Band of Brothers (TV Mini Series) Bastogne (2001) User Reviews

Almost Gut Wrenching 9/10

[scottkursch · 10/10 · 27 May 2019]

For the life of me, can't really comprehend how 600 out of 5000 voters, rated this episode a 1/10. The weighted mean still sits at 8.7 out of 10, but still there are almost 600 viewers out there giving this the WORST possible score. Anyone comprehend this ? Is the story too dramatic ? Too painful to watch ? Too realistic ? Too cinematic ? Are these 600 Europeans that hold a grudge ? Whatever it is, it's somewhat baffling.

My stepfather had this series collection on VHS. He's a retired history teacher who is extremely picky about what he reads and watches. Mostly sports, history/biography, and current events. I knew this was a special production, but I never got around to watching it until now. I served 4 years in the USMC and I feel thankful I never experienced war.

Granted this can be a tough episode to sit through, but not for reasons that support a dreadful RATING. What's the problem ? Anyone know why 12% of the voters despise this episode or movie ?

Harrowing portrayal from a medic's perspective

[snoozejonc · 10/10 · 19 February 2022]

This is a brilliantly made episode that depicts a fairly horrendous situation.

The idea of showing the siege of Bastogne from the perspective of Eugene Roe was excellent and through this we get to see it from a unique vantage point. The friendship portrayed between Roe and volunteer nurse Renée Lemaire feels like artistic licence, but it makes for some very poignant filmmaking nonetheless.

It's impossible to take enjoyment out of filmmaking that shows such pain and suffering, but when the subject matter is based on historical events I very much appreciate the craft on display. The blood and gore does not feel gratuitous, but important to give authenticity to the casualties. As for how realistic it portrays these situations, only those who were there are qualified to comment, certainly not me.

The production values are superb like all episodes of Band of Brothers. The art design applied to recreate a besieged Belgian town and the awful weather conditions is fantastic.

Shane Taylor leads the episode wonderfully and is supported well by Lucie Jeanne and the regular cast.

Nuts

[anselmdaniel · 9/10 · 10 October 2020]

This review contains spoilers for the sixth episode of Band of Brothers entitled "Bastogne".

The sixth episode titled Bastogne follows medic Eugene Roe, a private in Easy Company. The Battle of the Bulge is underway. Easy Company is surrounded by the German army and the front-line is barely holding. Eugene Roe scavenges for supplies amidst an increasingly untenable situation.

Bastogne is a hard episode to watch. Easy Company is placed into increasingly bad situations as the front-line is strained. There are many hard to watch scenes in this episode. One of the changes from the previous episodes is the switch of officers from Richard Winters to Norman Dike. The episode shows that Norman Dike is not a competent commander and this exacerbates the problems Easy Company faces.

The choice to follow Eugene Roe is also a great one. The episodes that follow enlisted soldiers have a more grounded view from the foot soldier's perspective. The viewer will see the sad situation that the enlisted men find themselves in. It was great to watch The Battle of the Bulge with action and the lack of supplies the American airborne divisions suffered from.

This episode is incredibly well directed. The snow and battles are beautiful to look at. The sound design in the episode is well done. I found this episode to be incredibly high production values. Bastogne and The Battle of the Bulge is incredible to behold.

I highly recommend the sixth episode of Band of Brothers entitled "Bastogne". This is one of the best episodes of Band of Brothers.

Grade: A

My favorite episode

[lor_ · 18 August 2016]

Catching up with "Band of Brothers" 15 years after, I was completely enthralled with this harsh but rewarding episode in which the central character is an army medic, Eugene Roe (acted by Shane Taylor) who has his hands full.

Except for a lovely subplot of platonic romance with a local French nurse, necessary to relieve the otherwise unrelentingly grim atmosphere, this segment directed by British helmer David Leland is impressive in demonstrating not only the hardships of war but the near-breaking point of a protagonist who has to cope with unbelievable challenges. It's a small-scale drama, as Eugene rushes back and forth on the line, precariously held by a way-too-thin complement of troops against imminent German advances, seemingly abandoned outside the Belgian town of Bastogne with no supplies forthcoming, dwindling stocks of ammo and horrible winter conditions.

The brass seems indifferent to the soldiers' plight, consumed as they must be with "the big picture". Gerry cannot be allowed to break this line, and holding it, even without the resources to do so, is paramount in their strategy. Not knowing the particulars of this phase of WW II, I was frankly surprised at the end when our heroes' herculean efforts paid off.

