...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!
Generation Kill
- 702 statements
- 138 feature instances
- 22 referencing feature instances
Generation Kill | type |
TVTItem | |
Generation Kill | label |
Generation Kill | |
Generation Kill | page |
GenerationKill | |
Generation Kill | comment |
In 2003, Rolling Stone reporter Evan Wright was embedded in the US Marine Corps' First Recon, for the onset of the War in Iraq. Over the next two months, he would have a firsthand view into the lives of some of the toughest men on the planet on the front lines of the The War on Terror as well as the command decisions that put them where they were. Wright compiled these articles into Generation Kill, which was later made into a seven-part miniseries by David Simon and Ed Burns on HBO.The series and book are notable for their unvarnished depictions of the grunts' culture, including their views on the Marine Corps, the war, and their place in it. Marines espouse a wide variety of irreverent opinions using spectacularly coarse language and often revel in the opportunity to kill for their country. Many also grapple with the complicated moral footing they find themselves on as trained killers fighting a dubiously justified war surrounded by civilians who may or may not be the enemy. The command staff are frequently depicted as too incompetent or preoccupied with earning promotions to fight the war effectively.All of this is a far cry from the noble, patriotic heroes audiences usually expect in American war media. This triggered accusations that Wright's depictions were heavily embellished, but the Marines themselves have backed up their own depictions as mostly accurate.As this pertains to a military operation, expect a lot of military tropes. | |
Generation Kill | fetched |
2023-09-07T20:44:12Z | |
Generation Kill | parsed |
2023-09-07T20:44:12Z | |
Generation Kill | processingComment |
Dropped link to OneBulletAway: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
Generation Kill | processingComment |
Dropped link to ShaggyDogStory: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
Generation Kill | processingComment |
Dropped link to TheBigLebowski: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
Generation Kill | processingComment |
Dropped link to TheWire: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
Generation Kill | isPartOf |
DBTropes | |
Generation Kill / int_1439161f | type |
Heroic BSoD | |
Generation Kill / int_1439161f | comment |
Heroic BSoD: This show loves this trope. Brad after Trombley shoots civilians with his okay. In the book, Brad is reduced to tears when he comes face-to-face with the aftermath. Brad again, along with Poke, when a badly targeted airstrike annihilates a hamlet. Brad yet again when Walt accidentally kills a civilian, and Walt immediately after. Ray after Rudy checks him too hard during the football game. Rudy's response is to BSOD even worse. The dazed and confused Marine Colbert encounters outside Nasiriyah apparently suffered one of these after seeing one of his men getting shot in the stomach. He turns down Colbert's offer of help, and wanders off again. Subverted the first time Trombley kills someone. For a second, he looks like he's about to BSOD, but then: In the book only: at the roadblock outside Al Hayy, where the Marines open fire at a car after it fails to stop at the warning shots, two Marines—Sgt. Graves and Cpl. Jeschke—approach the car after it becomes clear it was a civilian vehicle. They find a little girl in the back seat. As Graves reaches out to her, thinking she is merely injured, the top of the girl's head falls off and her brains fall out. Graves, stepping back, almost slips in her brains. He cannot speak for a full minute, and cannot coherently describe the scene afterwards. The show presented this scene in condensed form with less gore, with no one shown going full BSOD. | |
Generation Kill / int_1439161f | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
Generation Kill / int_1439161f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_1439161f | |
Generation Kill / int_153299b4 | type |
Boisterous Bruiser | |
Generation Kill / int_153299b4 | comment |
Boisterous Bruiser: Cpl. Josh Ray Person, constantly yelling about the Marines' battle prowess through the ages. And his own, of course. | |
Generation Kill / int_153299b4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_153299b4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_153299b4 | |
Generation Kill / int_16178c64 | type |
Gratuitous Spanish | |
Generation Kill / int_16178c64 | comment |
Gratuitous Spanish: Actually Portuguese. Sgt. Baptista is a Brazilian immigrant and during times of stress he unconsciously starts radio chattering in his native tongue, which drives the other Marines crazy. | |
Generation Kill / int_16178c64 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_16178c64 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_16178c64 | |
Generation Kill / int_1779f10e | type |
"Well Done, Son" Guy | |
Generation Kill / int_1779f10e | comment |
"Well Done, Son" Guy: Godfather speaks of General Mattis in glowing terms and seems purely motivated to seek his approval. | |
Generation Kill / int_1779f10e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_1779f10e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_1779f10e | |
Generation Kill / int_19d06ef7 | type |
A Father to His Men | |
Generation Kill / int_19d06ef7 | comment |
A Father to His Men: Lt. Fick, who, ironically, is younger than some of his troops, nonetheless takes on this role of his platoon. He even lies through his teeth to Lt. Col. Ferrando in order to keep his men out of trouble over the incident where Person burnt his face from a faulty espresso machine. It comes to a head in the sixth episode, when "Casey Kasem" goes over Fick's head and orders one of his teams out to check out a possible tank, saying he's "covering" for Fick (while calling his competence into question and accusing him of cowardice behind his back). The Lieutenant is understandably pissed that he's using his men to get to him. In the book, Wright notes that the platoon command seems more like parenting than autocratic control, with Lt. Fick being the father and Gunny Wynn being the mother. | |
Generation Kill / int_19d06ef7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_19d06ef7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_19d06ef7 | |
Generation Kill / int_1ba17583 | type |
The Ghost | |
Generation Kill / int_1ba17583 | comment |
The Ghost: Charlie Company. They have a short scene in one episode, but otherwise they're only mentioned on radio. | |
Generation Kill / int_1ba17583 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_1ba17583 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_1ba17583 | |
Generation Kill / int_1c79ae8c | type |
Those Two Guys | |
Generation Kill / int_1c79ae8c | comment |
Those Two Guys: Encino Man and his lickspittle Casey Kasem, who are depicted as causing quite a few problems for First Recon. | |
Generation Kill / int_1c79ae8c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_1c79ae8c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_1c79ae8c | |
Generation Kill / int_21f7ff0f | type |
Knight in Sour Armor | |
Generation Kill / int_21f7ff0f | comment |
Knight in Sour Armor: More than a few of the Marines qualify. As Wright points out, not only are these men generally unsurprised by the idea that their leaders might be corrupt or incompetent, but they have grown to expect it, having all grown up in the post-Watergate era. Their motivations for serving range from purely practical (getting out of bad neighborhoods, for example) to more idealistic (trying to make a Crapsack World a slightly better place, or at least prevent it from getting worse). Even the most idealistic member of the battalion, Lieutenant Fick, isn't immune from a growing degree of cynicism while pressing on with his duties. | |
Generation Kill / int_21f7ff0f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_21f7ff0f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_21f7ff0f | |
Generation Kill / int_222dc873 | type |
Black Comedy | |
Generation Kill / int_222dc873 | comment |
Black Comedy: The Marines start calling Trombley "Whopper Jr", which is a roundabout way of calling him Baby Killernote Whopper Jr —-> Burger King —-> BK —-> Baby Killer. The name is used affectionately. | |
Generation Kill / int_222dc873 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_222dc873 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_222dc873 | |
Generation Kill / int_23473ae7 | type |
Adaptation Expansion | |
Generation Kill / int_23473ae7 | comment |
Adaptation Expansion: SgtMaj. Sixta plays a much larger role in the series than in the book. Also, the scene in the show where the off-duty Recon Marines infiltrate a building under guard by other Marines is much more elaborate than in the book, where they simply break down a first-floor window out of view and enter the building. | |
Generation Kill / int_23473ae7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_23473ae7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_23473ae7 | |
Generation Kill / int_23ff95fb | type |
Brutal Honesty | |
Generation Kill / int_23ff95fb | comment |
Brutal Honesty: In the series, Encino Man asks the platoon to "speak freely". He goes through the Marines, who all palm him off or dance around the issues. Then he gets to Doc... | |
Generation Kill / int_23ff95fb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_23ff95fb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_23ff95fb | |
Generation Kill / int_24f4c82a | type |
Semper Fi | |
Generation Kill / int_24f4c82a | comment |
Semper Fi: Although there is an amount of "moto" chest thumping, the series does not use parts of the Marine Corps myth, mocks others, and parodies some. Examples: "Captain America," "Encino Man," "Casey Kasem," and who could forget the genius idea of re-purposing a reconnaissance unit as a light assault unit in light armored Humvees? Also hilariously parodied when the Marines are told to be flexible. One Marine mocks the command, saying, "Yeah, Semper Gumby. Always flexible." | |
Generation Kill / int_24f4c82a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_24f4c82a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_24f4c82a | |
Generation Kill / int_26eb6287 | type |
Funny Background Event | |
Generation Kill / int_26eb6287 | comment |
Funny Background Event: When Sergeant Major Sixta is reprimanding Pappy about his mustache the second time around, another Marine can be seen goosestepping in the background in a Nazi Salute, to mock Sixta, and to remind Pappy that the 'Hitler 'stache' that he wears falls within the grooming standard. Random marines quoting The Big Lebowski when Encino Man is informed by his Marines that they consider him a woefully incompetent leader. Manimal dropping a box of grenades, followed by a Marine yelling that "This is why we can't have nice things!" Rudy taking a run in full combat gear while Marines cheer him on, urging him to "slay that dragon". After Ray and Rudy's tussle at the football game is broken up, as Ray is walking off, a Marine can be heard telling Rudy "Goddammit Rudy, go to your little quiet place and chant, motherfucker." During Person's unhinged rant about wars being about "lack of pussy", the camera focuses on an incredulous Evan Wright, who can only silently mouth "Wow" at the insanity he is witnessing. | |
