Over There (TV series)

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Over There
Image:Over There.jpg
Genre Drama
Creator(s) Steven Bochco
Chris Gerolmo
Starring Erik Palladino
(see full cast below)
Country of origin USA
No. of episodes 13
Production
Running time approx. 44 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel FX, Sky One, History Television
Original run July 27, 2005 – October 26, 2005
Links
IMDb profile

Over There was an action / drama / war television series that aired on the FX network. It premiered in the United States on July 27, 2005 and premiered in Canada on September 6, 2005 on the History Television channel. The series was presented in 16:9 widescreen format in the U.S. and UK, and mastered in high definition.

The series followed a unit of the United States Army's Third Infantry Division on its first tour of duty in Iraq, and chronicled the War's effects on the soldiers' families in the United States. The Iraq sequences were filmed in the California desert, while the homefront scenes are shot in and around the Greater Los Angeles area.

The pilot was developed by Steven Bochco (who also created such acclaimed series as NYPD Blue, L.A. Law, and Hill Street Blues). Originally, the show was to be produced by UPN, who subsequently decided that the prospects for international sales were not good and withdrew from the project. The series is, however, (according to Reuters) seen around the world on pay cable channels in about 100 territories.

The title of the series echoes "Over There," George M. Cohan's 1917 song about U.S. soldiers serving abroad during World War I. The show (Bochco's first for basic cable) was the first scripted television series set in a current, ongoing military action involving the United States. In another unusual move, the pilot episode was released on DVD on August 2, 2005, less than a week after the show's premiere.

FX formally announced on November 1, 2005 that the show would not be returning due to declining ratings (though it can still be seen in reruns in some parts of the U.S. and Canada). The 13th and last episode of the series, "Follow the Money," first aired in the U.S. on October 26, 2005.

The complete series was released on DVD in the United States and Canada on March 21, 2006.

Contents

[edit] Praise and criticism

The show's critics complained that it "bends over backward not to express any opinion whatsoever about the conflict'" and had "no point of view other than praising the grunts in the field." And, given the show's subject matter, it is not surprising that some criticized it as one of the most graphically–violent television programs ever. Accordingly, the program was tagged with the television rating TV-MA for language and violence, and warning notices such as "VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED." FX advertised the show as being "...TV's most controversial series."

