Rosie in episode 7 is so special to me, because when you re-watch it, you can just see why he’s going to ultimately choose to re-up. You can see it from the first scene he’s in. It’s this guilt of responsibility that will not budge from his shoulders. It’s all these things that keep happening around him and Nate Mann just rocks this role SO well because Rosie has such little dialogue in this whole episode but it doesn’t matter, because you can feel this burning guilt and responsibility building and building in each scene.
It starts with the conversation with Crosby about going to Texas or Florida and his heart clearly not being in it, but listening to Croz’s desperation to get out resonating with him.
It’s Black Monday - the mission that Rosie’s crew was grounded for that cost 150 of the 100th’s men. When the boys tell Rosie what they saw; that the boys that were on their 25th crashed and those that parachuted out of their planes were killed by the Germans anyway. It’s Rosie listening so intently, drinking in their stories despite the horror. He doesn’t try to placate their anger or their sadness, he just acknowledges it for what it is. It’s like you can visibly see Rosie taking and holding on to their words
It’s Rosie surviving 25 and the 100th throwing a party for him and his boys. And in such Rosie fashion, he seeks out Jack when he realises something is wrong, only for Jack to break the news: the tour requirements are changing. It’s 30 missions now.
It’s Shoens looking him dead in the eye saying congratulations Rosie. At least you’ll make it out of this fucking war alive.
And then it’s Rosie watching the parade of vans carrying bodies out of Thorpe Abbotts, unable to tear his gaze despite it all.
It’s all these - sometimes little, sometimes big - instances that build up make Rosie’s decision seem to just make perfect sense to the story, without it seeming overbearing or over the top. It’s understated, yet powerful (much like Rosie himself!).
He barely says anything throughout the whole episode, but I think that’s what makes it a perfect Rosie episode. Throughout the whole series, Rosie is usually the one listening, rather than the one telling a story - but his presence is still so big despite of it. Rosie doesn’t need to talk for the audience to listen.
And I think that’s reflected both in Rosie’s decision and the way Lt Col Bennett reacts to Rosie’s request. Despite barely knowing Rosie, he seems to understand the weight of Rosie’s presence at the base, and the weight of Rosie’s words. And I loved that Bennett decided not to blindside him with the new strategy, but instead allowed Rosie to make an informed decision. And Rosie’s reaction - unflinchingly meeting Bennett’s gaze and accepting his answer is the icing on the cake.
Rosie is outrageously humble! But understands how others see him and he is ready to take on the weight of that love, pressure and sheer resolve all over again.