Generation Kill / int_26eb6287 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_26eb6287 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_26eb6287 | |
Generation Kill / int_27a42ebc | type |
Spiritual Successor | |
Generation Kill / int_27a42ebc | comment |
Spiritual Successor: While it's the second HBO miniseries about the real exploits of a US military company and actually does a good job of dismantling the image of soldiers created in that show, it's more closely a successor of The Wire. Both feature David Simon and Ed Burns as main writers and explore the same theme of systems breaking down due to the incompetence and ambition of their leaders. | |
Generation Kill / int_27a42ebc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_27a42ebc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_27a42ebc | |
Generation Kill / int_29ad1d69 | type |
Facial Dialogue | |
Generation Kill / int_29ad1d69 | comment |
Facial Dialogue: Fick and Colbert in "Cradle of Civilization." Colbert keys his mic to reply to Encino Man's radio announcement that they were lost because Colbert took a wrong turn (Encino Man had ordered the turn despite Fick and Colbert's protests). Fick makes eye contact with Colbert and shakes his head silently, and Colbert releases the mic without comment. | |
Generation Kill / int_29ad1d69 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_29ad1d69 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_29ad1d69 | |
Generation Kill / int_2bc0fc4d | type |
Ice-Cream Koan | |
Generation Kill / int_2bc0fc4d | comment |
Ice-Cream Koan: According to the book, Pappy is apparently fond of serving these up whenever asked by a fellow Marine to impart some wisdom, "Don't pet a burning dog" being one of them. This phrase becomes far less confusing for Lt. Fick after the night ambush at the bridge in Al Muwaffaqiyah—the lesson being something along the lines of "if it looks dangerous, it probably is, so don't get near it". | |
Generation Kill / int_2bc0fc4d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_2bc0fc4d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_2bc0fc4d | |
Generation Kill / int_2d4a6d8c | type |
Sophisticated as Hell | |
Generation Kill / int_2d4a6d8c | comment |
Sophisticated as Hell: A great many of the Marines have a tendency toward having surprisingly intelligent discourse over the war and society laced with profanity and slang. | |
Generation Kill / int_2d4a6d8c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_2d4a6d8c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_2d4a6d8c | |
Generation Kill / int_2dc0d2bf | type |
Hidden Depths | |
Generation Kill / int_2dc0d2bf | comment |
Hidden Depths: Zig-zagged with a Hell of a lot Sophisticated as Hell and actually one maybe shouldn't be surprised that an elite unit of the Marines is smarter than the average grunt. | |
Generation Kill / int_2dc0d2bf | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_2dc0d2bf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_2dc0d2bf | |
Generation Kill / int_2f187e89 | type |
It Works Better with Bullets | |
Generation Kill / int_2f187e89 | comment |
It Works Better with Bullets: After spending several minutes explaining to Encino Man why they absolutely must not call in an artillery barrage that will inevitably injure, maim or kill the entire platoon, Lt. Fick eventually gives up and walks away to the disbelief of his platoon, who are rather understandably worried about getting hit by friendly artillery fire. Fick reassures them quickly, however: | |
Generation Kill / int_2f187e89 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_2f187e89 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_2f187e89 | |
Generation Kill / int_3036294e | type |
Scary Black Man | |
Generation Kill / int_3036294e | comment |
Corporal Holsey, outwardly a Scary Black Man, is seen reading Sun Tzu and is not into "the whole racial thing". He's also seen later making an effort to learn Portuguese from Baptista. | |
Generation Kill / int_3036294e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_3036294e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_3036294e | |
Generation Kill / int_3126c34a | type |
Insufferable Genius | |
Generation Kill / int_3126c34a | comment |
Insufferable Genius: Brad Colbert has shades of this trope, usually condemning religion and the desire to have children. | |
Generation Kill / int_3126c34a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_3126c34a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_3126c34a | |
Generation Kill / int_339c7d93 | type |
Stay Frosty | |
Generation Kill / int_339c7d93 | comment |
Stay Frosty: Colbert's catch phrase, used to remind people to stay attentive. Kocher and Col. Ferrando both quote him once for the same purpose. | |
Generation Kill / int_339c7d93 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_339c7d93 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_339c7d93 | |
Generation Kill / int_3929e0db | type |
You Need to Get Laid | |
Generation Kill / int_3929e0db | comment |
You Need to Get Laid: Cpl. Person blames the entire war on this, claiming that the Iraqis wouldn't need Marines to come in and save them if they just had more sex. | |
Generation Kill / int_3929e0db | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_3929e0db | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_3929e0db | |
Generation Kill / int_3d2c6d30 | type |
Skewed Priorities | |
Generation Kill / int_3d2c6d30 | comment |
Skewed Priorities: A major theme in the series. Godfather is constantly shown to be far more interested in winning commendations and promotions than in fighting the war in a way that is best for everyone. He considers allied units to be competition and subjects his men to unnecessary risks so that they, and he, will get more glory. This is a continuation of the central theme of The Wire. In the first several episodes, officers constantly harp on the marines' mustaches seemingly at the expense of more pressing matters pertaining to final preparations of going into combat. Sixta states that rigidly enforcing grooming standards helps prevent other, more important standards from slipping. He also later says that it's all part of a Genghis Gambit. After the unit watches in horror as a hamlet of women and children is bombed to powder, Person gripes that the explosions made him ruin the "cookie" he was making from MRE scraps. | |
Generation Kill / int_3d2c6d30 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_3d2c6d30 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_3d2c6d30 | |
Generation Kill / int_3ebc57ac | type |
Going Native | |
Generation Kill / int_3ebc57ac | comment |
Going Native: The culture clash between the writer and the marines is quite wide in the beginning of the series, but as the series goes on, he can be increasingly seen smirking and laughing along with some of their very extreme behavior, showing that he is internalizing their culture. | |
Generation Kill / int_3ebc57ac | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_3ebc57ac | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_3ebc57ac | |
Generation Kill / int_3ec18c6f | type |
Sherlock Scan | |
Generation Kill / int_3ec18c6f | comment |
Sherlock Scan: Sgt. Colbert immediately recognizes a "civilian" as a military deserter from his military-style belt. | |
Generation Kill / int_3ec18c6f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_3ec18c6f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_3ec18c6f | |
Generation Kill / int_3f6d2c98 | type |
Cold Sniper | |
Generation Kill / int_3f6d2c98 | comment |
Cold Sniper: Sgt. Larry Shawn "Pappy" Patrick, Sgt. Ken Sutherby, and to a lesser extent, Sgt. Brad Colbert, who while he doesn't have the gun, he certainly has the mentality. When Pappy is asked about his kills, he even says that all he felt was "recoil". Fruity Rudy, as a spotter, is one half of Pappy's sniper team. Seeing the two of them do their jobs in the second episode is serious Mood Whiplash from how they've been established as characters so far. Rudy definitely qualifies for this trope, for the spotter in a sniper team is actually the better shot. | |
Generation Kill / int_3f6d2c98 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_3f6d2c98 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_3f6d2c98 | |
Generation Kill / int_40bb59d0 | type |
Blatant Lies | |
Generation Kill / int_40bb59d0 | comment |
Blatant Lies: Half of what the translator, Meesh, says the Iraqis are telling the battalion consists of crap he's just making up—due to orders from above; this mostly consists of "the Iraqis are grateful to be liberated" and such. Fick, Doc Bryan, and others call him out on this, and he admits that he had been instructed to lie. In Episode 1 of the show, Lt. Fick lies through his teeth to Godfather to keep his men from getting in trouble over the malfunctioning portable stove that burnt Person in the face. They had been operating the stove inside a tent in blatant disregard for regulations. Godfather sees through this straight away but goes along with it, snarkily suggesting that Fick write up some of his men for commendation for their efforts. Generally, when Fick tells his men that he is assured that something will happen, the complete opposite happens. | |
Generation Kill / int_40bb59d0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_40bb59d0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_40bb59d0 | |
Generation Kill / int_45de345c | type |
The Peter Principle | |
Generation Kill / int_45de345c | comment |
The Peter Principle: It's pointed out in the book that many of 1st Force Recon's officers were composed of logistical staff and experienced NCOs of at highest the rank of Sergeant; as such, the decision to deploy all of 1st Force Recon to Iraq meant that a large group of officers who were highly skilled at technical and administrative positions were suddenly forced into combat ones they were most assuredly not very competent in. Wright made a point not to name names because he felt it was unfair to these officers. | |
Generation Kill / int_45de345c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_45de345c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_45de345c | |
Generation Kill / int_4604fd4d | type |
Worthy Opponent | |
Generation Kill / int_4604fd4d | comment |
Worthy Opponent: The Marines acknowledge the fact that many of the Iraqi, feyadeen, and foreign troops who do stand and fight them have to be brave and disciplined men. | |
Generation Kill / int_4604fd4d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_4604fd4d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_4604fd4d | |
Generation Kill / int_474a2a5e | type |
Cultural Posturing | |
Generation Kill / int_474a2a5e | comment |
Cultural Posturing: A lot of the playful ribbing that goes on between marines is of this sort. We see it a lot between Colbert and Person. Person at one point describes Colbert as an unrepentant Christ-killer for being Jewish. Later, Colbert says that while he was adopted into a millennia-old culture of Talmudic wisdom, Person was born in a trailer to ignorant, inbred white trash. They both chuckle about it. Given Colbert's earlier remarks disparaging all religion, it's unlikely that he's all that precious about his own Jewish background. | |