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Main cast and characters

The cast of the pilot episode to the FX television series Over There (l to r: Luke MacFarlane, Kirk Jones, Erik Palladino, Nicki Aycox, Lizette Carrión, Keith Robinson, Josh Henderson).
The cast of the pilot episode to the FX television series Over There (l to r: Luke MacFarlane, Kirk Jones, Erik Palladino, Nicki Aycox, Lizette Carrión, Keith Robinson, Josh Henderson).
  • PFC Bo "Texas" Rider (Josh Henderson) — a 20–year–old star quarterback who was awarded a partial scholarship to Texas A&M, but couldn't make up the financial shortfall and joined the Army so he could take advantage of the G.I. Bill once his enlistment is up. He is also fixated on the nicknames all of his squad mates have and the stories behind them, partly due to the lack of a nickname for himself. He has a wife and young son who he loves very much. At the end of the first episode, a truck containing Bo and PVT Dumphy drove over a landmine. Bo received terrible injuries to his leg and it was amputated shortly afterwards. He's now nothing more than determined to return to his unit to avoid his mentality of helplessness, which is not too uncommon among those who share a fate similar to his.
  • PVT Frank "Dim" Dumphy (Luke MacFarlane) — in spite of (or, more likely, in reaction against) his well-to-do upbringing and Ivy League education, this 22-year-old Cornell grad has deliberately chosen a blue-collar, lower-class lifestyle. Currently serving his first tour of duty as a grunt private in Iraq, he is tormented by intellectual conflicts over the actions he is ordered to carry out, and maddened with worry over his pregnant, alcoholic wife and emotionally disturbed 7-year-old stepson back home. He's never pursued a commission because he does not want to adopt a leadership role. His educated-class perspective serves as a contrast to emphasize his squadmates' truly underprivileged roots. He is probably the most sensitive character in the series; he is deeply disturbed when he learns that a particular insurgent sacrificed several men and even a little girl so as to attempt getting past a check point, and in blind rage almost shoots him when the insurgent says "I am your prisoner, you are bound by the Geneva Convention…" He lacks a degree of street smarts which "Smoke" possesses as he has shown on some occasions, not operating prudently under pressure. One example of this is when he removes his helmet while under fire to check it for bullet holes after it'd been shot in the series' finale episode "Follow the Money" (possibly referencing a less-fortunate scene from the film Saving Private Ryan). It is unclear as to why he is a Private when his B.S. gives him an automatic promotion to SPC. Like his squad mates, he carries an M4A1 carbine, though his is fitted with an M203 grenade launcher.
  • SSG Chris "Scream" Silas (Erik Palladino) — the battle-hardened veteran in charge of a group of "virgins" (new recruits) who has no problem speaking his mind to his superiors. He's not happy about having been handed 90 days' additional duty on the eve of returning home, but begins to like his squad more as his 90 days winds down. The episode Orphans reveals much about his nature, self-opinion, and roots. The reasoning behind his nickname, "Scream" is revealed in the pilot, stemming from the loud manner in which he gives his orders. The Sergeant mentions in one of the last episodes that he is from Long Island, New York.
  • PVT Avery "Angel" King (Keith Robinson) — a gifted singer hailing from a small town in Arkansas, enlisted in a fit of anger at not making a competitive choir, a decision the 19–year–old devoutly Christian is beginning to regret. "Angel's" exceptional marksmanship skills have made him the unit's sharpshooter, his M4 having a scope mounted atop it.
  • PVT Maurice "Smoke" Williams (Kirk "Sticky" Jones) — a native of Compton, California has been high most of his twenty years. Although he's arguably the best in his squad, due to his large amount of street smarts (as opposed to lacking the book smarts which "Dim" possesses), he has a strictly "us-or-them" attitude towards his white squad mates, but this attitude is lessened each time a white squad mate saves his life. He is irreligious, much to his contempt towards "Angel" as his mother is religious as well and shares a certain mother-son anxiety to it. He also serves as the squad's SAW gunner, carrying a compact version of the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon.
  • PFC Tariq Nassiri (Omid Abtahi) — an Arab-American from Detroit who's been assigned as Bo's replacement. His extensive knowledge of Arabic and Middle Eastern customs saves the squad multiple times. In the series, Tariq acts as a kind of cultural ambassador between the American Soldiers and the local people as the squad lives in an environment in which anyone could be an insurgent but not everybody should be engaged as such. With his translation abilities and understanding of the culture he becomes a true asset to the squad’s survival and to peaceful relations with local people. Tariq is college educated and sensitive to all involved.
  • PFC Esmeralda "Doublewide" Del Rio (Lizette Carrión) — a happily–married new mother, is also a resourceful, no-nonsense soldier. The 20–year–old displays her rich humor whenever the subject of her "ample figure" comes up. She and "Mrs. B" are part of a logistics unit that supports the squad on their missions, be it providing resupply or transport via their M939 'deuce and a half' trucks, and also carries an M16A2 rifle instead of an M4 carbine like most of her comrades.
  • PVT Brenda "Mrs. B" Mitchell (Nicki Lynn Aycox) — a "pig-headed" and obstinate 18–year– woman, who is more of a liability than an asset to the squad, and to her partner, "Doublewide." She takes great umbrage at the fact that her nickname is short for "Mrs. Bitch." As a teen, she was raped and later gave birth to an autistic child who is later put into the custody of his grandparents. While on leave in the States, she deserts and tries to get a new start on life but after being robbed and left broke and hungry and with no prospects, turns herself over to a USMC recruiter and returns to military service. Hardships in life have made her significantly more dare-devilish and more willing to risk her life under fire since she seems to see that she has nothing to lose. Despite the fact that she's been used and abused by others, she has, however, come across a certain kindness and courtesy from strangers and comrades alike. One example of this is when "Dim" notices her hardships and decides to aide her in her life struggle by giving her smuggled money. Because of her child abuse anxiety, and (forced) affair with a female prostitute, there is some speculation that she may be a homosexual especially after having her hair trimmed short much to "Dim's" surprise. She is one of the few characters to carry an M16A2 rifle instead of an M4 carbine, due to her job as part of a support unit instead of a front-line combat unit like her comrades.
  • Terry Ryder (Sprague Grayden) — Bo's wife who wants nothing more than her husband to stay home in content with her and away from the war after seeing Bo lose his leg.
  • Vanessa Dumphy (Brigid Brannagh) — Frank's wife who ends up cheating on him in the first episode. Throughout the series she has displayed more and more dysfunction for the stability of their marital status. However, in the last few episodes of the series she attempts to get the marriage back on its feet.
  • Sergio Del Rio (Lombardo Boyar) — Esmeralda's husband who throughout the series comes close to cheating on his wife who is overseas while he is also taking care of their son.
  • Eddy Dumphy (Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak) — Frank's stepson who simply tries what he can to live the days of his life with his dysfunctional family. He is also nothing more than hopeful than seeing Frank again as well as his mother to stop feuding with him.

