BAND OF BROTHERS Epi 1 "Currahee"

We are diving into the mini series "Band of Brothers".
Thanks for clicking my video and hanging out on my channel! It means a lot to watch movies with you! I am learning more about war so take it easy on me! I don't know a whole lot about history!
Full length reactions on Patreon!
patreon.com/HoldDownA
xx
ames

[@coiboyify]

My favourite thing about people who have no idea about this show is seeing David Schwimmer for the first time. Everyone always has the same reaction

[@holddowna]

Hahah! I bet!

[@holddowna]

I bet!!!

[@FrenchieQc]

And the reaction is usually always the same. "Oh my god I can't take him seriously in this role.." 10mins later "Oh my god I just hate him so much!"

[@Jackalos1]

@@holddowna You eventually recognised Simon Pegg, but not sure if you realised 5:50 was Michael Fassbender. There's a number of other now well known actors that have small roles in this, but I won't name any spoilers!

[@popeye5989]

Now I'm there opposite! Everytime I see a episode of friends all I can hear is "YOU PEOPLE ARE AT THE POSITION OF ATTENTION"!!

[@white.lodge.dale.cooper]

Don't worry about remembering names; within 3 episodes you'll feel like they're part of your family and you'll miss them when it's over. It's a life-changing series. If you get as invested in these guys as many of us did, you'll absolutely want to see We Stand Alone Together to learn more about the real men from the men themselves. It's riveting, funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking. Currahee :)

[@vampiro4236]

That is so damn true. I remember when a few of them passed in recent years, there were literal announcements on the news.

[@vincentdesjardins1354]

Very true ! When the end credit roll on the last episode I always get a feel of loss, dare I say mourning, like I'm leaving a bunch of good friends behind for good. I must have watch the show a dozen times over the years and yet it never fails. Only amazing productions can achieve that !

[@joemckim1183]

There is so many characters it really takes a few viewings to really remember all of the names.

[@hamilton9479]

Winters wasn't just helping them up he was also giving each man some encouragement. Sobel would never have thought of doing that as they boarded the plane.

[@Maverick25ish]

He would revoke their week end pass for lying down lol even though they about to go to war so it wouldnt matter anyways :)

[@vincentdesjardins1354]

@@kirktravis5780 there's definitely this depth in the scene

[@TraceCoburn]

I always got the impression it was also his way of shaking every man's hand before embarkation: "good luck" but also "goodbye", just in case he never saw them again.

[@boyd0324]

Watched this show with my dad who served in the 10th Armor Division during the war. It was the only time he would talk to me about the war. I am so glad so many people are watching and reacting to this amazing series.

[@aSSGoblin1488]

"never put yourself in a position where you can take from these men" captain winters what good dialogue.

[@kk65137]

This is truly one of the most life-changing series you could ever watch, excited to see more!

[@TheLanceUppercut]

Once you've seen Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers is inevitable. They feel like essential companion pieces.

[@vampiro4236]

Yes they do.

[@AsianDudeX01]

Produced by the same people. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg saw the success of SPR so they went on to make a whole series.

[@nickscholz6559]

Especially since Ryan was a part of the airborne that parachuted in.

[@powermaxx11]

YESSSS This show needs to be seen by every man, woman, child, person, plane, animal and thing to ever exist! Can't wait for the see this!

[@Ross__A]

One of the great subtleties about this show is towards the end of the episode when Winters is helping each of his men up off the deck - he does so with a handshake. Normally speaking officers shaking hands with enlisted men was frowned upon, but iirc he knew this might be the last opportunity he would have so under the guise of helping them up he was also shaking their hands. Great show - looking forward to seeing the rest of your reactions!

[@jakesadventuresoftheworld]

Damn this series has a special place in my heart. You definitely need to watch The Pacific immediately after this.

[@jackson857]

❤❤

[@MotorcycleImaging]

Can't wait to see Masters of the Air coming in January. But I have to say, yes it will most likely be a spectacular series based on the American Bomber Command, but never forget the USA did NOT win the war in the skies single handedly which I'm expecting will be the message. Take pride in your efforts yes, but the British and Canadians were there before, were so very grateful once you arrived, advised the Americans on the dangers of daytime bombing, the US ignored that advice because of their arrogance and paid dearly. More allied airmen lost their lives than all ground troops in WW2

[@DAAllan82]

⁠@@MotorcycleImagingthis just isn’t true. We bombed during the day because our bombers had the Norden Bombsight, which was a revolutionary targeting system that was so good it was used into the Vietnam War. It was only effective during daylight though. It had nothing to do with US arrogance and EVERYTHING to do with the fact that if we bombed during the day we had a MASSIVE tactical advantage.

