The episode follows the Division's role in the Battle of Cape Gloucester, and its aftermath in the soldiers' mental state.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.52 million household viewers and gained a 0.9 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
In December 1943, Sledge is enlisted in the Marines, training at Camp Elliott in San Diego County, California.
While they win their battle, the relentless rain and jungle environment takes its toll on the Marines, especially Leckie.
Leckie decides to leave the hospital, bribing his doctor with a Japanese pistol he acquired to get released.
"[5] Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger wrote, "Ultimately, Leckie just needs a respite from the front, where Gibson appears irreparably broken, but watching this episode, it's not hard to understand how this could have happened to either of them, or so many other men like them.
Quite how much freedom each writer is granted to embellish on the characters is unclear, but Yost certainly appears to have broken from the flat, almost documenty style with which the series began.
"[8] Den of Geek wrote, "I remain convinced that The Pacific is an important work for today’s television viewer, especially in light of our recent collective experiences with war.