The episode was written by co-producers Robert Schenkkan and Michelle Ashford, and directed by David Nutter and Jeremy Podeswa.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.34 million household viewers and gained a 0.8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
De L'Eau tells Sledge and Snafu that he was transferred to a new division, fearing their role in a more dangerous military tactic.
Vandegrift suggests reducing his service, but Basilone actually wants to be more involved with the Marines again and asks to serve as a gunnery sergeant.
As he focuses on training two struggling soldiers, he becomes smitten with a nurse, whose friend invites him to a social event.
The episode was written by co-producers Robert Schenkkan and Michelle Ashford, and directed by David Nutter and Jeremy Podeswa.
[1] In its original American broadcast, "Part Eight" was seen by an estimated 2.34 million household viewers with a 0.8 in the 18–49 demographics.
[2] This was a 9% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 2.55 million household viewers with a 0.9 in the 18-49 demographics.
"[5] Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger wrote, "the final shot of the Iwo Jima sequence - with the camera pulling up to show Basilone lying among so many other dead men - was a potent reminder of the hundreds upon thousands of less famous Americans died under similar circumstances to the great John Basilone, and how many of them left their own version of Lena behind.
"[8] Den of Geek wrote, "Understated in its exploration of their commitment to both each other and the service, episode 8 of The Pacific serves as fine testament to the many war-time romances that ended in tragedy, made even more poignant by the fact that Lena never remarried.