[@itzbp9949]

So happy you're doing this masterpiece of a series

[@coiboyify]

Wow I was not expecting this. I would absolutely love if you did "The Pacific" after. Us war/history show lovers will help you through if need be!

[@michaelstach5744]

Let’s see how she handles this first

[@idowrk8682]

Hahaha I was thinking the same thing. The pacific is way more intense!

[@vincentdesjardins1354]

@@michaelstach5744 same thinking here. let's go through Bastogne, Breaking Point and Why We Fight first then it'll be time to consider The Pacific

[@reneepope-munro8115]

Oh my giddy aunt, I have never been so excited for a reactor to start a show. More than 20 years on, this is still hands down the best long form miniseries ever made.

[@garyg7145]

Lonesome Dove is another excellent choice for a miniseries. Das Boot is a miniseries that was emrecut into a really long movie.

[@Bawookles]

This is probably the greatest miniseries of all time. It's just fantastic. I'm looking forward to your reactions for this!

[@vincentdesjardins1354]

Chernobyl come close second but you're right

[@shainewhite2781]

One of the greatest miniseries ever made! From executive producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. My brother and sister used to watch the show every Sunday night for their history class.

[@kerry-j4m]

I agree,one of the greatest mini-series ever made.I wouldn't expect anything less than_EXCELLENCE-from Spielberg and Hanks.I did 4 deployments to go fight in Iraq and I can most definitely say-WAR IS HELL. SEMPER-Fi

[@natskivna]

I so respect and admire this series as my own father was Airborne infantry during WWII and a combat veteran of the 17th Airborne, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment (my avatar was his shoulder patch). It informed much of my knowledge of what he went through as he was near where much of this series takes place from Foy onward and was in the same operation (Varsity) that you will learn more about in Episode 9. Thanks for taking the time to watch and learn about these men...our fathers and grandfathers who helped save the world during a dark time.

[@holddowna]

Thank ur pop and all the other amazing men! Thanks for watching!

[@davidgagne3569]

This one of the best cinematic experiences I've had. It's powerful and touching. And TRUE. These are not characters- they are real people and this is their story.

[@holddowna]

I can’t wait to continue!

[@ZacCostilla]

Colonel Sink’s praise and promotion of Captain Sobel to a non-combat leadership position was a brilliant stroke of leadership that saved lives. By getting Sobel hyped up on his praise, he was in a position where he couldn’t say no to the new job without giving the credit for his success to Lieutenant Winters and the non-commissioned officers, where it was truly deserves. But this way, nobody lost face, morale was improved, and Sobel’s tough standards, while unreasonable, were perfect for a training environment.

[@bluejays25]

If I remember correctly, the men of Easy Company didn't like Sobel but realised that his methods helped them in the long run.

[@cbruggeman25]

I was in the 101st from 06 to 12. I meet maj. Winters a few times. A great man. Soft spoken. I have a 101st flag signed by him right before he passed. I would suggest to watch the pacific and generation kill next.

[@spirishabroad]

I discovered your channel yesterday. I love your videos - I’m a busy mum and through your videos I can “rewatch” movies that I like, only on a sped up way. Also massively jealous you’ve only started this now - it’s and INCREDIBLE show and you’ll recognise a ton of the cast

[@vincentdesjardins1354]

I do that as well for movies I adore but already watched so many times it takes some of the fun out of it (ie Godfather, Alien(s), Green Mile, Terminator, Shawshank, Jaws, ...)

[@octaviousdutolan4270]

In the production, the team went above and beyond to be authentic. Custom and traditional uniforms up to and including WWII boots were made special for the show. They made legitimate specification replicas of the tanks in film shoots that you see later on. Actors were chosen to look like the actual men who bravely lived these real moments of the war. Those Veterans who were at the time of filming still with us even reviewed the scripts in order to ensure accuracy and being in keeping with what they remember. It's a phenomenal tribute to their heroism and stories, and you can't take your eyes away from the screen. Their highs and lows, laughter and blood, through and through its all captured with the unique film style and editing. Once you're done with this series, I would highly suggest the 2019 movie, Midway. The vets were passing away, and they moved heaven and earth to get real accounts and gather stories from relatives to recreate that epic battle as well as the events from both sides leading up to it. Highly enjoy your content, and I'm ever so glad I stumbled onto it.

