primer for The Wire) and Homicide: Life On The Streets (where it all started and in my opinion the best show ever put on TV).

As for episode #3, that was fantastic. I have always said that a great show (not a good one) will pull every single emotion out of you and make you feel like you are standing right there. That happened last night. You can feel these guys wanting to do more for the Iraqi people...or that Godfather might not know what he is doing (that was really in their faces more than anything else). The banter between these guys is so spot on too...my hats of to David Simon and Ed Burns.

Also, it is mind boggling watch this and The Wire, and figure out why any of the Emmy voters didn't give these guys any love. Makes no sense at all. But at least I can say I enjoyed it and that is really what matters.

Generation Kill was not eligible for this year's Emmy Awards. The eligibility period ended on May 31. I expect it will garner some nods next year, however. Great show.

Sorry about that. What I meant to say was,

It is mind boggling watch this and wonder how The Wire didn't get more nominations than it has.

Can someone explain the Godfather thing? Is he the throat cancer guy? Or is it just a Marine type of deal?

I think that "Godfather" is the battalion commander, and yes he is the guy who had throat cancer. I'm not sure why they call him that. Just a nickname, I suppose?

I loved him in The Wire...however I do agree that is good writing for you.

"FOLLOW MY TRACERS!!!!"

He is the Lieutenant Colonel : Commander of First Recon

He had throat cancer and they call him "Godfather" because he sounds like Brando in the Godfather - when he talks in the raspy voice.

Awesome dialog.

Another fascinating, eye opening episode. The incompetence and absolutely lack of compassion from the higher ups is depressing. I wish more people could watch this show to see just how inept the supposed liberation of Iraq is.

What's going to happen with Trombly? Is he going to snap? Get court marshaled? Get a slap on the wrist?

And whats up with Captain America? So eager to go Rambo on the Iraqi's for no reason.

So many interesting characters on this show. I should pick up the book soon.

I don't think everyone is as incompetent as you might think. The view of this war only from this units point of view. They can't necessarily see the see the bigger picture from their small slice of the war or actually know why their CO's are making some of the decisions they are making or how things going on in other places is effecting them.

The scene were they want the Iraqis' evacuated and Godfather explains why he can't was a very telling scene. Notice no one questioned his reasoning. Things aren't always as simple as they seem.

I think he did evacuate the kids but he had to do it over land.

The whole war stuff doesn't interest me, I really like it because of the characters. Like I know people like a lot of these guys. I've had bosses that were incompetent dicks, I've had friends that were funny who got carried away and annoying at times, and had to work with guys that were complete psychos. The first episode I couldnt tell who was who but now I've like got my favorites and people that I just hate. Really great writing.

I love that after the sgt guy took the blame for giving the order that the psycho that did shoot the kid didn't thank him or anything, he was still a psycho asshole. Very realistic.

he didn't really take the blame for giving an order, he did give the order. then again, in the previous episode, the rules of engagement were changed to treat everybody as a threat. that is exactly what they did.

Here is a question I would like to pose:

If you are the General and you have the best of the best marines (First Recon) Who's primary objective is to go ahead of everyone else and gather intelligence and feed that back to your Commanding Officers for decision making.

1) Would you let them get held up on humanitarian efforts when they ran into fleeing Iraq civilians?

2) Would you let them get held up on helping wounded civilians?


In the big picture I would not - and I see now why they waved armed militants on, why they didn't help the fleeing civilians, and why they are reluctant to help civilians.

Until yesterday I didn't know that First Recon was the Marines version of Navy SEALS or Army Rangers / Green Berets (to a certain extent).

Armed with that information I now understand that their talents are better utilized in the field and not stopping and helping out everyone the come across - let the guys behind them do that.