Generation Kill / int_474a2a5e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_474a2a5e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_474a2a5e | |
Generation Kill / int_4864031b | type |
Informed Attractiveness | |
Generation Kill / int_4864031b | comment |
Informed Attractiveness: People talk about how attractive Rudy Reyes is. In fact, he got a modeling contract. | |
Generation Kill / int_4864031b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_4864031b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_4864031b | |
Generation Kill / int_4885c04b | type |
Road Trip Plot | |
Generation Kill / int_4885c04b | comment |
Road Trip Plot: Discussed. The book compares the humvee Wright rode in to having the dynamic of a family on a road trip, with Colbert the stern father, Person the mother, and Trombley and Wright being the kids messing around in the back seat. | |
Generation Kill / int_4885c04b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_4885c04b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_4885c04b | |
Generation Kill / int_489f14dd | type |
Glamorous Wartime Singer | |
Generation Kill / int_489f14dd | comment |
Glamorous Wartime Singer: Woefully subverted. While Person has dreams of being a rock star, in the miniseries, if they sing, they suck. Played a little more straight with Cpl. Walter Hasser in the book, who apparently has a wonderful country music singing voice (and doesn't like to sing!). | |
Generation Kill / int_489f14dd | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
Generation Kill / int_489f14dd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_489f14dd | |
Generation Kill / int_4ccdcfce | type |
Heroic Fatigue | |
Generation Kill / int_4ccdcfce | comment |
Heroic Fatigue: Everyone is running on little to no sleep, but it is especially significant in a couple cases. Person's dependency on Ripped Fuel allows him to drive the Humvee for days on end. It also makes him a manic motor-mouth that drives Colbert crazy but gives Evan Wright plenty of amusing material. We find out it was Lt. Fick himself who authorized Casey Kasem's pointless orders to send sick Marines on patrol, apparently while in a fugue state due to over 72 hours without sleep. Fick looks horrified as he realizes he can't take punitive measures against the Gunnery Sergeant for orders he endorsed; Kasem's evil smirk clearly implies he knew Fick was completely out of it, and took advantage of it. | |
Generation Kill / int_4ccdcfce | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_4ccdcfce | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_4ccdcfce | |
Generation Kill / int_598ad6e2 | type |
Even the Guys Want Him | |
Generation Kill / int_598ad6e2 | comment |
Even the Guys Want Him: Quite a few straight male characters comment on how hot Fruity Rudy is. Which he seems to revel in, even though he has a wife back home. It gets lampshaded at one point when the Marines try to invert it by telling the reporter, "It doesn't make you gay if you think Rudy's hot. We all think he's hot. Jesus, you're beautiful." | |
Generation Kill / int_598ad6e2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_598ad6e2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_598ad6e2 | |
Generation Kill / int_5a40d6a | type |
Adaptation Distillation | |
Generation Kill / int_5a40d6a | comment |
Adaptation Distillation: When the series changes something from the book, it's either an omission for lack of time and budget, or a way of adapting the same message to the limited time a scene has to make its point. Wright also didn't want people to harass Captain America and Encino Man. | |
Generation Kill / int_5a40d6a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_5a40d6a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_5a40d6a | |
Generation Kill / int_5c554458 | type |
Dumb Jock | |
Generation Kill / int_5c554458 | comment |
Dumb Jock: Encino Man is a giant, lumbering moron who speaks in nothing but football metaphors, making it painfully clear what his background is. In the final episode, he serves as quarterback for the skins team during the football game and dominates the shirts team. | |
Generation Kill / int_5c554458 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_5c554458 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_5c554458 | |
Generation Kill / int_5fff364d | type |
Combat Medic | |
Generation Kill / int_5fff364d | comment |
Combat Medic: Navy Hospitalman Second Class Robert Timothy "Doc" Bryannote the book mentions that he's a Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman and qualified to serve alongside the most elite units in the US military, who fights and saves lives with equal passion. | |
Generation Kill / int_5fff364d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_5fff364d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_5fff364d | |
Generation Kill / int_607df6c | type |
Recruiters Always Lie | |
Generation Kill / int_607df6c | comment |
Recruiters Always Lie: In one of his rants, Ray says that Trombley was told by his recruiting officer that he would get to shoot people, Ray was told he would get to go to Thailand and get all kinds of strange and Colbert joined after seeing the Dress Blues commercial. Ray then notes that Trombley hasn't killed anybody yet, Ray is half a world away from good Thai pussy and Colbert is in a MOPP suit that smells like four days of piss and ballsweat. | |
Generation Kill / int_607df6c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_607df6c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_607df6c | |
Generation Kill / int_61b8f9e2 | type |
Bunny-Ears Lawyer | |
Generation Kill / int_61b8f9e2 | comment |
Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Person again. | |
Generation Kill / int_61b8f9e2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_61b8f9e2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_61b8f9e2 | |
Generation Kill / int_627f7c90 | type |
Genghis Gambit | |
Generation Kill / int_627f7c90 | comment |
In the first several episodes, officers constantly harp on the marines' mustaches seemingly at the expense of more pressing matters pertaining to final preparations of going into combat. Sixta states that rigidly enforcing grooming standards helps prevent other, more important standards from slipping. He also later says that it's all part of a Genghis Gambit. | |
Generation Kill / int_627f7c90 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_627f7c90 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_627f7c90 | |
Generation Kill / int_6375f746 | type |
Drill Sergeant Nasty | |
Generation Kill / int_6375f746 | comment |
Drill Sergeant Nasty: Sgt. Maj. John "Coward of Khafji" Sixta. | |
Generation Kill / int_6375f746 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_6375f746 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_6375f746 | |
Generation Kill / int_641cf81d | type |
Viewers Are Geniuses | |
Generation Kill / int_641cf81d | comment |
Viewers Are Geniuses: Something of a David Simon trademark. The show places a premium on authenticity, resulting in the use of a lot of military slang and jargon. Viewers without a background in the U.S. military must often pick up the meaning of an exchange purely through context. | |
Generation Kill / int_641cf81d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_641cf81d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_641cf81d | |
Generation Kill / int_6575fd50 | type |
Do-Anything Soldier | |
Generation Kill / int_6575fd50 | comment |
Do-Anything Soldier: Forced upon the battalion. As recon marines, they were trained to move ahead of the main force, working in small teams to gather intelligence. They thought they were being provided with vehicles to help in that regard. Instead, they were utilized as mounted infantry for company and battalion-sized hit-and-run attacks in a feinting maneuver, which they were untrained and unequipped for and had to figure out as they went along. | |
Generation Kill / int_6575fd50 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_6575fd50 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_6575fd50 | |
Generation Kill / int_680f950 | type |
Gilligan Cut | |
Generation Kill / int_680f950 | comment |
Gilligan Cut: In "The Cradle of Civilization", Lt. Fick assures his men that they will be crossing a hostile bridge under cover of darkness. The next shot shows them driving over it in the bright morning sunlight. | |
Generation Kill / int_680f950 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_680f950 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_680f950 | |
Generation Kill / int_6bda9a30 | type |
Meaningful Name | |
Generation Kill / int_6bda9a30 | comment |
Meaningful Name: Lt. Col. Ferrando's callsign is "Godfather", because he sounds like Marlon Brando from the eponymous movie. When Wright (inevitably) asks him about his voice, he explains that he had throat cancernote despite never smoking, chewing tobacco, or anything else that would likely cause cancer, "Guess I'm just lucky.", and had parts of his vocal cords removed during the operation. | |
Generation Kill / int_6bda9a30 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_6bda9a30 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_6bda9a30 | |
Generation Kill / int_72757e0d | type |
"Not Making This Up" Disclaimer | |
Generation Kill / int_72757e0d | comment |
"Not Making This Up" Disclaimer: The real Evan Wright often says "this really happened" on the DVD commentary tracks during events that seem more fantastical. In fact, they had to tone down some of the more bizarre shit that Captain America did. Yes, he was actually worse than what was portrayed in the mini series. Another notable example of excluding something on account of Reality Is Unrealistic; when Pappy was shot in the foot and reported it by first referring to himself in the third person with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, Doc Bryan started laughing because it meant he was okay. The laughter part isn't in the mini-series, because Wright was worried the audience wouldn't quite understand why someone would laugh, given the situation. In the book, during the bridge ambush, Colbert calmly sings while coolly opening up in one of the largest ambushes Evan witnessed. note Sundown by Gordon Lightfoot, in case you were wondering. One of the scenes involving an ambush on the Marines' convoy by an Iraqi AA gun was criticized, as the gun being used in such an ambush supposedly should have killed the entire convoy. In fact, the ambush actually happened this way; Nathan Fick's own book One Bullet Away not only corroborated the story, but it even pointed out that the real-life ambush was even more destructive than it was in the series: they were being attacked by an AA gun with high explosive rounds and mortars at the same time. Even so, no Marines were killed and the convoy wasn't seriously damaged. | |
Generation Kill / int_72757e0d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_72757e0d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_72757e0d | |
Generation Kill / int_737a65f4 | type |
The Watson | |