[@BigBear--]

I'm one of the people that requested you do this series. I'm so happy you're finally getting to watch this. Get ready for an emotional roller coaster. This is one of the best history pieces ever shot. I love watching your reactions, it makes me feel like I'm watching this stuff for the first time. I can't wait for the next episode to drop. Hurry up and get to watching! 😆

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

Yeah, later episodes are *rough*. Especially ones during Battle of the Bulge.

[@Bar-Lord]

A great series as many have already said. The interviews are very important as so few veterans are with us still. Everyone seems to notice David Schwimmer, but somehow miss Ron Livingston being right in front of them too. It’s funny seeing people slowly move away from seeing Ross from Friends to seeing who he’s playing here.

[@holddowna]

I noticed Ron away! Aka burger

[@jacfalle27]

And the last surviving member of Easy Company passed away a couple of years ago in Oregon.

[@FrenchieQc]

@@jacfalle27 Bradford Freeman, the very last member of Easy, passed away last year in Missouri. The last officer, Shames, passed away in '21 in Virginia.

[@jacfalle27]

@@FrenchieQc I could’ve sworn I read a couple of years ago that it was in Oregon, but I stand corrected.

[@trespasserswill7052]

​@@holddownaNix is my favorite member of Easy. Maybe the bravest in his own quiet way. Enjoy. BTW was the take it easy comment in your intro a Sopranos reference?

[@muellerme]

This is one of the better reactions for BoB. Even without a lot of knowledge about the topic, you are insightful and intuitive, and you don’t try to fill in every second with unfiltered thoughts. Great. Please keep it up and finish the series!

[@holddowna]

Wow, thank you! I def try and find a balance for my own viewing urs and copy right reasons😅 I love this show

[@emanuelhoyos1030]

Truly one of the greatest series ever made; episode 9 is going to mess you up

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Hope you dig in and enjoy this series, so many layers and the ensemble cast is outstanding.

[@davidperkins9603]

This series did a good job as far as facts found in Ambrose’s book. Also the fact that Luz really did fool Sobel with his impersonation of Major Horton just makes that scene so funny.

[@chriscoll6493]

Sobel ended up an Accountant, working at a Sears Headquarters store on North Ave & Cicero Ave's in Chicago. Shot himself in the head, but botched the job. Spent the next 17 years in a VA nursing facilty, all mangled, where he died.

[@Batou3]

😣 ohh

[@DarthChef]

This is easily one of the best things ever produced for popular commercial consumption, including all movies, plays, television, etc. A fact that most people forget, when they first aired this series on HBO, episode one and two premiered on September 9, 2001. Being able to watch this immediately after the events of 9/11 gave people a small sense of pride in seeing what those brave men of the 101st did in order to protect our freedoms. Their story reminded us as Americans, we didn't know what was going to happen next, but whatever came at us we would come together and do what was needed to overcome anything. Thanks to all military veterens and those in current active duty, past and present, including my father, grandfather, and numerous members of my immediate and extended family, for your sacrifice and service.

[@goldenager59]

"Just because no one ever complains, doesn't mean all parachutes are perfect." -Benny Hill 😁

[@BouillaBased]

"Why do you want to be an actor?" "Because I despise myself and desperately want to be someone else!"

[@bommie]

I love your channel and I love Band of Brothers so to see that you're starting this finally is like a dream come true for me. I am a paratrooper and Jumpmaster in the US Army. My unit, the 1-501st, traces its lineage back to the 101st Airborne Division which is featured in Band of Brothers. We wear the same medals and ribbons on our dress uniforms because our units fought side-by-side in the same battles. We have tons of actual memorabilia and artifacts from WW2 in our Battalion Headquarters building, including bayonets, helmets, even a big Nazi flag signed by all the paratroopers who were there and captured it. I watch Band of Brothers at least twice a year because it has special meaning to me. I've watched it once already this year, so now I will be doing my 2nd viewing along with you. No series has brought to life an ensemble of characters so loveable and relatable as Band of Brothers. I can't wait for you to watch certain episodes, particularly Doc Roe's episode. Cheers from the 501st in Alaska!

[@andreshernandez1180]

Are you not going to continue watching this show? It's been 3 weeks.