[edit] Recurring characters

  • Lilly McDowell — Krista
  • Earl Poitier — Reggie
  • Juan Pope — LT "Mad Cow" Taylor (episodes 1–6)
  • Josh Stamberg — LT Alexander "Underpants" Hunter (episodes 7–13)
  • Adam Storke — CPT "Duke" Baron
  • David Sullivan — Dr. McGlaglen
  • Kirk B.R. Woller — Dr. Muecke
  • Rami Malek — Hassan

[edit] Other guest appearances

[edit] Main title theme

Omid Abtahi and Luke MacFarlane in a scene from Over There.
Omid Abtahi and Luke MacFarlane in a scene from Over There.

Played over the ending credits:

The day is comin',
The drums are drummin',
If you know one, say a prayer.
There's mothers cryin',
And fathers sighin', a-huh,
War is in the air.
The trains are fillin' up with boys,
Who've left behind their favorite toys,
They're goin' over there, over there,
Where someone has to die.
Over there, over there,
Where ours is not to reason why.
Over there, over there,
Where someone has to die.
written and performed by Chris Gerolmo

[edit] Episodes

Episode Title Overview Original Airdate
1
"Over There — The Battle Begins"
 A U.S. Army unit arrives in Iraq for their first tour of duty and quickly find themselves engaged in a bloody firefight. The squad emerges from the engagement essentially unscathed, though "Scream" and LT "Mad Cow" disagree over an interpretation of the squad's orders. A rash decision by Bo that jeopardized "Dim's" life gets him a serious chewing out from "Scream". When the soldiers go on a post-action "beer run," their truck contacts a buried improvised explosive device (IED) and Bo's right leg is blown off below the knee. "Dim's" wife, Vanessa, is shown to be cheating on him while he is away.
July 25, 2005
2
"Roadblock Duty"
 Bo tries to cope with his loss of a limb and a visit from his estranged, alcoholic father. After a bridge is destroyed, the unit is assigned the task of manning a military checkpoint. "Dim" clashes with "Smoke" over his racial views. During their first night on duty, the team is forced to shoot a motorist who approaches the checkpoint with lights off and ignores their orders to stop; a second car is allowed to pass. An Arab-American soldier from Detroit, named Tariq Nassiri, joins the squad. An explosive device located within the disabled vehicle is remotely detonated. On the second night a car again approaches with no lights and is fired upon; in this instance, the second vehicle to arrive is searched (after its occupants attempt to flee and are killed) and a young male insurgent is found hiding in the trunk.
August 3, 2005
3
"Prisoner"
 The squad helps guard the insurgent prisoner, who is taken to a deserted town and undergoes both physical and mental stress at the hands of an intelligence officer in order to force him to reveal the location a shipment of stolen "Stinger" missiles. While in the town, the team must repel constant attacks by insurgents. In the hospital, Bo asks to have his morphine discontinued. Eddy finds himself alone when Vanessa fails to return home after spending the evening with her lover. The Air Force bombs the farmhouse where the stolen SAM's are located, presumably killing not only the insurgents guarding their stash but the family who resides there as well.
August 10, 2005
4
"I Want My Toilets"
 "Angel's" rifle skills prove invaluable when a supply convoy must travel through a hot zone. Vanessa's emotional state worsens when she suffers a traumatic loss. Terry makes the house wheelchair accessible in anticipation of Bo's return home.
August 17, 2005
5
"Embedded"
 "Smoke" is implicated in the death of a civilian, and an embedded reporter disappears after suggesting the death was an Iraqi setup. "Doublewide" sustains an eye injury when she is struck by flying debris, and Bo receives a prosthetic leg and begins the painful process of learning how to walk again. "Smoke" gets news that his mother has suffered a serious stroke. Vanessa withholds information regarding her miscarriage from "Dim." The journalist, who has quit his post, is kidnapped by insurgents.
August 24, 2005
6
"It's Alright, Ma, I'm Only Bleeding"
 The squad races to rescue journalist John Moffet before he is executed by his abductors, and in the process learns that a bounty has been placed on "Smoke's" life. "Mad Cow" is killed by an RPG round. Bo is discharged from the hospital and returns home. Vanessa is involved in a DUI traffic accident and leaves the scene; she is later confronted by MPs at her home who inform her that Eddy has been taken into protective custody in her absence. The squad makes video telephone calls to the States, wherein "Smoke" is able to speak with his mother and Vanessa tells "Dim" about the miscarriage and accident (though she lies about the circumstances regarding both). Moffet is beheaded and his captors are killed by gunfire just as the team attempts to effect his rescue.
August 31, 2005
7
"Mission Accomplished"