Generation Kill / int_737a65f4 | comment |
The Watson: Wright. As a reporter, it's both his job and his role in the story to have things explained to him. | |
Generation Kill / int_737a65f4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_737a65f4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_737a65f4 | |
Generation Kill / int_768ae1c9 | type |
Les Collaborateurs | |
Generation Kill / int_768ae1c9 | comment |
Les Collaborateurs: Played for laughs by Sgt. Espera. He justifies everything that he does in the Marines by saying that the white man has "gotta rule the world". | |
Generation Kill / int_768ae1c9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_768ae1c9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_768ae1c9 | |
Generation Kill / int_76a08cd6 | type |
Friend or Foe? | |
Generation Kill / int_76a08cd6 | comment |
Friend or Foe?: Garza comes under fire from members of Alpha Company near Baqubah after they mistake him for an Iraqi due to his dark skin color and the general tension of fighting deep in enemy territory. In the show, this incident is elaborated with Garza having appropriated an Iraqi helmet for use. | |
Generation Kill / int_76a08cd6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_76a08cd6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_76a08cd6 | |
Generation Kill / int_7815ba15 | type |
N-Word Privileges | |
Generation Kill / int_7815ba15 | comment |
There is one instance where they seem to avoid using N-Word Privileges. The Marines are drinking coffee and calling it "November Juliet." When the reporter asks what that means, all the Marines look around uncomfortably, and then look toward Holsey, the sole black Marine in that particular group, before Holsey finally flatly says: "Nigger Juice." After a Beat, the whole group cracks up. | |
Generation Kill / int_7815ba15 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_7815ba15 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_7815ba15 | |
Generation Kill / int_78c895c8 | type |
Amusing Injuries | |
Generation Kill / int_78c895c8 | comment |
Amusing Injuries: Seems to happen to Cpl. John Burris (and some people around him) on a regular basis throughout the invasion. At Nasiriyah, Burris trips on his gun and skins his face, provoking amused laughter from everyone around him. He gets sprayed with sewage when the Humvee he's on drives through the open sewer puddle of Al Gharraf. This series of unfortunate events culminates in Burris's destruction of the Iraqi tank outside Baqubah: he fires an anti-tank missile at the tank's fuel pod, setting off a massive explosion that blows the tank to pieces and knocks him on his back with its blast. When he returns to his team, his dazed smile causes Cpt. Patterson, who had come up to congratulate him, to break out in laughter. Further, one of the pieces of the tank flew hundreds of meters to hit another Marine in the head; while the man's helmet is partially shattered, the man himself only suffers a concussion. These events were not presented in the show. | |
Generation Kill / int_78c895c8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_78c895c8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_78c895c8 | |
Generation Kill / int_796bffea | type |
Mistaken for Racist | |
Generation Kill / int_796bffea | comment |
Mistaken for Racist: Some of the 1st Recon Marines say quite racist things, directly to or in the presence of the individual who should be personally offended. It becomes apparent, however, that all the Marines are so close to each other that they all basically have N-Word Privileges with each other. Might be played straight when the Marines are talking about the Iraqis. There is one instance where they seem to avoid using N-Word Privileges. The Marines are drinking coffee and calling it "November Juliet." When the reporter asks what that means, all the Marines look around uncomfortably, and then look toward Holsey, the sole black Marine in that particular group, before Holsey finally flatly says: "Nigger Juice." After a Beat, the whole group cracks up. | |
Generation Kill / int_796bffea | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_796bffea | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_796bffea | |
Generation Kill / int_7a3dd888 | type |
Real Men Wear Pink | |
Generation Kill / int_7a3dd888 | comment |
Real Men Wear Pink: Reyes is very metrosexual and looks like a GQ model, but he's also a very competent soldier and fist fighter. | |
Generation Kill / int_7a3dd888 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_7a3dd888 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_7a3dd888 | |
Generation Kill / int_7b23aecb | type |
Bayonet Ya | |
Generation Kill / int_7b23aecb | comment |
Bayonet Ya: Captain America loves his bayonet, looking for an opportunity to use it and constantly attaching it even when it would serve no useful purpose. He attempts to bayonet a restrained detainee before claiming that he thought the man was attacking a fellow marine. Later, he jabs his bayonet at another restrained detainee purely out of malice. | |
Generation Kill / int_7b23aecb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_7b23aecb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_7b23aecb | |
Generation Kill / int_7d89315b | type |
"The Reason You Suck" Speech | |
Generation Kill / int_7d89315b | comment |
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: General Mattis delivers a withering one to Colonel Dowdy: | |
Generation Kill / int_7d89315b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_7d89315b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_7d89315b | |
Generation Kill / int_7dae20c8 | type |
Sex Is Good | |
Generation Kill / int_7dae20c8 | comment |
Sex Is Good: In the opinion of Marine Person, good sex makes people good. | |
Generation Kill / int_7dae20c8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_7dae20c8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_7dae20c8 | |
Generation Kill / int_7febc23b | type |
Establishing Character Moment | |
Generation Kill / int_7febc23b | comment |
Establishing Character Moment: In the first episode, Bravo Company's tent is blown over by a sandstorm in the middle of the night. Gunny Wynn announces that he needs Marines with sledgehammers, and the Marines leap into action without hesitation, grabbing tools and running out in their underwear to repair the tent in the middle of the storm. Colbert steps outside, takes one quick look at the confused activity, and starts directing Marines and coordinating their efforts to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. We now know that these are men who do not hesitate to act even when surprised, and Colbert can seize control of the most chaotic situations to reestablish order. | |
Generation Kill / int_7febc23b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_7febc23b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_7febc23b | |
Generation Kill / int_820ac3c5 | type |
Dysfunction Junction | |
Generation Kill / int_820ac3c5 | comment |
Dysfunction Junction: According to the book, many of the Marines joined to escape life in street gangs, and tales of alcoholic dads and crackhead moms are quite common. Averted often enough, though, that Wright explicitly says they disprove the stereotype of servicemen all joining as a last resort; Colbert and Fick come from loving, middle-class families, Person's father was absent but he had a relatively good upbringing from his mother, while Reyes and Stafford wanted to challenge themselves. | |
Generation Kill / int_820ac3c5 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_820ac3c5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_820ac3c5 | |
Generation Kill / int_82108e3d | type |
Attack Its Weak Point | |
Generation Kill / int_82108e3d | comment |
Attack Its Weak Point: In the book only, when the Marines encounter an Iraqi tank near Baqubah and bring out an anti-tank missile to disable it (given the lack of available artillery and air support). The "best-case scenario" envisioned before the attack is that the missile, being incapable of penetrating most of the T-72 tank's armor, would be used to attack its treads and stop it from moving. Corporal Burris, assigned to launch the missile, discovers an auxiliary fuel pod on the back of the tank upon getting closer to fire, and aims at it instead, blowing the tank to kingdom come. | |
Generation Kill / int_82108e3d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_82108e3d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_82108e3d | |
Generation Kill / int_823c6e3e | type |
Large Ham | |
Generation Kill / int_823c6e3e | comment |
Large Ham: Sergeant Major Sixta, who deliberately crafts a combination of this and a Jerkass facade to give the Marines someone to direct their anger and frustration toward, in order to keep morale up. | |
Generation Kill / int_823c6e3e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_823c6e3e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_823c6e3e | |
Generation Kill / int_8409a385 | type |
Exactly What It Says on the Tin | |
Generation Kill / int_8409a385 | comment |
Exactly What It Says on the Tin: "Danger close," meaning a fire mission (artillery or air strike) called in dangerously close to friendly units. Somehow this was lost on Encino Man and Casey Kasem. Fortunately, when they attempted to call in the fire mission, they used the wrong authorization and grid square coordinates. | |
Generation Kill / int_8409a385 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_8409a385 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_8409a385 | |
Generation Kill / int_85557b38 | type |
Reality Is Unrealistic | |
Generation Kill / int_85557b38 | comment |
Reality Is Unrealistic: They toned down "Captain America"'s antics, because they thought that people would think they were too fake. | |
Generation Kill / int_85557b38 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_85557b38 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_85557b38 | |
Generation Kill / int_86b21114 | type |
Badass Boast | |
Generation Kill / int_86b21114 | comment |
Badass Boast: Gentlemen, we just seized an airfield. That was pretty fucking ninja. "Re-Up Time," performed by Josh Ray Person. | |
Generation Kill / int_86b21114 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_86b21114 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_86b21114 | |
Generation Kill / int_8c681acc | type |
Third-Person Person | |
Generation Kill / int_8c681acc | comment |
Third-Person Person: Lt. Col. "Godfather" Ferrando at times, sometimes with his surname and sometimes his nickname. | |
Generation Kill / int_8c681acc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_8c681acc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_8c681acc | |
Generation Kill / int_91cab736 | type |
Major Injury Underreaction | |
Generation Kill / int_91cab736 | comment |
Major Injury Underreaction: Some of the marines who are wounded react very calmly. Such as when Pappy gets shot, he simply calls out that his vehicle has a man down over the radio and says nothing more than "Oh, it's just my foot" when Rudy asks for more information. | |
Generation Kill / int_91cab736 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_91cab736 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_91cab736 | |