Time to quibble with the series' credits format, a pet peeve of mine, amplified by IMDb's policies. This episode is dominated and made memorable by a single player, Shane Taylor as Roe, his chance to shine in the ensemble of the lengthy miniseries. You have to go to the most obscure part of the DVD menu (an option not available to TV watchers) to identify the actor's name, because he is completely lost in the shuffle of credits in strict Alphabetical Order. He has a forceful presence and acts, especially facially, with a subtlety and simplicity that is ideal for such an "everyman" role, putting to shame the Hollywood hams who win all the awards and through overstatement (no need to enumerate the culprits beyond say Nic Cage as chief transgressor over the years). It's too bad that Shane's career didn't take off (quite the contrary) after this memorable turn.

Similarly, Lucie Jeanne, briefly radiant in the small role of the nurse, is sloughed off in these credits, and has otherwise been relegated for the rest of her career to French TV assignments.

Powerfull episode!

[and_mikkelsen · 10/10 · 29 November 2023]

This episode really shows how brutal, mercyless and meaningless war is! That sometimes you find yourself in situations where you only keeps faith by sheer will!

Telling the episode from a medic's, Eugene's, perspective, was a nice breath of fresh air and really added a whole new depth to the show in a way that very few depictions of war, manages to do!

This puts a whole new perspective on it, as you see it all from a brutal and hopeless side!

Eugene became one of my favorite characters as we could see how it all affected him more and more as the episode went on! You could see it on his face and in his eyes! Amazing acting!

Directing and set pieces were great as usual! I could feel the cold!

Overall an incredible episode that will stick with me!

The soldies never forgot Bastogne and neither will I!

Excellent episode, hauntingly effective

[mussarimark · 10/10 · 18 October 2023]

I disagree with those criticizing this episode. First the oneiric nature of many of the scenes seems intentional: it's a nightmare landscape the men are moving in--a mental space--and it was a deft director to make this and not simply battle scenes the focus of this episode. Mostly, though, the episode belongs to Shane Taylor as medic Eugene Roe. Taylor delivers an understated performance that still manages to be incredibly effective, even touching in the silence of it all. There are so many great choices by both him and the director: the way he "fits" into his foxhole, the way he becomes our perspective (especially in motion), the often blankness of his expression still speaking volumes, the glimmers of emotion and realization the actor conveys almost entirely with his face, the elliptical "language" he establishes with characters like the nurse. It's a beautifully crafted performance by Taylor.

Unstoppable Roe

[toriswise · 10/10 · 24 November 2022]

"Bastogne" is where we see the war start to pick up quickly. Watching through the POV of Eugene Roe gives the viewers a unique perspective on the hardships of a combat medic on the field.

We see Roe go through many stages of emotion throughout Easy Company's time in Bastogne. Sticking to his religious morals gives him the push to run into the face of danger. A beautiful side plot with a female nurse as well, acts as a touch of humanity. Roe watches intently for his cue of an injury, and he jumps right in; dodging every obstacle in his way.

We see Roe lose and regain his motivation throughout the episode. He has seen death at his own hands, and it angers him. The need more morphine grows stronger by the second. Such a great detail. He feels the pain of losing a friend, taking Renées blue scarf as a souvenir, but as reality hits him he rips it in half as a bandage. He couldn't waste a resource as a personal object. Very symbolic, and conveys the message of the realities of death and war. There are no happy endings.

The responsibility for life lays heavy on his shoulders and it translates through the screen. There's a feeling of uneasiness knowing the duties that Roe holds upon himself. A quote that lingers with me is "I'm done playing doctor" coming from one medic to another. Roe takes on the responsibility of "playing doctor" with pride, he's far from done. His heart is in it.

Up to this point in the show, Bastogne is the first 10/10 for me, but it just keeps getting better from here. We continue to see the importance of Roe throughout the series.

Should be mandatory viewing....

[mattoid-45605 · 10/10 · 28 November 2020]

With all the whining and complaining going on in the US today, this should be mandatory viewing in all high schools and show in broadcast networks every year.

War at it's worst men at their best!

[mm-39 · 10/10 · 20 March 2020]

War at it's worst men at their best! Bastongne has Easy Company as the tip of the sphere. Easy Company recovery from a recent battle is stationed at Bastogne; Always forward in a tough and hard way is Easy Comapys experience! Missing men, supplies, and quiet moments mixed with shelling terror is the prelude to the battle of Bastonge; E Company is given the job of Bastonge defense as the German offensive wants the town which is connected to 8 roads. In the quiet there is battle fatigue, an accidental shooting, and a relationship and human side of a medic and nurse. The troops are worried about a new C O who folds under pressure and a hero arrive Spheers who gallantly leads. Spheers running threw enemy fire not once but twice to lead the troops is a high point. The end has a German sniper which show the German will fight in a nasty and there in a gut wrenching chapter for Easy Company. 10 stars.