 Bo takes his frustration over his physical limitations out on Terry. LT Alexander Hunter is assigned as a replacement for "Mad Cow" and informs SSG Silas that he will do whatever it takes to get "Smoke" out of his unit; he also expresses his disdain for the group's "idiotic" nicknames (he is subsequently nicknamed "Underpants" by the squad). After two close brushes with death, "Mrs. B" is granted a short leave to tend to her son, who has been diagnosed with autism; instead, she visits the boy's father in prison. After the encounter, she makes a drastic decision regarding her future in the Army by going AWOL and boarding a bus to Los Angeles. When the fire team assists Iraqi guards at a makeshift prison, the situation turns critical when a prisoner taped with explosives threatens to blow himself and everyone else at the prison up. Ignoring the pleas from his fellow prisoners, the zealot detonates his makeshift bomb.
September 7, 2005
8
"Situation Normal"
 The squad is assigned to protect American workers constructing an oil pipeline in a remote village. The contractor offers to construct a building on behalf of the town when the Imam objects to the pipeline's construction. "Mrs. B" lands in Hollywood, falls in with an unsavory group, and is robbed. She is forced to steal food when she is unable to land a job, but after an act of kindness she seeks help returning home from a Marine Corps recruiter. Eddy is suspended from school due to behavioral issues, and Vanessa finally seeks out help with her drinking problem by joining Alcoholics Anonymous. After receiving a letter from the squad, Bo exerts himself and tries to run on his prosthetic leg. The unit's continuing presence in the Iraqi village proves to be a disruptive influence. When the pipeline contractor insists that the townspeople vote democratically as to whether a mosque or a school is to be built, the Imam's wife is declared to be an infidel; the group reacts violently, and begins to stone the woman, until the squad is forced to intervene. The contractor elects to route the pipeline away from the town, and the unit receives orders to move out, leaving the shamed woman to face an almost certain death.
September 14, 2005
9
"Spoils of War"
 "Mrs. B" returns to the unit and is instructed to remain silent regarding her actions back home. Vanessa confesses to "Dim" about her affair, who naturally reacts with disgust. The squad is ordered to sweep for insurgents and takes refuge in a palatial home they unattended. They quickly find themselves under fire, and "Dim" is pinned down. "Mrs. B" drives a humvee through the wall the attackers had been using for cover, killing one of them; the other is taken prisoner. "Scream" chews "Mrs. B" out for her rash actions, then tells her he will nominate her for a Bronze Star. The captive, hoping to secure his freedom, reveals a cache of gold and American currency worth five million dollars, which he tells them is now theirs. The unit ponders what to do with the money, finally deciding to take $10,000 for "Mrs. B"'s sick child. Once the booty has been secured for transport, the Lieutenant orders the unit members searched for contraband; a Cuban cigar found in the sergeant's possession is confiscated, though none of the money is turned up. That evening, "Dim" hands "Smoke" an envelope with instructions to mail it to the States for the care of "Mrs. B"'s son. "Dim" and "Mrs. B" seek comfort in each other's arms. Bo is unhappy when he learns that he is to be medically discharged.
September 21, 2005
10
"Suicide Rain"
 Several of the squad members receive disturbing news from home. While "Angel" assists another unit in handing out food at a local village, a woman hurls an explosive device into the supply truck, killing herself and killing and wounding a number of Army personnel and civilians. LT Hunter and CPL Shaver (a burned-out medic with a death wish) clash over proper triage procedures — the LT wants Americans treated first, regardless of medical need. PVT Dane, who sustained a minor head injury in the blast, wanders off and is taken hostage by a distraught man whose son was also injured; the man threatens to kill the soldier with his own M4A1 if his son's wounds are not tended to immediately. "Angel" and the medic are sent to treat the boy, with orders to kill the man if need be to secure the release of the hostage. CPL Shaver is forced to amputate the boy's right leg due to blood poisoning, and although at first the procedure appears to be successful, the youth soon goes into convulsions and dies. When the man threatens PVT Dane, CPL Shaver asks to be the one who is shot because "I'm the one who killed your son." "Angel" attempts to wrestle the weapon away from the man just as the team bursts in, and the man is brought down in a hail of automatic gunfire. Much to everyone's shock, they realize that PVT Dane was also killed in the assault by an errant round, whereupon CPL Shaver jams the barrel of a pistol into his mouth and commits suicide. Back home, Bo struggles to adapt to his new physical condition, Sergio's relationship with another Army spouse heats up, and Vanessa tries to make amends for her drinking.
September 28, 2005
11
"Orphans"