Generation Kill / int_92264449 | type |
Jabba Table Manners | |
Generation Kill / int_92264449 | comment |
Jabba Table Manners: Person is frequently shown making a mess with his food and chewing tobacco. | |
Generation Kill / int_92264449 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_92264449 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_92264449 | |
Generation Kill / int_94680696 | type |
Shaped Like Itself | |
Generation Kill / int_94680696 | comment |
Shaped Like Itself: Encino Man's woeful attempt at a Rousing Speech ends with him proclaiming: "I'm reminding you of who your enemy is: The enemy." | |
Generation Kill / int_94680696 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_94680696 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_94680696 | |
Generation Kill / int_96cc4848 | type |
"Dear John" Letter | |
Generation Kill / int_96cc4848 | comment |
"Dear John" Letter: In the series only. Manimal's first in-country communique from his wife? Divorce papers. Naturally, he is less than pleased by this turn of events. | |
Generation Kill / int_96cc4848 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_96cc4848 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_96cc4848 | |
Generation Kill / int_9ac6b0c1 | type |
Sociopathic Hero | |
Generation Kill / int_9ac6b0c1 | comment |
Sociopathic Hero: Lance Corporal Harold James Trombley, who joined the Marines specifically to shoot people, showed an unnatural desire to see the results of his kills even from a civilian boy he accidentally shot, and who said that combat was far less nerve-wracking to him than watching game shows at home. At the end of the series, he's the only Marine to watch the montage to its end, having no reaction to the various scenes of horror interspersed with the joshing around. In the new afterward for the novel, Evan Wright specifically talked about how various media outlets leaped to conclusions and believed all the Marines featured were violent thugs, thanks to Trombley and Person's "colorful" quotes. | |
Generation Kill / int_9ac6b0c1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_9ac6b0c1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_9ac6b0c1 | |
Generation Kill / int_9c092ab0 | type |
Armed Farces | |
Generation Kill / int_9c092ab0 | comment |
Armed Farces: Incompetent officers, bizarre rants, idiosyncrasies of military culture, "new tactics" that amount to idiotic tactics and pencilpushers leading combat, and all sorts of other buffoonery are all on display, even if it wasn't meant to be satire. | |
Generation Kill / int_9c092ab0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_9c092ab0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_9c092ab0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a1b76006 | type |
Nerves of Steel | |
Generation Kill / int_a1b76006 | comment |
Nerves of Steel: Trombley in episode 4. When under fire from a self-propelled AA gun, he calmly spots the distance to the enemy vehicle for air support while bullets land inches away from him. He seems fascinated by the volume of fire that AA gun dishes out and has to be pulled away. Rather than being heroically calm, however, it's implied that Trombley is simply too stupid (or at least detached and dissociated) to feel rational fear. Brad Colbert is called "The Iceman" for a reason. When he realizes that the company is in the killzone for a prepared ambush, he calmly points out that there are men in the trees and opens fire. For the entirety of the ambush, he's singing under his breath. | |
Generation Kill / int_a1b76006 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a1b76006 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a1b76006 | |
Generation Kill / int_a1d70162 | type |
I Just Shot Marvin in the Face | |
Generation Kill / int_a1d70162 | comment |
I Just Shot Marvin in the Face: At one point, Person handed Wright his unused rifle and told him to point it out his window. While the fact that Wright was willing to go along with this earned him some respect, they never asked him to do it again because he pointed the barrel at both Person and Colbert's faces while passing it back, with the safety off. Unfortunately, while this is mentioned in the miniseries, the actual scene is omitted. In an interview, Wright confessed that he wasn't so much concerned about shooting a civilian as he was about causing all the Marines to shoot at something that wasn't a target (his potentially accidental gunshot setting off a full-fire from the rest of the platoon). Apparently he never even kept his finger near the trigger to avoid it. There's also the old man at the end of a refugee column who gets killed when a Marine fires off a 40mm smoke grenade to warn off a passing car, only for the grenade to ricochet off the pavement and into the back of his head so hard it looks worse than a gunshot wound. | |
Generation Kill / int_a1d70162 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a1d70162 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a1d70162 | |
Generation Kill / int_a30a7977 | type |
Highly-Conspicuous Uniform | |
Generation Kill / int_a30a7977 | comment |
Highly-Conspicuous Uniform: The Recon Marines are issued woodland MOPP suits, prompting disbelief and snark since they're fighting in the desert. Only Wright receives a desert MOPP suitnote Fitting to the almost comically large list of logistical fuckups however, Wright's suit is still 2 sizes too small and ends up with a large rip in the groin area. | |
Generation Kill / int_a30a7977 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a30a7977 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a30a7977 | |
Generation Kill / int_a4c37cbe | type |
Mood Whiplash | |
Generation Kill / int_a4c37cbe | comment |
Mood Whiplash: In-universe, when Colbert comes up with a new option for stopping cars at a roadblock non-lethally, Walt, exhausted beyond reason, kills the driver after the smoke grenade is seemingly ignored (it was actually fired a little behind the car, the driver couldn't have seen it). Colbert immediately flips out, and then immediately flips back. | |
Generation Kill / int_a4c37cbe | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a4c37cbe | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a4c37cbe | |
Generation Kill / int_a5e0c01 | type |
As Himself | |
Generation Kill / int_a5e0c01 | comment |
As Himself: Sergent Rudy Reyes, a.k.a. "Fruity Rudy." He was slated to be played by someone else, but the actor became ill. | |
Generation Kill / int_a5e0c01 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a5e0c01 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a5e0c01 | |
Generation Kill / int_a796d2a6 | type |
Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy | |
Generation Kill / int_a796d2a6 | comment |
Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: In contrast to the hyper-competent shooting of the Marines, the Iraqis can't seem to hit the ground with their hat. Probably explained by the fact that most of the regular army had retreated or deserted, and the fighters the Marines encountered were little more than cannon-fodder. | |
Generation Kill / int_a796d2a6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a796d2a6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a796d2a6 | |
Generation Kill / int_a7aef9ff | type |
Obfuscating Stupidity | |
Generation Kill / int_a7aef9ff | comment |
Obfuscating Stupidity: When Encino Man asks Baptista for his opinion, Baptista gets out of having to offer one by calling him incompetent in a bizarre mixture of Portuguese and heavily-accented English, mixed with dumb-looking grins to look like he's giving him compliments. It works. | |
Generation Kill / int_a7aef9ff | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a7aef9ff | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a7aef9ff | |
Generation Kill / int_a7b324e | type |
Handicapped Badass | |
Generation Kill / int_a7b324e | comment |
Handicapped Badass: Sgt. Sutherby, the sniper, is hearing impaired. | |
Generation Kill / int_a7b324e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a7b324e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a7b324e | |
Generation Kill / int_a7defafd | type |
Code Name | |
Generation Kill / int_a7defafd | comment |
Code Name: Done realistically, code names are only at the company level and numbers added on refer to specific groups. For the focal Bravo company it's Hitman, for Alpha it's Assassin, and for the rarely mentioned Charlie, it's Raptor. | |
Generation Kill / int_a7defafd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a7defafd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a7defafd | |
Generation Kill / int_a7e85535 | type |
Autobiographical Role | |
Generation Kill / int_a7e85535 | comment |
Autobiographical Role: In the miniseries, Rudy Reyes wound up playing himself after the original actor had to drop out. | |
Generation Kill / int_a7e85535 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a7e85535 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a7e85535 | |
Generation Kill / int_a861560f | type |
The Friend Nobody Likes | |
Generation Kill / int_a861560f | comment |
The Friend Nobody Likes: Delta Company (which consists of reservists) are disliked by the rest of the battalion, including Godfather, who spent most of the invasion ducking Delta on the comms and trying to avoid them. The viewers later gets to see Delta in action and understands why they are disliked. | |
Generation Kill / int_a861560f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a861560f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a861560f | |
Generation Kill / int_a863ef67 | type |
Cultured Warrior | |
Generation Kill / int_a863ef67 | comment |
Cultured Warrior: Sgt. Brad "Iceman" Colbert and Sgt. Antonio "Poke" Espera are this to some degree, but Sgt. Rudy Reyes is the unchallenged king of Bravo Company. Corporal Holsey, outwardly a Scary Black Man, is seen reading Sun Tzu and is not into "the whole racial thing". He's also seen later making an effort to learn Portuguese from Baptista. Lt. Fick also qualifies, being a Dartmouth graduate. As he states here, he even took the troops on a field trip to see the ruins of Babylon when there was a lull in their patrol schedule. | |
Generation Kill / int_a863ef67 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_a863ef67 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_a863ef67 | |
Generation Kill / int_aaece264 | type |
Rousing Speech | |
Generation Kill / int_aaece264 | comment |
Rousing Speech: In accordance with the theme, these exist but they are not as...elegant as some other examples. | |
Generation Kill / int_aaece264 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_aaece264 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_aaece264 | |
Generation Kill / int_adfd3165 | type |
For the Evulz | |
Generation Kill / int_adfd3165 | comment |
We find out it was Lt. Fick himself who authorized Casey Kasem's pointless orders to send sick Marines on patrol, apparently while in a fugue state due to over 72 hours without sleep. Fick looks horrified as he realizes he can't take punitive measures against the Gunnery Sergeant for orders he endorsed; Kasem's evil smirk clearly implies he knew Fick was completely out of it, and took advantage of it. | |