Emotional

[amindostiari · 10/10 · 11 July 2021]

It was one of the best episodes. It was really emotional. It was narrated from the perspective of a rescuer and it was really interesting.

One of the most realistic depictions of the brutality of war

[schroederagustavo · 10/10 · 3 November 2023]

This episode is undoubtedly one of the finest pieces of television I've had the pleasure to watch. It immerses the viewer in the brutal and haunting reality of war in a way that is both awe-inspiring and harrowing. The Battle of the Bulge, a desperate and frigid struggle, is portrayed with such raw authenticity that it's impossible not to be deeply affected by it.

Throughout the episode, you're right there with one of Easy Company's medics, experiencing the horrors of war through their eyes. The stark contrast between the under-supplied, ill-equipped troops and the harsh winter conditions paints a vivid picture of the sheer adversity they faced. It's truly chilling to contemplate the suffering these men endured.

What truly elevates this episode is the exceptional performances of the entire cast. Their commitment to their roles is evident in every scene, making the characters feel real and relatable. Additionally, the sound design is nothing short of remarkable. It creates an atmosphere of dread that intensifies the already palpable tension, ensuring an immersive and terrifying viewing experience.

In conclusion, this episode is a masterpiece of storytelling. It doesn't just entertain; it educates and reminds us of the sacrifices made by those who served in such dire circumstances. With its exceptional performances and spine-tingling sound design, it stands out as a testament to the power of television to convey the horrors of war. An amazing and unforgettable episode that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.

Rewatch, 9.8/10

[dcdude-26988 · 10/10 · 13 August 2023]

This is literally one of the best reasons why this show is absolutely a must-watch. To get it out if the wa, my favorite things about this episode were the Protagonist, the storyline, and the acting, and my favorite character in this episode was Eugene Rue. This was literally way too close to being perfect. I love the dynamic between Eugene and the nurse, and the ending literally says it all. When I first watched the first seven episodes of the series, I thought the seventh one was the best, so I am gonna have to review it next. I haven't seen the very last episode yet, so after I am done with that, I will review it and that will be the last review of the series.

They tried hard to depict the desperation of Bastogne, but ultimately falls flat.

[paradeigmas · 6/10 · 3 March 2020]

Excellent entry to an amazing show as usual. This episode tries its very hardest to depict the desperation of the situation at Bastogne, but ultimately failing to do so and falling flat at both the visual and emotional level.

The main character is so often illogically moved off of the front lines by the plot to build his temporary relation ship with the nurse it makes you wonder if the 101 always has a single injury per engagement with the enemy.

Fake snow

[nikon12 · 5/10 · 30 May 2023]

I tried with the suspension of disbelief here, but anyone who has experienced real snow and forests will realise quickly that something about this episode is off.

It's overcast and snowing, but there's never any additional accumulation. There's just a dusting on the ground, that never changes. And later in the episode, there's sun shining on the faces of a couple of the actors but it's still snowing.

I never got the feeling that this was real, it always looked like a set to me - which is too bad, because the rest of the series scenery looked pretty real to me.

Apart from that, as someone else mentioned, there always seemed to be one wounded man who got all of the attention from the medic, and then he'd accompany him to town. All while there's still action going on, and potentially more men being wounded.

Great series, but this episode is a miss for me.

Doctors in front line

[v-56289 · 7/10 · 11 April 2020]

The episodes focuses on the role of doctors in the front line. Especially in the critical time due to the weather, difficult supply.. Also more "action" again added.. But somehow the story in not coherent.. at one point a high number of nazi troops apparently with tanks etc are about to attack a position guarded by few troops... one get hurt and when the doctor comes back, everyone is joking again, no one even hurt.. did the enemy just turned away? or was he there just to thrill the audience... but overall the episode was still very good..

Let's Be Honest

[Swelliot · 6/10 · 14 September 2023]

Every one of the 10 episodes in Band of Brothers is a masterpiece, hands down. This is an overrated episode though. It feels that just because there are so many explosions, and that it is a significant part of the Battle of the Bulge qualifies it as having a higher score than an episode like Carentan.

1st: The Jimmy Fallon cameo was ridiculous, and it should at least bring the episode down a point.

2nd: Anna, Renee's assistant and a survivor of the town attack, a woman who was recognized by multiple governments for taking care of soldiers and civilians, was shown on screen for 10 seconds.

3rd: While Doc is a great character and is played by a great actor, his story should've been told through his eyes on another episode, not one that takes place during the BATTLE OF THE BULGE. The fact this episode (where Doc consistently hangs out so he can talk to his crush) is still much higher than Crossroads, an episode that repeatedly returns to Winters and Nixon with a typewriter, is silly.

Still love the episode and sure I'll get annihilated for my opinion, but I just think the ratings have to be a little more logical.