[@scottboyer8450]

The average age of an allied soldier on D-Day was just 24, many were younger. They leapt into the open maw of an occupied and fiercely defended Europe to liberate it from nightmarish Nazi tyranny, they faced almost certain death, and many did so voluntarily. Nearly 80 years later and the memory of a generations selfless sacrifice begins to fade from societal consciousness, most people today are scarcely aware of these events and just how they've shaped the modern world we now enjoy.

[@padrejuan7763]

!!! Greetings from Montréal, Québec, Canada !!! Trying to watch the series, but can't find it in regular movie web sites !?! I am 63 yrs old (born in 1960), my father was 22 when he fought world war II came back he was 28-29 yrs. old, injured, missing a lung, a few ribs and emotionnally 'Jumpy', we my mother and 10 children) would never know when two wires would touch and the house would turn into a battlefield. Like you in episode 5-6 crying about the guys being blasted, I, being the son of one who was there, cried like a baby watching as you were watching anc crying, bringing back ols memories of my father storming of of his bedroom from horrible memories of war. Do not wear your poppy only in november wear it all the time to remind you of ALL the soldiers fighting mad dictators to keep the peace on earth !!! Stay healthy dear madam !!! Cheers !!!

[@Dej24601]

In addition to the series and the documentary We Stand Alone Together, which hopefully you’ll see, there is a “video diary” by Ron Livingston about the 2 week training period the cast went through, and see the cast bonding together and developing their characters.

[@russb24]

Just in case it's not obvious, watch We Stand Alone Together and probably even the video diary after the main series to avoid any spoilers including who survived the war.

[@Dej24601]

@@russb24 oh yes! And it is so moving to see how many clips are on KZbin of award ceremonies, of reunions of the cast, many with veterans or their families, sometimes even traveling to Europe, and how close they all have become. Many of the cast have become close friends with one another, and worked on projects with or for one another. BOB has truly been a profound experience (with deep gratitude) for viewers and participants.

[@YT_OGViewer]

For the past 15 years I’ve rewatched BoB at least 1-2x a year. Worth reading Ambrose’s book after watching. The scene of them loading up and flying toward France is incredible. First time the Allies were making a massive effort on Fortress Europa in years - can’t imagine what those guys were thinking on the flight and ship rides over

[@hooch8926]

This holds up still to this day. What an exceptionally done series

[@MrGox]

"WE WERE ON A BREAK!" 😂 Every time i see David Schwimmer... Anyway, amazing mini series, u gonna love. Top tier cinematography.

[@yourthaiguy]

Very proud of you to call out the use of in-camera techniques to replicate the 40's look. In this case? Spielberg replicated his "SPR" look using higher shutter speeds and color desaturation along with a lot of handheld cameras during the battle scenes to give it a much more intimate feel. Loved to see you recognize it! Keep it up... 😛

[@f.b.l.9813]

one of my most favorite series of all time! rewatching this has become a tradition with me and my brother in law! watched it like 10 times now!

[@joshv9139]

This is such a good show . My 10th grade history teacher showed us this show. I loved it so much back then and I still love it now. I have been to camp toccoa. It is no longer an act of training facility, but it's very nostalgic, especially running up currahee. It's not an easy task and I was in modern running shoes and gym shorts and a shirt. When I first watched this it was really hard to take David schwimmer Sirius because I hadn't seen him in anything other than friends as Ross. Eventually I came around to thinking this guy's a savage at training his men. When I was in the army, one of our platoon sergeants was very harsh like this. As you watch this show, you'll see so many famous actors today. I'm sure you already saw Michael Fassbender , Simon Pegg and Donnie Wahlberg in this episode.

[@kerry-j4m]

You were in the army ??? So was I. LOL. How long were you in and what was your MOS ???? Last duty station also,please ???

[@Turd_Rocket]

I want to say this; you humbly admit you know little about war, but you're so genuine and empathetic, I think it shines through and you connect with the characters on such a human level, it allows you to have a lot of observations which lead you to similar conclusions as armchair historians and war movie fans. Like when you mention they'll thank LT Sobel for how hard he trained them once they're in combat, the real Winters himself admitted that Sobel's tough training helped to better prepare the men for the harsh realities of war. Anyways, I think you're a very sharp film buff with a big heart, and it's cool to see you dipping your toe in the war film genre because you bring a lot of humanity to the commentary. Cheers.

[@holddowna]

Wow. Thank you. These kind words mean a lot to me 🥲 thanks for watching and hanging out on the channel ❤️

[@Turd_Rocket]

@@holddowna You're very welcome, dude. Always pleasant to hear empathic thoughts on shows and movies, and your videos don't disappoint.