Generation Kill / int_adfd3165 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_adfd3165 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_adfd3165 | |
Generation Kill / int_ae3d6438 | type |
Deadpan Snarker | |
Generation Kill / int_ae3d6438 | comment |
Deadpan Snarker: Wright's style of writing in the book certainly suggests this. Observe: | |
Generation Kill / int_ae3d6438 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_ae3d6438 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_ae3d6438 | |
Generation Kill / int_b01abe4f | type |
Catchphrase | |
Generation Kill / int_b01abe4f | comment |
Catchphrase: "Stay Frosty" for Colbert (albeit only in the show; Evan Wright mentions that all in all, he heard the real Colbert utter this maybe twice). "Screwby" for Stafford. Fick is assured that he does not have a catchphrase. He is assured of this. And what does Godfather think? | |
Generation Kill / int_b01abe4f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_b01abe4f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_b01abe4f | |
Generation Kill / int_b3d5d61 | type |
Real-Person Cameo | |
Generation Kill / int_b3d5d61 | comment |
Real Person Cameo: According to the commentary on the DVD, in the video the Marines watch at the end, the man briefly seen goofing around with the donkey is the real Brad Colbert. | |
Generation Kill / int_b3d5d61 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_b3d5d61 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_b3d5d61 | |
Generation Kill / int_b4a6ae4c | type |
Everyone Has Standards | |
Generation Kill / int_b4a6ae4c | comment |
Everyone Has Standards: Marines frequently voice the opinion that they should be killing any "hajji" they lay eyes on yet the whole platoon is disgusted when Trombley opens fire on children. But even then, their ire lasts until Trombley's eerie sociopathy comes in handy in a pinch. Then they give him an affectionate nickname referencing his "baby killing" and accept him back into the fold. | |
Generation Kill / int_b4a6ae4c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_b4a6ae4c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_b4a6ae4c | |
Generation Kill / int_b77808f2 | type |
"Where Are They Now?" Epilogue | |
Generation Kill / int_b77808f2 | comment |
"Where Are They Now?" Epilogue: At the end of the book. Colbert eventually served as an exchange NCO with the Royal Marines. Fick and some of the other Marines (including Person and Trombley) got out, and some of those would eventually return to Iraq as Private Military Contractors. Some were killed during the Insurgency that followed. | |
Generation Kill / int_b77808f2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_b77808f2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_b77808f2 | |
Generation Kill / int_b7c53a22 | type |
Blood Knight | |
Generation Kill / int_b7c53a22 | comment |
Blood Knight: In general, the marines are eager for an opportunity to use their training in real combat. Some specific examples include: Lance Corporal Harold James Trombley only seems to be interested in killing people, even civilians. He later admits that he has an irrational desire to get shot. Cpl. Person gives this memorable rant in response to a child's letter from back home. In episode 6, Colbert talks about his disappointed he is to not have been on a single recon mission, stating that he is a "hunter" by nature. When Godfather assures him that a new mission will be forthcoming, Colbert smiles in anticipation. | |
Generation Kill / int_b7c53a22 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_b7c53a22 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_b7c53a22 | |
Generation Kill / int_b89ab683 | type |
Hyper-Competent Sidekick | |
Generation Kill / int_b89ab683 | comment |
Hyper-Competent Sidekick: Kocher saves untold numbers of lives by secretly contravening most of the orders of his superior officer, Captain America. | |
Generation Kill / int_b89ab683 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_b89ab683 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_b89ab683 | |
Generation Kill / int_b8e8fa85 | type |
Military Alphabet | |
Generation Kill / int_b8e8fa85 | comment |
Military Alphabet: If you don't have a basic working understanding of this, the show will destroy your brain. The book, however, is much easier to follow for the non-military. One thing not explained in the miniseries is FPF (when Delta is shooting on a village). Final Protective Fire is only supposed to be used when a Marine position is about to be overrun, and involves setting up a solid wall of ammunition. Hence why the rest of Recon thinks it's hilariously unnecessary. | |
Generation Kill / int_b8e8fa85 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_b8e8fa85 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_b8e8fa85 | |
Generation Kill / int_bb0c0a4d | type |
Fiery Redhead | |
Generation Kill / int_bb0c0a4d | comment |
Fiery Redhead: Doc Bryan, who is described as being always angry at something in the book. Not readily apparent in the show since his head is always covered by a bandana. | |
Generation Kill / int_bb0c0a4d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_bb0c0a4d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_bb0c0a4d | |
Generation Kill / int_bc74ef27 | type |
Berserk Button | |
Generation Kill / int_bc74ef27 | comment |
Berserk Button: Has Lt. Fick mentioned that you do not fuck with his men? | |
Generation Kill / int_bc74ef27 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_bc74ef27 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_bc74ef27 | |
Generation Kill / int_bcd27e37 | type |
Improbable Aiming Skills | |
Generation Kill / int_bcd27e37 | comment |
Improbable Aiming Skills: The recon marines are occasionally shown to be almost frighteningly accurate with their fire. Everyone in the platoon feels sore at Trombley for an incident where he shot a pair of civilians who turned out to be unarmed children. At the same time, they respect Trombley's skill because he only fired a few shots but still managed to hit both of his targets multiple times center mass at over 200 meters from a moving vehicle. In the book, Wright relates his mixed feeling about the shooting; he's dismayed by the child's injury, but admits that when Trombley was on the gun, he couldn't help feeling a little safer. When a marine fires a short burst at a car approaching a roadblock, he manages to strike the driver right through the eye. Colbert is dismayed by his action and a little creeped out by his accuracy. | |
Generation Kill / int_bcd27e37 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_bcd27e37 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_bcd27e37 | |
Generation Kill / int_bddb820f | type |
Must Have Caffeine | |
Generation Kill / int_bddb820f | comment |
Must Have Caffeine: Cpl. Person, whose bizarre behavior is caused solely by a legal stimulant addiction. Careful with that Ripped Fuel, man. | |
Generation Kill / int_bddb820f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_bddb820f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_bddb820f | |
Generation Kill / int_be991863 | type |
The Neidermeyer | |
Generation Kill / int_be991863 | comment |
The Neidermeyer: First Recon ends up with a few. According to Fick's book, it was because they were never expected to command in the field, but Recon was being used for something completely different than their original purpose. "Captain America", whose activities include hoarding Iraqi fallen goods (particularly carrying a stolen AK with him into combat, which he gets chewed out for at one point), spazzing out on comms about being attacked by every little thing, abusing prisoners, demanding the Marines shoot something or someone at random, shooting at random people when in the convoy, ordering his soldiers to mark a minefield at night, and freaking out at the slightest problem. "Encino Man", whose claim to fame includes attempting to order an artillery fire mission in which his men were right in the way (but failing to do so because he didn't have the right protocols or coordinates), and generally being distressed whenever anyone questions his orders (he actually tries to court-martial a few subordinates after they demanded that he not call in this artillery strike). The book doesn't specifically mention what happened as a result, but Encino Man was eventually removed from duty for another unrelated incident. Lieutenant Fick made Captain at some point between OIF-1 and leaving the Corps, so it's likely that no one took Encino Man or Casey Kasem very seriously in the long run. "Casey Kasem," who as a logistics and appropriations NCO failed to secure enough batteries to run Night-Vision or Heat Sensors or LSA lubricant for heavy machine guns, and seemed to act like a sycophantic suckup to Encino Man. However, "Casey Kasem" later turned his reputation around after the events of the book, when his company commander Captain Brent Morel was injured; he took command of the remaining troops of his platoon and is generally credited for saving their lives. | |
Generation Kill / int_be991863 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_be991863 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_be991863 | |
Generation Kill / int_c313d43a | type |
True Companions | |
Generation Kill / int_c313d43a | comment |
True Companions: The men of First Recon seem to be this, even accepting the reporter as part of their team. This type of character is usually the Butt-Monkey to the far more badass troops he's around. This is how it starts, but it quickly switches around when he mentions having written for Hustler, and his status in the close-knit group is further cemented when he stays after his first time being shot at instead of leaving immediately thereafter. In the book, Wright notes that he thought everyone hated him as early as Camp Matilda when Marines would start ambushing him around corners and poking him in the side with their knives; when he saw them doing it to each other as a way of passing the time, he realized it meant they were actually starting to like him. | |
Generation Kill / int_c313d43a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_c313d43a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_c313d43a | |
Generation Kill / int_c4942576 | type |
Cunning Linguist | |
Generation Kill / int_c4942576 | comment |
Cunning Linguist: Meesh is an overweight, nineteen-year old Kuwaiti who wears a Grateful Dead shirt underneath his chemical-and-biological-weapons protection, is a serious dope smoker (even lamenting that he had to leave his weed supply behind before setting off), and happens to be the entire Battalion's translator. | |
Generation Kill / int_c4942576 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_c4942576 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_c4942576 | |
Generation Kill / int_c59cfa2e | type |
Felony Misdemeanor | |
Generation Kill / int_c59cfa2e | comment |
Felony Misdemeanor: Do not bring Charms candy into any Marine vehicle, or even eat it. It's bad luck. The book mentions an incident when Trombley quickly and surreptitiously eats a bag of Charms candy, telling the reporter not to tell anyone. Nothing bad happens. | |
