HBO is known for producing some of the best content TV has to offer. With shows like Westworld, Silicon Valley, and Game of Thrones - they have certainly established a reputation for themselves. Likewise, HBO has also produced a number of award-winning miniseries, especially with the likes of Band of Brothers and The Pacific.
The two shows are often compared to each other due to their focus on the U.S. military during WWII. While both feature incredibly different settings, time frames, and cast, there are still a lot of similarities between the two. Though one is not actually better than the other, each show does certain things that give it an advantage over the other.
To analyze some of those factors, here is our list of 5 things The Pacific did better than Band of Brothers, and 5 things Band of Brothers did better.
The Pacific Told an Unfamiliar Story
One downside to Band of Brothers is that the show focuses on a very familiar story. While it adapts that story very well, most Americans are familiar with at least some of the events during the European stage of WWII. The Pacific, on the other hand, focuses on the American attack on Japan following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Though some Americans may be familiar with the events of the Pacific Theater, the specific details are not as well known as they may for the European Theater. Due to this, The Pacific feels much fresher as a concept.
Band of Brothers Developed a sense of Camaraderie
Without a question, Band of Brothers focused heavily on the men of Easy Company and developed those characters in a great and realistic way. This allowed the show’s audience to really grasp the sense of camaraderie between soldiers as well as witness how that camaraderie keeps them alive in the field.
The Pacific, unfortunately, lacks a lot of the same themes and ideas that made Band of Brothers so intriguing in this regard. Knowing how these real-life people looked after one another really helped distinguish Band of Brothers from other WWII movies and shows that had come before (or after) it. The honesty in the portrayal of Easy Company made the show realistic, relatable, and phenomenal.
The Pacific Was More Gruesome
Though both shows possess a fair amount of violence and graphic content, The Pacific definitely has more. However, the violent content featured in The Pacific facilitates the show’s authenticity. In a more unfamiliar territory with a different style of fighting, a more graphic outcome is to be expected.
With that in mind, The Pacific doesn’t promote violence in any way, but it certainly doesn’t shy away from the more graphic elements of war. Band of Brothers also doesn’t hesitate to do so, but considering how The Pacific upped the gore factor rather than shy away from it shows the effort to capture the honesty of the story as well as dedication to what happened.
Band of Brothers has More (Better) Action
While both shows’ commitment to realism is appreciated, there are definitely some slower moments in The Pacific. That’s not to say that Band of Brothers is full of non-stop action, but rather that the series juggles its pacing in a much more enjoyable manner.
Band of Brothers expertly handles its storyline in a way that continually captivates its audience and leaves them wanting more. The Pacific may have more gruesome action sequences, but Band of Brothers successfully captures a great balance of story and action that gives it a slight edge in this scenario.
The Pacific Felt More Personal
As mentioned previously, Band of Brothers focuses heavily on the Easy Company. The Pacific, on the other hand, focuses more on three individuals in three different locations throughout the course of the war. Approaching the story in this manner allows the show to spend a bit more time with each of the characters, hence resulting in a much more personal feeling in the show.
The Pacific explores several highly intriguing individual relationships and conflicts. In the case of Band of Brothers, the group always remains the core focus. Again, while that is not really a bad thing, it definitely helps the audience get more attached to characters in The Pacific.
Band of Brothers Set the Bar
Band of Brothers originally premiered in September of 2001, not long after the release of the massively successful, Saving Private Ryan (1998). Both stories are set in the same time and area, yet focus on drastically different characters. Being a miniseries, Band of Brothers had certain advantages over a feature film, as it could spend more time with its cast and characters.
Seeing these characters evolve in such a short time frame really drove the story and helped HBO’s show connect with its audience. Because Band of Brothers handles everything so well, it succeeded in raising the bar of what TV can do, especially in regards to portraying war.
The Pacific Covered More Ground
As previously mentioned, The Pacific follows three main characters in separate areas of the Pacific Theater. Looking at different characters in this manner allowed the creative team to cover more ground in the literal sense, as they were able to focus on three key areas from the Pacific Theater.
Audiences got to witness what happened in Australia, Japan, and the Philippines as the U.S. made their advances on the Japanese. Considering how much physical ground separate some characters, it was very intriguing to see the effect of Pearl Harbor in action. A lot of the “how’s” and “why’s” of the Pacific war cleverly unfold depending on the character’s arc. Band of Brothers tends to assume that its audience is familiar with the European stage. This doesn’t detract from the story in any way, but it is nice that The Pacific included these elements.
Band of Brothers Went in Depth
Though Band of Brothers may have told a more familiar story, there’s no denying that this narrative was explored in depth. The Pacific had to take the time to teach its audience about the war. Instead of that, Band of Brothers hones in on a specific time frame and retells it as accurately as possible.
The attention to detail in each and every episode was absolutely incredible. You could practically smell the surroundings of the city, forests, or gunpowder. The history is also rich and accurate. The Pacific still pays great attention to detail but loses a few key elements due to covering a more prolonged time frame, giving Band of Brothers an advantage in that regard.
The Pacific Had Bigger Names Behind It
Part of the reason The Pacific performed so well was that it had some big names working behind the scenes. Produced by the likes of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, The Pacific was almost a guaranteed success from the beginning.
Furthermore, The Pacific features a soundtrack composed by the amazing Hans Zimmer. Rami Malek even stars in the series as “Snafu” Shelton. Unfortunately, Band of Brothers just doesn’t have a lot of bigger names behind it. While it’s not uncommon for HBO to use newer actors, it’s no surprise that The Pacific would have gained a great deal of traction based on the names behind it alone.
Band of Brothers Has a Stronger Sense of Patriotism
Considering most Americans are already familiar with the European Theater of WWII, it is easy to see how Band of Brothers would possess a stronger sense of patriotism. The creators of the show do a fantastic job of showcasing patriotism without beating viewers over the head with it.
Throughout the series, it is generally understood that these soldiers are doing what needs to be done and that their actions, while horrific at times, are necessary to win the war. The Pacific, at times, makes its viewers question the characters a bit more, even implying that there may have been a wrong course of action taken from time to time. While complex characters who make questionable decisions can often be intriguing, the characters in Band of Brothers feels much more like a traditional interpretation of a WWII film or TV show. Honestly, this can be seen as both a negative or a positive.
