I'm watching "The Pacific" for perhaps the fourth or fifth time through. Noticed something new.

[Aristus]

The opening credits are accompanied by shots of someone creating charcoal drawings of various scenes from the miniseries. Every time they show the charcoal pencil, it is splintering and shattering. Now, I know charcoal is a very brittle medium, and splitting the point of a charcoal pencil is probably a very common occurrence.

But this time, I was imagining that the artist was a veteran of the battles being depicted. And the pain and stress of the memories was causing him to press down on the pencil hard enough to shatter it over and over.

I may be overthinking what is simply supposed to be an interesting artistic vision. But it's haunted me a little.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I think you're onto something, my dear Aristus...

The splintering of the charcoal is certainly emblematic of the pain and stress of the soldiers.

And that's not the only symbol. Another could be when the charcoal rolls into rows......then there are rows of soldiers. It certainly makes sense to use the charcoal as a symbol of the horror and danger of war.

It is very haunting. It's meant to be.

[dhill926]

2. One of the best if not the best....

Mini series ever. Emotionally shattering...

[Aristus]

4. I admit to liking 'Band of Brothers' more than 'The Pacific'.

But I'm ex-Army, not ex-USMC. That might have something to do with it.

[The Blue Flower]

3. My dad never recovered from being in theater there for 4 1/2 years

The only stories he ever told, and he told them all the time, were war stories. You never would have known he had a family.