Generation Kill / int_c59cfa2e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_c59cfa2e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_c59cfa2e | |
Generation Kill / int_c75df49a | type |
Shout-Out | |
Generation Kill / int_c75df49a | comment |
Shout-Out: In-universe. Brad Colbert shares his Iceman nickname with the equally cool-headed, blond and sarcastic pilot Tom Kazansky from Top Gun. For bonus points, the real Colbert admitted in an interview that he joined the Marines because he dreamed of being a pilot, and has a lifelong passion for flying. | |
Generation Kill / int_c75df49a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_c75df49a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_c75df49a | |
Generation Kill / int_ca85e684 | type |
Power Trio | |
Generation Kill / int_ca85e684 | comment |
Power Trio: First Recon's command staff, consisting of Lt. Col. Ferrando, Sgt. Maj. Sixta, and Maj. Todd Eckloff. | |
Generation Kill / int_ca85e684 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_ca85e684 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_ca85e684 | |
Generation Kill / int_ca895242 | type |
Officer and a Gentleman | |
Generation Kill / int_ca895242 | comment |
Officer and a Gentleman: Lt. Nathaniel Fick is easily the most put-together officer in First Recon. Captain Bryan Patterson might also qualify. | |
Generation Kill / int_ca895242 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_ca895242 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_ca895242 | |
Generation Kill / int_caf8c66c | type |
The Chains of Commanding | |
Generation Kill / int_caf8c66c | comment |
The Chains of Commanding: Discussed in the final episode as one of the reasons that Captain America wasn't removed from command even after everything that he did. The chains weren't on him, in case you were wondering. | |
Generation Kill / int_caf8c66c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_caf8c66c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_caf8c66c | |
Generation Kill / int_cd809603 | type |
Tank Goodness | |
Generation Kill / int_cd809603 | comment |
Tank Goodness: They rarely show in the book, and only 3 times in the series-one destroyed one in a city, one brief shot of one firing after the night ambush and once when Person is telling Wright how to 'enjoy' a passing tank. | |
Generation Kill / int_cd809603 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_cd809603 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_cd809603 | |
Generation Kill / int_ce6555f0 | type |
Lighter and Softer | |
Generation Kill / int_ce6555f0 | comment |
Lighter and Softer: The book and series are supposed to be deconstructing the idea of noble soldiers through real life accounts. At the same time the events and the irreverence of a lot of the characters make it seem a lot lighter than your typical War Is Hell piece. | |
Generation Kill / int_ce6555f0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_ce6555f0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_ce6555f0 | |
Generation Kill / int_ce70175b | type |
Sociopathic Soldier | |
Generation Kill / int_ce70175b | comment |
Sociopathic Soldier: Trombley is frequently called a psychopath even by his fellow hard-charging marines. While his fellow marines are disgusted by him shooting children during an assault, they are also impressed by the accuracy it required and eventually jokingly nickname him Whopper Jr. | |
Generation Kill / int_ce70175b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_ce70175b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_ce70175b | |
Generation Kill / int_d080f396 | type |
The Napoleon | |
Generation Kill / int_d080f396 | comment |
The Napoleon: The Delta unit of reservists is said to be commanded by a tiny corporal who tied bull horns to the front of his humvee. When we see the man, he's parading arrogantly past the company in his decorated vehicle. Bonus points for the real Napoleon's nickname being "the little corporal." | |
Generation Kill / int_d080f396 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_d080f396 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_d080f396 | |
Generation Kill / int_d29e7760 | type |
Southern-Fried Private | |
Generation Kill / int_d29e7760 | comment |
Southern-Fried Private: Played straight with Lance Cpl. Harold James Trombley and subverted in Cpl. Josh Ray Person; he seems this way at first due to a big mouth and a Missouri accent, but he only fires his weapon once on-screen and not at anything specific, even going so far as to hand his weapon to the reporter. Somewhat justified in that he's 2-1's driver and thus has his hands literally full most of the time, but is still unarmed when he otherwise should be. He's also the most talented radio technician in all of Bravo Company; see Obfuscating Stupidity above. | |
Generation Kill / int_d29e7760 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
Generation Kill / int_d29e7760 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_d29e7760 | |
Generation Kill / int_d41832cc | type |
Written by the Winners | |
Generation Kill / int_d41832cc | comment |
Written by the Winners: A cynical allusion. | |
Generation Kill / int_d41832cc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_d41832cc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_d41832cc | |
Generation Kill / int_d54b9eb3 | type |
Inter-Service Rivalry | |
Generation Kill / int_d54b9eb3 | comment |
Interservice Rivalry: Or, rather, intraservice rivalry between the frontline combat personnel and the rear echelon personnel (POGs, or "Person Other than a Grunt"). Subverted in the case of Cpl. Carasalez, who while being a rear-echelon mechanic, is well liked by the men in Bravo Company, not the least because he is willing to stick his neck out for his friend Sgt. Kocher—so much so that he volunteered to drive his team's Humvee after the previous driver, Cpl. Darnold, was wounded and had to be casevac-ed out. The Marines often make fun of the Army, saying how they have it easy due to being more well-equipped and well-funded. In one instance, a Marine mistakes an incoming Marine convoy for an army one and remarks that said convoy is returning to the AAFES to get more tampons. In another scene, the Marines are looking to rest in a building after arriving in Baghdad. One Marine from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (1/4) tells the Recon Marines that they have occupied the building first and tells them to leave. The Recon Marines, not wanting to admit defeat, break in through the roof instead, and spot a Navy SEAL sniper team on the roof picking off enemies as they do. | |
Generation Kill / int_d54b9eb3 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
Generation Kill / int_d54b9eb3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_d54b9eb3 | |
Generation Kill / int_d5c7b415 | type |
Elites Are More Glamorous | |
Generation Kill / int_d5c7b415 | comment |
Elites Are More Glamorous: Subverted. First Recon is one of the elite units for the Marine Corps, but the missions they were performing here by tooling around Iraq in Humvees were basic. In the book, it's explained that this was a decision by higher-ups to "confuse" the enemy. The Marines complain about this constantly. Near the end of the series you see what Recon Marines are actually capable of, when they raid an Iraqi office under protection of other Marines and slip unnoticed past a sniper team implied to be part of the spec ops that play this trope straight, all for shits and giggles. | |
Generation Kill / int_d5c7b415 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
Generation Kill / int_d5c7b415 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_d5c7b415 | |
Generation Kill / int_d6b5f05f | type |
Friendship Moment | |
Generation Kill / int_d6b5f05f | comment |
Friendship Moment: Many small ones throughout the series to go along with the abundant examples of Vitriolic Best Buds and Headbutting Heroes in the show. In the first episode, Espera chews out Trombley for wearing the wrong hat (everyone else is wearing knit stocking caps, and he is wearing a brimmed boonie cap). After Trombley is left looking like his puppy just got kicked, Espera pulls a spare out of his pocket and hands it to Trombley to show he's looking out for him. Later on, Person is driving Colbert up the wall with his endless Ripped Fuel-induced conspiracy rants, but in between unhesitatingly hands Colbert a spare can of chewing tobacco when he sees Colbert is out. | |
Generation Kill / int_d6b5f05f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_d6b5f05f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_d6b5f05f | |
Generation Kill / int_d7472e4f | type |
Kicked Upstairs | |
Generation Kill / int_d7472e4f | comment |
Kicked Upstairs: Sort of happens to Encino Man and Captain America, the resident Neidermeyers, though in a roundabout sort of way. They were originally intelligence officers assigned to combat leadership positions; they eventually get removed from frontline duty and placed back into desk jobs so that the Marines can get competent officers who are actually good at commanding troops in battle. Inverted with Casey Kasem, who, after the events of the book and the series, was promoted into a leadership position, where he not only excelled, but earned the respect of the men who had once had nothing but disdain for him. | |
Generation Kill / int_d7472e4f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_d7472e4f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_d7472e4f | |
Generation Kill / int_d7b34c31 | type |
Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep" | |
Generation Kill / int_d7b34c31 | comment |
Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": In the series adaptation, Evan Wright is only referred to by nicknames related to his assignment, eg: "Rolling Stone", "Writer", and "Scribe". | |
Generation Kill / int_d7b34c31 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_d7b34c31 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_d7b34c31 | |
Generation Kill / int_db39ccfd | type |
Battle Couple | |
Generation Kill / int_db39ccfd | comment |
Battle Couple: Subverted; Lilley gets a letter from his wife telling him she's already signed her enlistment papers by the time he's reading it so she can be closer to him. Given the slant towards realism, her letter telling him that is all we see of her, and the other Marines comment that she's more likely to end up being sexually harassed working in a motor pool than by his side in combat. | |
Generation Kill / int_db39ccfd | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
Generation Kill / int_db39ccfd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_db39ccfd | |
Generation Kill / int_db911ee | type |
Field Promotion | |
Generation Kill / int_db911ee | comment |
Field Promotion: Colbert eventually receives a combat meritorious promotion (to Staff Sergeant), something that is rarely handed out nowadays, as did one of the Marines in Fick's Humvee (Christeson, from PFC to Lance Corporal). | |
Generation Kill / int_db911ee | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_db911ee | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_db911ee | |
Generation Kill / int_dca70c44 | type |
Reasonable Authority Figure | |
Generation Kill / int_dca70c44 | comment |
