User Reviews

Objectively speaking I think Bastogne (episode 6) is probably the strongest episode of Band of Brothers. Its just such a tight piece of writing and directing. However, Why We Fight is simply an emotional tour de force. I first watched it a good few years ago now but it remains seared into me.

With not a mention of Nazi ideology all series prior to this episode, the reveal of what was in the woods comes as an absolute sucker punch. It's just an utterly spine chilling hour. Rarely can a piece of art leave you stone cold silent after you've experienced it, but that's exactly what Why we fight does.

The use of Beethoven's string quartet is a particular master stroke. That music is so full of quiet longing, it's a sonically sparse plea to the heavens. The episode seems to be asking "how could the same society that gave us Beethoven also give us the depravity of the final solution?"

The question is always the same: what the hell did they think they were doing?

Powerful . The madness of the Nazi party the inhumanity the evil ... so so sad

Why we fight is a memorable episode. Why we fight has the same big production, strong directed and acting of a solid H B O series. With the war winding down and clean up of the German army has many troops are disgruntled. For good reason, who wants to get shot by one of the last bullets from a it's already over war. A camp appears! No one know what for? Abandon for good reason? Who wants to take responsibility for a genocide camp! There is the horror of the camp itself done in a way the viewer experiences the depravity, hunger and desperation of the camp victims. What does command do with the dying , starving, and sick? And who knew what? Done with taste and reality there is a blend horror with shame which end with the women who hated the troops going into here house having a different look when she had to clean up some of the mess at the camp. Why we fight stands out for me! The end made the troop understand the gravity of what one can not understand! 9 stars.

This review contains spoilers for the ninth episode of Band of Brothers entitled "Why We Fight".

Easy Company is occupying Germany and the company as a whole believes the war is over. Adolf Hitler has committed suicide and the Allies are pushing deeper into Germany. This episode follows Captain Lewis Nixon who is at his lowest point. As Captain Lewis Nixon scrounges for alcohol, a patrol by Easy Company discovers something horrifying in the German woods.

This episode of Band of Brothers is a study on the episode's question. Lewis Nixon questions his own resolve at seeing the deaths of his comrades. As the episode continues and Easy Company finds the concentration camp, Nixon and the audience understands why they must fight.

This is one of the most gut wrenching episodes as Easy Company is confronted with the horrors the Nazis inflicted on their "undesirables." Like Perconte, it was difficult to explain what they had encountered. It was rough watching Easy Company handle a crisis they were not prepared for.

It is a great choice choice to follow Captain Lewis Nixon. Lewis Nixon was always portrayed as competent officer that was one of Richard Winters' friends. To see this man encounter such a rough situation was emotional to see.

"Why We Fight" is one of the best Band of Brothers episodes. It demands a watch.

Grade: A

The episode started like the couple of previous ones.. talking, action, more talking.. I was starting to be tired of the repetitive plot, but it this time, it was slightly different.. I welcomed the numerous scenes questioning of why the soldiers actually fight... It seemed that the enemy was not that much different to them... I started thinking that it could be interesting to see how the allies discovered concentration camps.. so I kind of expected what came.. nevertheless I stared with my mouth wide open the entire second half of the episode.. Although expected (I though maybe in the last episode..), so it came "out of a sudden".. The moment of surprise was used perfectly. I think the director couldn't do a better job bringing the audience as close as possible to the feelings soldiers had when entering the Concentration camps! (and yes, I was criticizing when any episode earlier went emotional, but this time was different. I totally bought it!)

In my opinion the best episode of the series and maybe it belongs a high position on national television. I have no words. The numerous feelings that the episode gave me, was why I loved it. At first we see how war destroyes each side as humans. Lifes get demolished, friends, family dies and you can not do anything. But as the episode goes on, it happens, concentration camp. It has beautiful cinematography but at the same time so realistic that makes you want to cry for those poor souls. How they were Carrying dead bodies of their family and friends, how they were fighting over one slice of bread and a sip of water. Humans are monsters and that episode pictures just that.

I have no words.

There are no words to truly describe the horror when that small patrol stumbles upon the camp. From there on out, all the soldiers can do nothing but look in horror at the jewish folk who have been through hell over and over again.

I believe that this is the most powerful part of this episode, the fact that so much is conveyed by such little words. The director appeals to the senses of sight and sound, with the brutal scenes of the camp and the malnourished dead strewn across the ground, and the Beethoven in the background. The music "fills in" the void left by what little dialogue there is at some points. If you have not watched this, i highly suggest you do, but be prepared to leave with the feelings of anger, frustration, despair, and the agonizing, gut-wrenching hole left where your heart was.