Welcome back to HBO's Band of Brothers Podcast, this is Roger Bennett, I say Flash,

you say Thunder.

Replacements. This ensemble narrative reinforces the notion of brotherhood at the heart of the

series, revolving around the central themes of inclusion and exclusion. The latter experienced

by those green replacements, the new men, who yes, had gone through paratrooper training, but at

the beginning of this episode, at least, had yet to be tested in the crucible of combat,

a naivete and innocence, which would soon be shattered.

Easy company is in high spirits as they're briefed on their next mission. They will play a crucial

role in Operation Market Garden, a high-risk British hatch plan in which the men would parachute

into the Netherlands, liberate the city of Einthoven, and clear a path for British armored divisions

to batter their way towards Berlin.

Good news is, if this works, these tanks will be over the Rhine and into Germany. That could end the

war, get us home by Christmas. Despite the initial stunning, beautiful and opposed daytime jump,

and the moment of wonder and delight as easy company are welcomed as all conquering heroes by a

thronging Dutch crowd during the joyous liberation of Einthoven, we once again are exposed to the truth,

that war is filled with savage mood swings. As easy enters the town of Nuenen,

the reconnaissance mission discovers that the German situated there, a form were equipped and prepared,

the military intelligence had ever believed, and what ensues is a battle,

where they fall victim not only to the Germans, but the age-old British obsession with protocol.

They retreat without star sergeant Paul Randleman, who's injured in a tank explosion and forced

to seek shelter alone in a barn behind enemy lines. That night, as Bullen jaws a harrowing

hand-to-hand encounter with a German soldier, the men of EZ former search company, to try and find

...