[@jackray333]

HEROES. Exactly. The Greatest Generation of our Age. These men grew up during the Great Depression. Lived through WW1. Stopped Germany from Genocide. And Changed the World. Your Grandfather or Great Grandfather, may have well fought in WW2. But great reaction, well done.

[@Sp33gan]

Hello from the west coast, fellow Canadian! ♥ 3 miles is about 5 kilometres. I remember having to learn it all when we switched to metric in the mid-1970s. I'm not sure where you are but the Grouse Grind is about 3 kilometres, so Curahee is a longer run, though nowhere near as steep as the Grind. Get ready for a wild and emotional ride with this series. Keep a box of tissues handy. Band of Brothers is not only the best war mini-series ever done, it's the best overall TV mini-series. Attention to detail is incredible, though there are some mistakes. You'll recognise people from so many other shows and movies that it's a fun time trying to recognise them all. I'm impressed you even knew Simon Pegg by name. I think you're the first reactor I've seen who's ever done that. You're right that D-Day was the biggest operation ever done to that point, and I think it still remains that to this day. Not only were there British and US paratroopers dropped inland, three countries were assigned their own beaches to secure in the landings from the English Channel. The US had two beaches, the British got two, while Canada was assigned one because we were still a very sparsely populated country at that time. My grandfather was a medic in the Canadian Forces who served in Italy, the invasion of Holland and beyond, and in the D-Day landing on the code-named Juno Beach. I've subscribed and look forward to sharing this experience, and others, with you. ☺

[@catherinelw9365]

US had two beaches: Omaha and Utah.

[@Sp33gan]

@@catherinelw9365 You're right, thank you ☺

[@pauldurbin6586]

I'm actually excited for the journey you're about to go down. You truly have no idea what you're getting into. Many tears will be shed.

[@patrickpearson1399]

Just saw your channel, you have a new subscriber, as a Veteran, thank you for looking into the war movies. It's a different culture than most non military can understand! Thanks for trying!!! ❤

[@alexlapointe4220]

As originally in the 101st Airborne, we take great pride in our history. Band of brothers is a great series, my favorite series. you won't be disappointed.

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

This is a journey you will never forget. It will affect any film or TV show about war that you see in the future. So glad you decided to do this. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.

[@johngingras]

This is an amazing series. I feel that it's impossible to watch it and not be changed in some way by the experience. It will get quite difficult before the end, but it is so worth it.

[@dagfincarp1113]

Excellent show. Hearing the vets tell their stories is important and makes you appreciate them all the more. Top shelf TV.

[@SoupSultan]

You're actually one of the few reactors who recognizes that Sobel being so hard on them was better preparing them for the war. Most seem to think he was simply just a jerk. Which he definitely still was, his treatment of Winters an example, but his drilling turned them into finely crafted weapons.

[@robertmcquillen7977]

That was in spite of him, not because of him. The platoon officers and NCO's were what made them what they became.

[@MarcoMM1]

Thank you so much for getting to BoB, Ames. I am enjoying your honest reactions. Sobel was a weasel, but to a man, Easy Company credited him with getting them physically ready to jump into Normandy. Winters was the quintessential leader. He knew how to motivate his men by example. And just remember that this is a true story based on the book by the same name ‘Band of Brothers’ each episode is based off real experience from the soldiers you’re seeing on screen. You’ll learn who is who at the end of the series! I love watching new people watch this show for the first time and im just as excited now! I guess Iv just seen this show get treated like it’s fiction to many times I just like reminding that it is real and happened to these guys. Keep up the amazing work

[@zurnie]

I have watched this series many times. I had it on DVD before my marriage imploded. I easily tear upon hearing the theme music within a few seconds of it starting to play. You are in for a ride. Enjoy it. Three miles up, three miles down!

[@TaTopePia]

David Schwimmer really is an excellent actor - can't tell you how many reactors I've seen who have had your reaction - they see him on screen and say "Ross!" but by the time he calls Malarkey "private bullshit" they're all in on him as Sobel. It's an amazing series, one of the best. Can't wait to see what you think of it!

