March 08, 2006
"The Unit"-the LMC take
Mrs. LMC persuaded me to watch last night's episode of The Unit. There is not much to recommend about the plot. A few observations:
1. This show is supposed to be about an exotic Special Forces unit. The website lists the Ranger Creed. While the Ranger Creed has a warm place in my heart, wouldn't the SF Creed be a little more on point?
2. Since this is supposed to be about an Army unit, it follows that the characters should be wearing Army uniforms when uniforms are worn at all. Last night's espisode had characters wearing the Air Force version of the woodland pattern battle dress uniform. The BDU is being replaced by the digital pattern Army Combat Uniform so why BDUs at all since this unit is supposed to have the latest and greatest stuff? The website has the characters in ACUs so why not the episodes?
3. The hijackers forced the plane to land at a podunk airport in Idaho. Why Idaho and not some place likely to provide far better media coverage like Boston, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, L.A., etc.?
4. Part of the team arrives at the podunk airport via a business jet but make a HALO insertion from 35,000 feet. How did the team members do an in-flight rig and jump in less five minutes? How was said business jet de-pressurized in less than five minutes to permit a jump at 35,000 feet--did the pilots have their own oxygen? Why was a HALO jump necessary at all?
5. Why did the moving company drone delivering the household effects of the newest team member have the unit cover name as part of the address? Why was it necessary, wouldn't a simple street address on post suffice?
6. Speaking of posts, Army installations are forts or camps. When distinguishing that which is inside the fort and that which is not, the common Army usage is to refer to "on post" or "off post". The other services use "on base" or "off-base". While I have been known to use the terms "on base" and "off base", KMR and I grew up in a Navy family. What is the excuse of members of The Unit?.
7. Generals do not walk around in the Class "A" uniform all the time, even in the National Guard.
8. There were several unexplained references to the Posse Comitatus Act. I happen to know what it is but I doubt anyone who is not a lawyer or was never in the military would know or understand its relevance to the plot. A colonel cannot "suspend" the Act whenever he feels like it. The FBI has its Hostage Rescue Team to handle drama like this domestically. Why wasn't HRT used instead of The Unit?
9. The detonator for the explosives on the aircraft was a "clacker" from a Claymore. Couldn't the bad guys come up with something more sophisticated? How did the clacker and explosives get past TSA ?
10. The senior NCO was portrayed at the end as a trigger happy lush; the commander was banging the blonde wife of one of his soldiers. How realistic is that?
11. The senior NCO was called "Top"--is he a First Sergeant?
SERIOUS HARSHING MY MELLOW YIPS from Steve-O: Geez Louise, mon, next thing you know you're going to be telling me JAG wasn't a correct portrayal of life as a Navy lawyer?
Because if you do that, I'm going to sit in the corner and cry like the girl I am.
Posted by LMC at March 8, 2006 08:05 AM | TrackBack#9 is totally believable. Uh, not that I've ever taken a detonator past the TSA. Nope, not me.
Posted by: rbj at March 8, 2006 09:03 AMWe watched it last night, too.
I believe the dude said it was going to be a HAHO drop. Both Beau and I questioned whether or not he said HAHO or HALO. Regardless, your questions are still good.
I understand they're trying to portray the conflict of family versus the Army with the obstinant wife, but the obstinant wives are rare at the level, aren't they? (So asks the Navy Brat.)
We found it enjoyable if unrealistic. But TV guys will rarely get anything military truly realistic because it's not exciting enough for them.
Posted by: jen at March 8, 2006 12:03 PM