The Last Patrol: Band of Brothers (TV Episode)

Plot

The eighth episode of HBO's Band of Brothers is seen from the point of view of David Webster (Eion Bailey, who played Jann Wenner in Almost Famous). Webster returns to Easy Company after a relatively minor injury kept him inactive for four months. Although Webster fought at Normandy, and with Easy during Operation Market Garden, he missed the ordeal the others faced at Bastogne, and on his return, he quickly realizes that it's not the same company. Many were killed or wounded at Bastogne, and those that remain resent him for not being there. Liebgott (Ross McCall) is particularly hostile, and complains that while others who were injured found a way to get back to the front, Webster took his time recovering. The company is also joined by Lieutenant Jones (Colin Hanks, executive producer Tom Hanks' son), fresh out of West Point. The war appears to be drawing to a close. The company is still on the front line, in the French town of Haguenau, and the Germans are stationed across a small river. Both sides are encamped in relative comfort, and neither side seems eager to engage the other. On the orders of the regiment's commander, Winters (Damian Lewis) picks 15 men for a dangerous night patrol across the river to capture German prisoners for interrogation. The exhausted Malarkey (Scott Grimes) is picked to lead the patrol. Webster assesses the situation and convinces the gung-ho Jones to volunteer to take Malarkey's place, and also offers to replace Liebgott as the mission translator. Winters picks Martin (Dexter Fletcher) to replace Malarkey, and allows Jones to go along as an observer. The raid is considered successful, despite the loss of a man, and Winters is ordered to send his men out on another patrol the following night. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Review

"The Last Patrol" is the second consecutive episode of HBO's Band of Brothers to benefit from effective voice-over narration. The previous episode was narrated by Carwood Lipton (Donnie Wahlberg). This one is shown from the point of view of David Webster (Eion Bailey), who dropped out of Harvard to join the paratroopers and later wrote a book about his wartime experiences. Webster's narration draws the audience in as he returns from an injury after a four- month absence, fresh-faced and clean, and faces the resentment of the men of Easy Company, who have been ravaged by their horrific experiences in Bastogne. Webster is an astute observer, and the episode clearly shows the emotional tightrope he walks in trying to regain the trust of his fellow soldiers. The episode also offers a well-dramatized glimpse of the lack of compassion of those in command, even of effective and respected leaders like Colonel Sink (series technical advisor Dale Dye). Sink jeopardizes the lives of the exhausted and heroic men of second Platoon, sending them on a dangerous mission, apparently in the service of his own ego. Once again, Winters (Damian Lewis) finds a way to protect his men. The combat scenes are impeccably presented, as usual, but there isn't a lot of fighting depicted in this installment. The characters have been established well enough by this point that an episode that focuses primarily on relationships between the soldiers can still command the audience's attention. The series continues to be a model of verisimilitude in its historical recreation, but that's not its greatest strength. The understated performances of actors like Lewis, Wahlberg, and Bailey enhance a production that grows in emotional resonance with each successive episode. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi