Winter 1916-17.
One of the bleakest winters in European history descends on the Western Front as the great, supposedly-war winning Somme offensive ends with meagre gains and horrendous losses. The platoon endures some of the worst conditions known to man, both sides less concerned with fighting each other than surviving to the spring. The episode introduces a new lieutenant, Max Earnshaw, who initially earns the ire of the veterans because of his brash actions in breaking an arranged stalemate - Lieutenant Armstrong admonishes the man, saying it isn't training school, but the real war - and because his father is the politician who Pat Cleary (Paul Hogan, still brilliant in the role) took down a few pegs in the opening episode.
Soon, inter-platoon issues give way to fighting. The Germans have retreated to the Hindenburg Line and the platoon goes in to assist bringing wounded men out. It goes down as another ghastly loss for Australian forces, and particularly for the platoon. Despite the defeat, Barrington, Flanagan and Kaiser all receive promotions and Kaiser also wins a medal. Flanagan, showing the goods as far as being a leader goes, and Martin lead a patrol to the old Somme battlefield, there crossing the path of a group of deserters, a fascinating storyline that also touches on the mental affects the war is having on it's participants, and leads to the return of a familiar face.
Then the platoon is given Blighty leave to England - just reward for, as Dingo Gordon stated, nine straight months in the front lines. Martin manages to get some time with Kate in London, as the rest of the platoon scatter. The two are in a serious relationship now. Martin also runs into Keith Murdoch in London, too.
Then it is back to France and 1917's version of the Somme: the battle that's supposed to win the war is this time at Ypres. Prior to that, the platoon suffer the loss of a different sort to what they have become accustomed to on the battlefield, one that leaves a giant hole. Things get tense at the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge and on the Menin Road, in what is, to this point, the most consequential action the platoon has been involved in.
A very strong episode that ramps up the drama and pulls no punches.
One of the bleakest winters in European history descends on the Western Front as the great, supposedly-war winning Somme offensive ends with meagre gains and horrendous losses. The platoon endures some of the worst conditions known to man, both sides less concerned with fighting each other than surviving to the spring. The episode introduces a new lieutenant, Max Earnshaw, who initially earns the ire of the veterans because of his brash actions in breaking an arranged stalemate - Lieutenant Armstrong admonishes the man, saying it isn't training school, but the real war - and because his father is the politician who Pat Cleary (Paul Hogan, still brilliant in the role) took down a few pegs in the opening episode.
Soon, inter-platoon issues give way to fighting. The Germans have retreated to the Hindenburg Line and the platoon goes in to assist bringing wounded men out. It goes down as another ghastly loss for Australian forces, and particularly for the platoon. Despite the defeat, Barrington, Flanagan and Kaiser all receive promotions and Kaiser also wins a medal. Flanagan, showing the goods as far as being a leader goes, and Martin lead a patrol to the old Somme battlefield, there crossing the path of a group of deserters, a fascinating storyline that also touches on the mental affects the war is having on it's participants, and leads to the return of a familiar face.
Then the platoon is given Blighty leave to England - just reward for, as Dingo Gordon stated, nine straight months in the front lines. Martin manages to get some time with Kate in London, as the rest of the platoon scatter. The two are in a serious relationship now. Martin also runs into Keith Murdoch in London, too.
Then it is back to France and 1917's version of the Somme: the battle that's supposed to win the war is this time at Ypres. Prior to that, the platoon suffer the loss of a different sort to what they have become accustomed to on the battlefield, one that leaves a giant hole. Things get tense at the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge and on the Menin Road, in what is, to this point, the most consequential action the platoon has been involved in.
A very strong episode that ramps up the drama and pulls no punches.
