Generation Kill - the miniseries!

[Alidar Jarok]

I just watched the first three episodes. Wow, this is actually very good.

There's no way I'll be able to keep track of all the characters, but I really like the CO (I think) of the platoon (the LT). Also, the driver who's hyped up on energy pills cracks me up.

I can't believe this is only 7 episodes, it's really strong and could probably keep going longer.

 

[Tomato]

I know this doesn't apply directly to the armed forces but right now I manage a tier II call centre (an officer so to speak). I have a university education, spent about four months in the call centre (limited training like an officer). Here I am in charge of 18 people ( a platoon). I'm 25 years old and easily the people I manage are older than me. I can't answer the phones as good as my reps, or even as fast as my reps but here I am managing them.

Why don't they promote the my 18 people to be a manager? Well mental capacity, skill, stigma about lack of an education. Yes there are great people who will make great managers but a lot of them will buckle under the pressure. And just because you can answer a phone really well doesn't translate into a great manager.

Not exactly the same thoughts as the armed forces but almost there. You need to deomonstrate a mental capacity to be considered and a lot of that time is through an undergrad.

Captain America maybe an exagerationg but as an enlisted, you may not have to make the tough choices an officer does. As such your views on what makes a good officer maybe clouded due to the situations you are in.

 

[Tomato]

I just watched the first three episodes. Wow, this is actually very good.

There's no way I'll be able to keep track of all the characters, but I really like the CO (I think) of the platoon (the LT). Also, the driver who's hyped up on energy pills cracks me up.

I can't believe this is only 7 episodes, it's really strong and could probably keep going longer.

LT. Nathan Fick, currently at Harvard doing a double degree at Harvard business school and John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Damn lucky guy.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yeah, Fick seems like a great guy. He seems well cast too (probably the most believable portrayal out of characters who all seem believable).

BTW, if you have Comcast On Demand (possibly other places too) there's behind the scene features. There's a couple about the filming of the show (since they film in Africa, that's probably a good reason it's only 7 episodes). Most, however, are about the characters. Every main character is a real person and, in several cases, the real person appears in these extras (interestingly, both the actor who played Person and the actor who plays Colbert said that, if they actually served in the marines, they would only do it if they could serve with their real life counter-part).

As far as officer competence. Evan Wright (the real one, not the actor) said something in the behind the scenes features about Godfather that I thought was important. He said that, although a lot of the marines criticized him in quotes in the book, if you asked any of them today if he was a good commander, they all would say yes.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

One thing I absolutely love (which the end of the last episode reminded me) is how I love the random songs they sing. Seriously, that was probably the most attention Wheatus has received in years when they were singing Teenage Dirtbag.

Honestly, the coolest scenes are them driving in the humvees. As cool as the action scenes can be, that's the heart of the show.

 

[Tomato]

^

Agreed this show is awesome and I love Simon and Co. Like the Wire they took a cliche formula (cops shows and war movie) and turned it entirely on its head.

Generation Kill is less about the war which is fought but more about the people interactions and how they behave under a variety of circumstances. How people respond to pressure and sense to make it seem real.

Man I love this show and wish it could just keep going on. BTW, anybody have any ratings info?

 

[firehawk12]

Does it matter? It's a mini...

What I found interesting is that they changed directors for this episode and I already noticed some small, subtle differences. I wonder why they switched it up though. This person directs for the next 2 episodes and then back to the original director for the finale.

 

[Tomato]

^

So Ed Burns and David Simon could create more shows.

 

[Harvey]

But it's based on a book. And the book ends. Enjoy what you've got, because that's likely it.