Reasonable Authority Figure: Fick must walk a fine line between pushing back on the idiocy of the brass and falling in line with the chain of command. Godfather actually has a rare moment when a group of his men appeal to him to provide medical support for a civilian wounded by Americans. Seeing that he has a serious moral issue brewing, he calmly explains that his refusal of aid was not motivated by callousness but by a range of practical concerns and limitations that the men do not fully appreciate. He then acquiesces to provide the medical support. | |
Generation Kill / int_dca70c44 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_dca70c44 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_dca70c44 | |
Generation Kill / int_e061d153 | type |
Sergeant Rock | |
Generation Kill / int_e061d153 | comment |
Sergeant Rock: Too many to count. Obvious choices are Sgt. Brad "Iceman" Colbert, Sgt. Eric Kocher and Sgt. Antonio "Poke" Espera. In the book, Casey Kasem turns out to be a capable leader who "knew his shit", instead of the kiss-ass he was in the initial operations. | |
Generation Kill / int_e061d153 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_e061d153 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_e061d153 | |
Generation Kill / int_e3d06d0c | type |
Bash Brothers | |
Generation Kill / int_e3d06d0c | comment |
Bash Brothers: Most of the Marines have an official or unofficial "battle buddy," whether it's the other half of their sniper team or just their best friend in the platoon. | |
Generation Kill / int_e3d06d0c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_e3d06d0c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_e3d06d0c | |
Generation Kill / int_e83f211c | type |
O.O.C. Is Serious Business | |
Generation Kill / int_e83f211c | comment |
O.O.C. Is Serious Business: The mild-mannered Fick angrily intimidates and threatens Casey Kasem after realizing that the men has given orders to his men. | |
Generation Kill / int_e83f211c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_e83f211c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_e83f211c | |
Generation Kill / int_e8cae797 | type |
Freudian Trio | |
Generation Kill / int_e8cae797 | comment |
Freudian Trio: Iceman's team is a variant of this. Trombley is the Id, mainly concerned with getting a chance to kill someone (the death instinct) and is starting a family when he gets back home (the life instinct). Colbert is the Ego: As the team leader, everyone goes off of his cues, and he works to keep them focused on the ever-changing and sometimes poorly-defined mission. Person is the Superego, and this is where it gets weird: Instead of being concerned with acting according to social norms and expectations, he makes it a point to highlight where failing to properly develop and apply these norms and expectations has lead to all of the problems they are dealing with on a personal or national level. | |
Generation Kill / int_e8cae797 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_e8cae797 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_e8cae797 | |
Generation Kill / int_ea6fdefb | type |
Casual Danger Dialog | |
Generation Kill / int_ea6fdefb | comment |
Casual Danger Dialog: Played absolutely straight and taken directly from the actual accounts of the Marines under fire. At one point, Person climbs out of his Humvee, calmly walks into enemy fire, and yells for the rest of the convoy to please back the fuck up while bullets whiz over his head. Fick does this soon after when he dives out of his Humvee to run between them all and personally give them directions on how to fix the traffic jam, once it becomes apparent that radio communication is just causing confusion. Listen closely and you'll even hear Gunny Wynn express surprise. Defied on the way to Bagdad, when Person tries to strike up more casual dialogue only to be shushed by Colbert and told to focus. | |
Generation Kill / int_ea6fdefb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_ea6fdefb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_ea6fdefb | |
Generation Kill / int_ea7e3be8 | type |
Dramatic Gun Cock | |
Generation Kill / int_ea7e3be8 | comment |
Dramatic Gun Cock: "Gentlemen, from now on we're gonna have to earn our stories." | |
Generation Kill / int_ea7e3be8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_ea7e3be8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_ea7e3be8 | |
Generation Kill / int_eaf5a1ac | type |
Groin Attack | |
Generation Kill / int_eaf5a1ac | comment |
Groin Attack: Rolling Stone suffers a self-inflicted one when he attempts to donn his too-small chem gear, the elastic crotch strap crushing his nuts badly enough that he can hardly walk, let alone run to cover with the Marines. | |
Generation Kill / int_eaf5a1ac | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_eaf5a1ac | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_eaf5a1ac | |
Generation Kill / int_eb6912 | type |
Pretty Fly for a White Guy | |
Generation Kill / int_eb6912 | comment |
Pretty Fly for a White Guy: Stafford. | |
Generation Kill / int_eb6912 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_eb6912 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_eb6912 | |
Generation Kill / int_eb8f64a6 | type |
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished | |
Generation Kill / int_eb8f64a6 | comment |
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Every time the more reasonable marines try to deal with The Neidermeyers. | |
Generation Kill / int_eb8f64a6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_eb8f64a6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_eb8f64a6 | |
Generation Kill / int_f1d6144a | type |
War Is Hell | |
Generation Kill / int_f1d6144a | comment |
War Is Hell: An ongoing theme, and only made worse by many of the Marines being unable to see any clear method or goal to their actions. | |
Generation Kill / int_f1d6144a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_f1d6144a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_f1d6144a | |
Generation Kill / int_f237981e | type |
The Alleged Car | |
Generation Kill / int_f237981e | comment |
The Alleged Car: Bravo 2-1's Humvee, which was missing several key parts like doors and armor. Colbert and Person had to restore it at their own expense. Rudy and Pappy also had to make repairs to Manimal's turret, which could not turn all the way around. According to the book, the issue with missing vehicle components was a somewhat widespread problem in the build-up to the invasion, made worse by the fact that the unit wasn't originally intended to be mechanized at all, and so vehicles had to be scrounged up at the last minute. At one point Godfather jokingly informs his officers that some of them are riding in the same humvees used by the Marines during their march on Tripoli. | |
Generation Kill / int_f237981e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_f237981e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_f237981e | |
Generation Kill / int_f360fc33 | type |
Dumbass Has a Point | |
Generation Kill / int_f360fc33 | comment |
Dumbass Has a Point: Character Filibuster Ray exasperates Iceman Colbert with his drug induced rants and theories about the war, but Wright gives him credit. | |
Generation Kill / int_f360fc33 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_f360fc33 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_f360fc33 | |
Generation Kill / int_f9f2c33 | type |
Running Gag | |
Generation Kill / int_f9f2c33 | comment |
Running Gag: The fate of Evan Wright's girl-back-home picture, passed around between the lonely Marines for the whole series. Lt. Fick being 'assured' that something will happen by his superiors, followed by the exact opposite happening. Anytime the Marines are performing actual recon, it's shortly ended by the US military blowing it up for one reason or another with the series' largest explosions. Various characters tics, such as Captain America freaking out whenever they're under the slightest bit of danger, Baptista speaking Portuguese into the comms, and Encino Man's incessant football metaphors. | |
Generation Kill / int_f9f2c33 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_f9f2c33 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_f9f2c33 | |
Generation Kill / int_fbc1a68d | type |
Low Clearance | |
Generation Kill / int_fbc1a68d | comment |
Low Clearance: During the book's Action Prologue describing a vehicular assault through a hostile town, the Iraqi soldiers string cables between buildings, hoping to clothesline the roof gunners of the speeding humvees. Bravo 2-1's gunner takes a glancing blow from one of the cables, and quickly shouts to the driver that he's OK. In the series, it's a downed power line in the second episode that snagged the gunner, nearly strangling him. Person realizes just in time and reverses the Humvee enough for the marine to free himself. | |
Generation Kill / int_fbc1a68d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_fbc1a68d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_fbc1a68d | |
Generation Kill / int_fbd285b7 | type |
Comically Missing the Point | |
Generation Kill / int_fbd285b7 | comment |
Comically Missing the Point: Colbert sarcastically points out he was unfortunate enough to be adopted by an upper-middle class family with a millenarian, Talmudic, rich, cultural tradition, as opposed to Person, raised in a white trash environment and fathered by a random passing trucker. Person's retort? "At least my mom took me to NASCAR!". Furthermore, Trombley takes the father jab at face value and asks "Your dad's a truck driver?" | |
Generation Kill / int_fbd285b7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_fbd285b7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_fbd285b7 | |
Generation Kill / int_fcd9b657 | type |
Gallows Humor | |
Generation Kill / int_fcd9b657 | comment |
Gallows Humor: The Marines use morbid jokes to relieve the stress caused by dealing with death and killing on a daily basis. | |
Generation Kill / int_fcd9b657 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_fcd9b657 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_fcd9b657 | |
Generation Kill / int_ff070bbd | type |
Attack! Attack! Attack! | |
Generation Kill / int_ff070bbd | comment |
Attack! Attack! Attack!: Captain America, particularly during this portion of the attack on the airfield, which nets some choice responses considering the airfield is empty. | |
Generation Kill / int_ff070bbd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_ff070bbd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_ff070bbd | |
Generation Kill / int_name | type |
ItemName | |
Generation Kill / int_name | comment |
||
Generation Kill / int_name | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill / int_name | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
Generation Kill | hasFeature |
Generation Kill / int_name | |
Generation Kill / int_name | itemName |
Generation Kill |
The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.
Copyright of DBTropes.org wrapper 2009-2013 DFKI Knowledge Management. Imprint. - Thanks to Bakken&Baeck for hosting. Contact.
Copyright of data TVTropes.org contributors under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Copyright of data TVTropes.org contributors under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.