After 2005's short-lived Iraq War drama Over There, HBO continues its trend of high-quality mini-series with this summer's Generation Kill.
The series, which will air its third episode this Sunday night, is based on the non-fiction book Generation Kill by Rolling Stone editor Evan Wright. It follows the author as he is embedded with the United States Marine Corps 1st Recon Battalion. The soldiers are the elite special forces of the Marine Corps and led the push into Baghdad at the start of the war in Iraq in 2003.
If watching Marines in a cramped Humvee isn't something you find particularly appealing, Generation Kill might not be for you, because most of the time the camera is focused either on the traveling Marines or the view from their vehicle.
And though I'm not sure what exactly it is about Generation Kill that sparks attention, something does. Maybe it's the no-thrills life of a Marine in Iraq, or maybe it's just a new raw perspective of a war that we usually see through the information we are fed from CNN and FoxNews.
The series focuses on the Marines of the platoons Hitman-2 and Hitman-3, all of whom have distinctly different personalities that are highlighted effectively in the series. One of the most entertaining characters is energy pill-popping Cpl. Ray Person, played by James Ransone. Person has many comments and stories ranging from how the United States never invades "cool countries," to how his band opened for Limp Bizkit before he joined the Marine Corps.
Another main character, Cpl. Harold James Trombley played by Billy Lush, is what some people might think of when they envision Marines. He is young and wants nothing more than to kill something, no matter what it is. In one scene he throws food out beyond a sand dune to lure in a dog he wants to shoot. Lush is effective in portraying the young Marine, and it is hard to forget his bloodlust after the credits roll.
The insight the series give the viewer into the life of a Marine is what was missing from FX's Over There. However, it may not be appealing to some viewers. There is constant swearing, homophobic references and racial slurs, but it all seems to be done in a joking manner.
It seems the vulgar language is used to break some of the tension Marines feel while constantly worrying about the snap of an AK-47. Also, behavior of the Marines is consistent with what Wright describes in his book.
Generation Kill also displays the boring parts of war, much in the same way Jarhead did in 2005.
The episodes do not contain any soundtrack, even during the ending credits-- unless the crackle of a military radio counts. This adds to the suspense of waiting for the inevitable firefight. However, in the episodes thus far, there have been few battles actually fought by the Marines.
Overall, Generation Kill will make you think about the hardships of Marines and grow more confident with HBO's dedication to providing viewers with a better brand of television show.
Grade: B+