 CPT Baron tries unsuccessfully to convince SSG Silas to re-enlist. The fire team is ordered to evict the residents of an orphanage that has been designated as being needed for "public use." Upon arriving at the site, the unit destroys a box they believe to contain a bomb, only to find out that it actually housed a young boy's chess set. The incident angers a young French woman who runs the orphanage. "Scream" gives the boy his own chess set as a replacement, and "Dim" accepts the boy's challenge to a game. Stateside, Terry discovers that Bo's father has been cashing his military paychecks. A suicide car bomb damages the orphanage building and kills the young chess player. "Scream" and the orphanage director begin to develop feelings for one another, and spend the night together. "Smoke" offers to play "Dim" in a game of chess, and (much to "Dim's" surprise) wins. "Scream" agrees to renew his enlistment under the condition that the Army makes proper provisions for the orphans. He informs his paramour of the arrangement, and tells her that it would be better for her, and the orphans, if the Army weren't around for awhile (himself included). Sergio feels increasingly conflicted over his attraction to Anna. Bo drives to Abilene, over Terry's objections, to confront his father.
October 5, 2005
12
"Weapons of Mass Destruction"
 The fire team is burdened with the task of training a group of inexperienced Iraqi soldiers, then must put their lives in the men's hands as they search for an elusive, well-financed bomber. Bo confronts his father over the theft of his paychecks and ends up beating him into unconsciousness when the man attacks him. Vanessa experiences increasing difficulty staying "on the wagon." When "Doublewide" calls home to Sergio, she senses that something is wrong in his demeanor. LT Hunter arrives, seemingly on a mission to make things more difficult for the squad. After commandeering the Sergeant's tent, he makes it known that he wants to be intimately involved with all aspects of the search, the underlying message being that he wants the credit should the bomber be apprehended. He and "Scream" clash when the LT fires into the darkness after seeing "someone running" (not taking into consideration that there are U.S. soldiers on sentry duty standing watch just outside the camp), and again over that best tact to take while questioning a detainee. One of the sharper Iraqi trainees makes an astute observation during the house-to-house search and convinces the team to return to the residence after nightfall. The LT storms angrily onto the scene just as "Scream" gives the order to advance, and the bomber pops out of his hiding place and hurls a hand grenade at the group. Though no one is injured, the explosion gives the bomber a chance to flee; as "Angel," Tariq, the Lieutenant, and "Scream" pursue the suspect, "Scream" deliberately interferes with "Underpants" aim, allowing "Angel" and "Tariq" to take down the insurgent, after which "Scream" sarcastically congratulates the LT for the kill. Sergio and Anna's plans to consummate their relationship are interrupted when Army messengers arrive with the news that Anna's husband, Enrique, has been killed in action.
October 19, 2005
13
"Follow the Money"
 Bo returns from Abilene and questions his ability to be a proper father, though Terry reassures him he is. "Dim" receives a video email from Vanessa apologizing for all of her past transgressions. After LT "Underpants" leads the fire team into an ambush, "Scream" asks Captain Baron (whose nickname, we find out, is "The Duke") to reassign the LT. It is also revealed that the nickname "Underpants" comes from the Lieutenant's apparent predilection for wearing red Calvin Klein briefs. "Angel" turns 21. Anna informs Sergio that she is moving back home with her mother, after which he leaves "Doublewide" a tear-filled voice mail message. Later, while leading a convoy of civilian vehicles, "Doublewide" is ordered to run down a young boy who is signaling the column to stop; when she steadfastly refuses, the LT machine-guns the child out of fear of being ambushed. At the local track, Bo encounters another amputee who has overcome his disability and offers to help Bo stay in the Army. When Bo officially receives his Purple Heart, he is surprised to learn that he has also been awarded the Bronze Star (along with the "V" device) in recognition of his courageous actions. Back on the War front, when several convoy vehicles are hit by RPG fire, the LT orders the squad to stop and fight off the insurgent attack. "Smoke" saves "Dim's" life after he was forced to engage one of the attackers in hand-to-hand combat, and Tariq is struck by an insurgent bullet from a Lee-Enfield but is saved from injury by his body armor. "Underpants'" reckless actions in trying to "take back" a panel truck results in the death of four soldiers. When "Dim" realizes that the Lieutenant's goal was to protect the "money truck" (containing 340 million Iraqi dinars), he berates the LT for his callous attitude. Just as the LT orders "Scream" to arrest "Dim" for insubordination, the truck is struck by another RPG round and explodes. When the smoke and dust clears, the LT is lying face down in a pool of blood, shot through the back by "friendly fire." Afterward, as the squad members enjoy a beer around a camp fire and try to make sense of the day's events, "Scream" tells them to "...Tell it to your shrink in a couple years. The lucky ones live to feel guilty."
October 26, 2005

