‘Band of Brothers’ Recap – ‘Part Eight: The Last Patrol’

1/14/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Eion Bailey and Craig Heaney as Private First Class David Kenyon Webster and Private Roy W. Cobb in Episode 108 of ‘Band of Brothers’ – ‘Part Eight: The Last Patrol’. (Photo Courtesy of HBO.)

Popular media and to a lesser extent, the history books, teach us that the turning points of great wars, come about via great moments. Wherein the victors of the war, turned the proverbial screws upon their enemy so badly, they began to back down in fear and understanding. Often times, that is portrayed via a great battle. Where the enemy’s forces lie in ruin for all time and just like that, armadas of heroic ships and lines of brave soldiers advance upon enemy territory and onward toward victory. And truth be told, moments such as D-Day and the Battle of Midway, do indeed reinforce that understanding in our collective minds.

But the fact of the matter is, turning points in wars aren’t always wrought with explosions and incredible speeches and a sense of real triumph. Sometimes… they come about via collective understanding that the tide is turning, and through other acts that signify that the sacrifices made by heroes need to end, and life needs to be preserved and well… those aspects of how wars shift and what it actually looks like in practical practice are top of mind today, because they were put on display in the next episode of Band of Brothers. For ‘Part Eight: The Last Patrol’ caught up with Easy Company following the harrowing moments they experienced in the Battle of the Bulge as they entered Haguenau, and well… since most of the fighting was done here, they had a chance to breathe.

Also, a chance, to ponder upon their losses, the bonds they made in the foxholes of Bastogne, and the future. For immediately, the collective understanding of Allied forces was that the long and winding and horrifying Battle of the Bulge, cost the German Army dearly. To the point where it seemed resources were burned through, and defenses were broken. So, just like that… the sense was the war was coming to an end, and that the days ahead would not be as hard. Giving rise to the reality that the tide can turn in that simple of a manner. Without a big speech, without bombast, but there was still work to be done in this war. After all, the brass needed intelligence regarding the shape of the German Army and well, it fell to Easy to help with that.

Scott Grimes as Technical Sergeant Donald Malarkey in Episode 108 of ‘Band of Brothers’ – ‘Part Eight: The Last Patrol’. (Photo Courtesy of HBO.)

For a mission was ordered to head into one of the last enemy strongholds, wherein a small patrol would bring prisoners home so they could be interrogated, and intelligence could be recovered and well, this did not come together easy. For so many of the men were broken, including Malarkey who really did need a break after the horrors he’d seen and of course… there was a sense that Easy deserved a break, period. But they were the best of the best and followed orders and succeeded in their mission in quite the costly manner. For they lost one man in exchange for a mere two, and while those prisoners talked, it seemed like so much for so little. Especially when it was obvious that the Nazis were unable to put up much of a counteroffensive when Easy was discovered behind enemy lines.

But success is success, and Colonel Sink was so thrilled at that… he wanted more. And well, Captain Winters came to understand… enough was enough. The tide had turned, the Reich would soon fall, and no more bloodshed needed to happen. Which was why he ordered his men… to rest, and offer up a false report regarding a patrol that never happened. So that command would no longer be excited over sending the men off on foolhardy missions that accomplished minimal results for the war effort. Giving rise to the reality that calculated combat was the key here, where it needed to make sense to risk lives. But that also hammered home, the need to start preserving life, to give these boys some hope after everything they had seen and that made for a powerful episode when all is said and done.

One that showcased in wonderful detail, exactly how the tide turns in a war for most of those involved in the battle at hand and of course… how there really does come a point, where the wanton fighting and chaos needs to end and the future needs to be on the horizon and it was refreshing to see that play out here and know it played out in history. Especially since Easy Company went through utter hell to get to this particular point in the fight and well, it was comforting to know that at long last, these men no longer had to be afraid every second of every day and could start thinking about tomorrow, and eventually celebrate the fall of the Reich and the death of that tiny-mustached little bastard. That is… after they came to discover precisely why… they endured such fear, and such sacrifice. Until next time.

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