[@johngage856]

Currahee Mountain just outside of Toccoa, Georgia (Tuh-ko-uh) is about 25 miles southeast from where I live. After the war the camp was abandoned and then used as a prison camp for juvenile offenders, then abandoned again. Today you can still visit was is left and the trail that the soldiers ran up Currahee is still there and is named after Colonel Sink, and there is a yearly race named after Sink (Colonel Sink is the mustachioed man that was the commanding officer over Winters and Soebel (David Schwimmer).

[@rayvanhorn1534]

Stumbled upon your channel due to this amazing series. As I had several uncles who served in each branch of the armed forces, this production has a special meaning for me. Alongside that, this Greatest Generation I admire so much for so many reasons. This series does a wonderful job of honoring these men & I’m curious to hear your comments. Hope you give us your thoughts on the veterans interviews at the beginning & also try to remember their names. Definitely going to tag along on this journey, see how it unfolds. Thank you in advance for reviewing this.

[@deathsicon]

ironically we've been watching this on lunchbreaks at work lately, as for the training scene, paintball wasnt created untill the mid 80's, it was started by some guys that decided to play "tag" with paint guns that were for marking cattle, if i remember correctly that was in New York

[@markpekrul4393]

Yep - they were for cattle. I played for the first time in 1986, and we used old, bolt action, single shot guns that held a tube of 10 balls.

[@gravitypronepart2201]

Hello Ames! I'm so glad every time a reactor watches my favorite series. Welcome! So the History author, Steven Ambrose was looking to write about D-Day at Normandy, and he learned about a certain 101st Airborne veteran who will remain nameless to prevent spoilers, who wrote extensive memoirs about his experiences in E Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, from training all through the end of the war. So Ambrose wrote this story about Easy Company from those memoirs and various memoirs, which he i titled "Band of Brothers." Then Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks make this series from it. I can tell already you are going to live it. Cant wait for more episodes!

[@mack7882]

Grew up in the generation in the immediate aftermath of this war, these men were my family, teachers, coaches, and the fathers of my friends. They are all gone now as is the world I grew up in. I miss them.

[@Mrimagination14]

The fact you remembered him in office space makes me so freaking happy 😂.

[@SGTDIGITAL86]

“Test missions” are usually training exercises. The guys hiding are OP4 (opposing forces). So usually they know the game plan and then they build a strong hood or hunker down and wait for the platoon or company that is being evaluated.. So when winters suggested to stay there it’s because he listen to the mission brief (operation order) which gives the group being evaluated what to sort of expect with intended missing variables.

[@krisfrederick5001]

If you're going all the way with this...be prepared to grow, laugh, learn and suffer with these characters. The first episode is in some ways my favorite, if only for the innocence and the fact that I know what lies ahead for these men. This was when their biggest threats were "Army noodles with ketchup." I love the power move Winters makes by literally grabbing the pen out of Sobel's hand while he was abusing his power...it's brilliant, and a true story. Hard to call this a TV show honestly, it's a 12 hour Saving Private Ryan in quality...CURRAHEE! ♠

[@krisfrederick5001]

I have to say the old man on the bike is one of my favorite moments of the series, it's hilarious. I also have to point out Winters literally taking the pen from Sobel's hand as he is asking for it. Sobel was abusing his power and Winters made the power move.

[@TNels]

16:40 when Winters is requesting his trial the subtle clicking away by the type writer in the background stops for a second as the person typing is trying to believe what they're hearing. Then it starts back up agin, amazing small detail that I missed the first few times I watched the series. Now I chuckle every time I see that scene.

[@andrewvo8395]

This is my favorite series of all time. It really is incredible to see what they went through knowing they were just boys. Excited to see you finish the series.

[@paulmcgarrity]

I discovered your channel via your Saving Private Ryan video and thought, "oh you'd love band of brothers" low and behold, come to your channel and find this playlist, that's my next few hours sorted. Great work

[@Britton_Thompson]

There's an old saying in the military... "You don't need a parachute to jump out of an airplane. You just need one to jump out of an airplane more than once!"

[@holddowna]

🙃

[@MrTech226]

Currahee means in Cherokee, "Stand Alone". There a mount called Mount Currahee near Camp Toccoa, Georgia where 1st recruits for Airborne. 3 Miles up! 3 Miles down!

[@EastPeakSlim]

THANK YOU for taking this on. You are just leaving the station on the ride of your life. Please remain seated at all times and keep your hands and arms within the car. Currahee!

[@MauriceCalis]

YES!! You read my mind. This will be a life changing journey.

[@rogermorris9696]

It is amazing that a lot if the main cast is British, and are pulling of decent US accents,

[@holddowna]

Totally!