[edit] Quotations

  • SSG "Scream" (when asked by his Company Commander why he moved his unit to an unfavorable position): "...this being the goddamn Army, I followed my goddamn orders! Sir— from "Over There — The Battle Begins."
  • "Dim": "The tragedy here is, we're savages. We're thrilled to kill each other. We're monsters and war is what unmasks us. But there's kind of honor in it, too. A kind of grace. I guess if I'm a monster, it's my privilege to be one." — from "Over There — The Battle Begins."
  • "Dim" (while being interviewed by an embedded reporter): "The Middle East is more like Chicago in the nineteen thirties than it's anywhere else." — from "Embedded."
  • "Dim": "I've never wanted to be a leader." — Tariq: "Why not?" — "Dim": "Someone may follow me ..." — from "Follow the Money."
  • LT "Underpants" (upon learning that one of his injured men has wandered away from the unit after a suicide bombing): "...I'm not going to lose a man by actually losing a man!" — from "Suicide Rain."
  • "Smoke" (to SSG "Scream," who has spent the night with a French woman who runs an orphanage): "You want breakfast Sarge? Or are you already filled up on a croissant?" — from "Orphans."
  • Tariq (explaining to "Dim" why his parents moved from Iraq to the States thirty years prior): "...you know how stupid and violent you have to be to make Detroit look like a step in the right direction?" — from "Weapons of Mass Destruction."
  • LT "Underpants" (interrogating the squad): "Which one of you is spreading rumors about me and hinting that I be reassigned?"
    • SSG "Scream" (appearing from behind the Lieutenant, in response): "I am, sir. So if you want to scream at anyone, you yell at me. But I scream back, sir." — from "Follow the Money."
  • Tariq: "Only the chosen go to Heaven, Smoke. The rest of us go back to Detroit." — from "Mission Accomplished."
Spoilers end here.

[edit] External links

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