[@krisfrederick5001]

"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops," Eisenhower wrote. "My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone." General Dwight D. Eisenhower's other prepared speech. D-DAY was never a guarantee...

[@wwk68tig]

So happy that you've started BofB......really, some of the best television I've ever seen. When you're done with the series (and I know you'll love it), you can do some followup with the Band of Brothers podcasts, which were made during the 20th anniversary of the show's premiere.........everything connected to this series it top-notch, much like your reactions. Thanks for posting.

[@jasonbarnes9781]

This series is life changing. Your really going to enjoy this journey!

[@corneliussmiff2773]

I have seen this series literally about 50 times, and I never onced noticed Sobel's little nod when they started singing after he was chewing them out for puking etc. He knew he was building them up as a unit. Sobel trained them perfectly, he was just a terrible combat Officer. Operation Fortitude was the deception plan they used to throw the German's completely off regarding this invasion. Really fascinating stuff.

[@ExUSSailor]

At the time this was filmed, it was the most expensive television production EVER. It had a budget of around $120 million, and, it shows. The cast was outstanding. Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy, Michael Cudlitz, James McAvoy, just outstanding! And 3 miles is 4.8 km.

[@ExUSSailor]

"Currahee" is a Native American word that means "stands alone". It's Cherokee, I think.

[@ExUSSailor]

They did more than send fake messages, they creasted an entire fictional Army Group, the 1st USAG. They actually had fields of inflatable tanks, dummy artillery pieces, and, other fake vehicles set out to fool German aerial recon. They even dropped dummy paratroopers behind the lines to confuse the Germans to where the actual drops were happening.

[@erivera700]

Very interested in your reaction to this wonderful series. Being a part of Currahee made me part of a special brotherhood. I remember when they stood the unit back up to go to Iraq. Currahee veterans from WWII and Vietnam attended the ceremony. Some of them even came back when we deployed in 2005.

[@CoryGasaway]

The amount of tears of all types this show is about to make her have, especially in the second half/final episodes, is going to be off the charts! Easily the greatest miniseries of all-time. I got The Queen's Gambit at #2 and Roots at #3. She should watch those next.😁

[@wattsnottaken1]

I’ve never seen a single episode of Friends so Captain Sobel is such an interesting character to me. Good trainer, he should have stuck to training men. Not meant to lead men into battle, tough job. I know I could not do it.

[@tehcoolemu]

I couldn't stop seeing (or, even more so, hearing) Ross, either. My brain kept inserting "PIVOT" or "UNAGI" or "MY SANDWICH?!" at inopportune times. Oh, and when he gets reassigned, let's not forget, "I'M FINE! I don't know why it came out all squeaky..." I know I'm late to the party, but looking forward to the rest of your reactions to this series. :)

[@Tabaskospecial]

I'm so glad you started this, I'm a Marine Afghan vet and seeing these other vets talk is extremely humbling. Please check out the Pacific and Generation Kill after this as I consider all 3 to be a trilogy. Love the content, look forward to more.

[@airborngrmp1]

I had a chance to see episodes 1 & 2 of this show before shipping out to basic training, and then Airborne School, in late 2001. I didn't get a chance to see the rest of the show until I had my wings. On my mother's side we are a military family, and I'm actually third generation airborne. My uncle - who was also a paratrooper - gave me this book before the show was even a thing, and before I'd considered joining. Needless to say, Band of Brothers was kind of a big deal to us, and I still watch the series around Veterans' Day every year. You're going to enjoy the story and the personalities, despite the harrowing backdrop.

[@ThomasSchmid]

This is one of the best, star studded mini series ever made! It'll take you for a ride

[@stormshadowdomain]

Yea I couldn't get over Ross being the instructor 😂

[@MauriceCalis]

Ames, I can't tell you how many times I've watched this series. Really transports me back to a very real world that a non-military guy like me wouldn't otherwise be able to relate to. I have so much appreciation for these brave men, and I end up watching it over and over to remind me of what real courage is. Looking forward to your reaction thru these episodes.

[@markpekrul4393]

The final scene with the aircraft and ships chokes me up every time - it's a two-word message to the French, Belgians, Dutch and other peoples of Europe who had been suffering under occupation and brutality for years - "We're coming". The other thing that's important about that scene is that, from the comfort of almost 80 years out, we know exactly how the invasion turned out. But at that moment, there was no way to tell how it would unfold. From the lowliest private to Eisenhower, Churchill and Roosevelt, no one knew if this would succeed. Everyone was holding their breath. Would our planes be shot down before the troopers could jump? Would they be too scattered to be effective? Would they wind up being picked off in detail? Would the German defenses push the American, British and Canadian landing troops back into the Channel? Would it be a complete and utter failure? Would all the efforts at secrecy fail in the end? No one had any idea.

[@katchtree]

Ive watched this series every year around Christmas since 2001. It is so well done and I am excited to join you on your journey!!

[@terenzo50]

The film is Mr. Lucky (1943) starring Cary Grant and Laraine Day.

[@acehole727]

The part where they were in a ditch and set up for a "textbook postion for ambush" was "Force on Force" training at the time they didn't shoot anything I don't think. Since the 70's we have used a Laser sysem known as the MILES (MULTIPLE INTEGRATED LASER ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM ) and blanks in the rifles to simulate gunfire.

[@pabloc8808]

Winters is a model leader. When Bull Randleman said Lt. Sobel hated Easy Company, Winters replied with a joke to keep morale up. Had he chosen not to respond, or agreed with Randleman, it wouldn't have done any good.

[@michaelstach5744]

That’s right. There are two major themes through the series: 1) Small unit cohesion as from the title, and 2) leadership.we see examples of good and poor leadership.

[@tehdipstick]

The spaghetti dinner before running Currahee was completely on purpose on SObel's part. He felt insecure and threatened by Winters getting promoted. He figured that by putting him on KP duty and having him serve spaghetti, then forcing the men to run up Currahee on full stomachs, they'd blame Winters for the miserable experience. Unfortunately for Sobel his plan backfired when Winters decided to run Cunrrahee with the men, showing his solidarity and loyalty towards them.

[@kerry-j4m]

When you do non-sense and hardship with your men,it bonds you together.We had a saying when I was in the army-YOU lead from the-FRONT-not from the-REAR.

[@joshv9139]

You are correct, it was one of the best planned invasions. However, on June 5th, 1944 planes were supposed to fly over and blow up the beach line clearing the bunkers in all German enemies. But the fog was so thick. The planes could not see the beach line so they just dropped the bombs when they felt they were close to the beach line. The bombs ended up landing a couple miles behind the beach line blowing up farmland. This is why storming the beaches of Normandy was so gruesome because we all thought it was clear when it actually wasn't hence the opening scene from Saving Private Ryan.

[@chrisortega7521]

Fun fact about that spaghetti meal- the actors actually ran Curahee and were told that day that they didn't have to, and that there was a meal waiting for them in the next scene. All the eating, gearing up quickly, running Curahee, AND puking is all real.

[@wolfeyes9357]

My Uncle Pvt. Jack Philipow was the third wave at D-Day June 6th. 1944. He was killed in his Tank Division "Hell on Wheels" Sept. 16th. 1944. He was 27 years young. My Father was on the USS Russell fighting in the Pacific. GOD Bless all these men and the generation that gave their lives so that we could have our freedom!!!

[@pnwcruiser]

No paint balls but during combat exercises we were usually issued blank ammo. However you'd often hear soldiers yelling "bang, bang, bang" when their magazines were full of blanks because firing blanks makes your weapon remarkably filthy and nobody wants to clean up after them.

[@TreyBlythe]

In my opinion, this is the best 10 hours of television ever produced.

[@kerry-j4m]

AGREED. EASILY.

[@pheebscore]

I think I've watched through this whole show 5 times so far. It really is something you can just keep coming back to, and the book's fantastic too.

[@thecelticblog]

Great reaction video. The book, by Stephen Ambrose, makes it clear that whilst almost every man in the company hated Sobel every single one of them credits him with making them the toughest soliders in the army, and thus the war. He sadly never got in touch with any of them after the war, but they all acknowledged his role in surviving the conflict.

[@raremage]

This entire series is just incredibly well done. I’ve watched the whole series four or five times now, it will be fun to see your reactions to your first viewing, which always seem to be very genuine. I hope you enjoy the experience!

[@holddowna]

Aww thanks so much! I feel v outbid my element as I know little about war

[@joshuawells835]

My family has a tradition that every Memorial Day, we have a Band of Brothers Marathon. The word currahee is a corruption of a phrase in Cherokee, meaning "We stand alone." Perfect motto for a paratrooper regiment, whose job is to jump behind enemy lines, secure an area, and then wait for the rest of the army to move in.