The Last Ship: The Complete Fifth Season (DVD)

Over the past five years I have come to know and love "The Last Ship" and, like many fans, I am sorry to see it end.However, I can't think of a better way for this landmark series to bid farewell to its millions of fans than Season 5.Why?Simply because the fictional crew of the USS Nathan James continued to carry out its mission right to the last minute of the last episode. The message that this last season sent was important, especially in this time when we have devolved into a tribal political culture marked with dissension. That message: Men and women of diverse backgrounds can, and do, work together for the common good. It's true aboard the fictional Nathan James, in actual U.S. military units throughout the world, and in communities across the country. The loud, blustery, sign-carrying mobs on all sides of the political spectrum get the headlines but their over-loud voices often obscure the fact that all across the United States there are people of goodwill working hard every day to make the United States a better place. In essence, like the crew of the Nathan James, they stay on mission regardless of what's going on around them.In that respect, "The Last Ship" has always been an American allegory: A story that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of life in the United States as seen through the eyes of men and women dedicated to a cause that is larger than themselves.Throughout the series some of my favorite characters died and that narrative phenomenon continues in this final season. That's sad but also realistic, something I can attest to as a former infantry sergeant who spent two tours in Vietnam. In war, people die - even people you have grown to like, even love. The fact the writers of this excellent series did not shy away from that fact is to their credit.As always, the writing was excellent and the cinematography was extremely well done. Throughout the series viewers have been given a real sense of what it's like to live and work aboard a Naval warship. That has contributed to the show's success because it essentially made the Nathan James a character, not just a setting like - for example - a precinct station in a cop drama. When the ship was damaged it seemed as though one of the humans serving aboard her was wounded.This series was remarkable for many things, not the least of which is the fact that it had several strong female characters who were given the opportunity to lead. That's not something that's true in corporate America, but it is something that's true in military units around the world and I, for one, was glad to see the writers acknowledge that fact.I could go on but I won't because, in the end, it boils down to this: This is one hell of a great season for one hell of a great show.

This is a great show. Extremely well written. It focuses on the crew of a ship, people who are facing impossible situations, and always do the right, honorable thing no matter how dishonorable their opponents are.... An amazing set of characters who would kill and die for their country and each other....and in the last season, they very poignantly reveal the private torture these warriors are suffering after so many years of fighting the impossible fight.Yes, its about war, but it is not overly gory. But it is also honest and good people die. I strongly recommend this series for people who love good drama, good character development, and a show that focuses on HOPE.

“Viva TAVO” “Viva Gran Columbia” Lots of action as the Navy and Marines, Bless our troops, go head to head with a South American faction. Everything else is normal and very good like the previous 4 seasons except…about 20% of the audio dialogue spoken is in Spanish.Que no puedo comprender.Since we at our house can’t speak Spanish either, we were reliant on the small yellow English translation, sometimes camouflaged in the video scene taking place. Actors spoke fast, and the text translation frequently zipped by faster than we found readable. Thus we paused, restarted, paused, restart, pause, restart, well, that really breaks up the continuity of the plot and story line. Fortunately the rest of the series was good enough to at least keep the overall value of The Last Ship Fifth Season at four stars.SDH SUBTITLES (English and French) NO SUBTITLES for bonus, but at least all speak English.1=Casus Belli –The last naval ship, Nathan James, returns as hero & legend for peacetime; but wait, cyber & air attack mars the celebration.2=Fog of War –Nathan James returns to being the US’s last ship chance to survive. “One ship can do it. This ship can do it.”3=El Puente -Chandler tries talking. Slattery is “fit for a fight.” A jungle mission climax.4=Tropic of Cancer –A fight on the water against odds. Cuba makes a choice. ID security breach.5=Warriors –Boots on ground move to Jamaica. Chandler has home issues.6=Air Drop –The last ship must find assistants. A human night-drop in Cuba.7=Somos la Sangre –Progress at a stop but Camp X a high priority.8=Honor –HQ attack and hostages taken. Hostages being shot.9=Courage –A coup. A hero takes a final bow as Navy/Marines shoulder-up to invade. Expect causalities.10=Commitment –With no episode to follow—who will survive Red Beach? Nathan James?“War is a beast.” –Nathan James

The premise is a bit forced but the entertainment value is still there. It feels like the "same sex" relationship was added just to check off a box not enhance the story.Seems like an OK finish to a good series.

I finished watching the last 4 episodes last night!. Stayed up way too late so I could finish the series. There was no way I could have slept trying to figure out the outcome.The staging of the battle scenes was excellent as far as I could discern- not having ant military experience of my own. I have been amazed at the logistical knowledge required for these jobs.thanks for 5 great seasons.

This review is to warn you before you buy that this is a German Speaking BluRay. Although you can change it to English speaking the subtitles when the Mexicans are speaking are in German. I have watched the first three episodes and 50% is spoken in Mexican with German subtitles meaning that I haven't been able to follow what's happening properly which is hugely disappointing having waited 6 months for this to come out onto BluRay!From the little I have seen it looks like another good season on board the Nathan James but my long anticipated wait for release onto BluRay is ruined by not speaking German!!Season 4 was ruined by the disc never turning up so I had to buy DVD to watch it instead (different seller) and then replace later with BluRay, so this is like a kick in the teeth!!Sellers should have to flag up clearly when this is the case as now that I've opened the disc I can't send it back! I suppose I will have to waste another £20+ buying another 'English' copy!!!

DONT BUY THIS BLU RAY This review is to warn you before you buy that this is a German Speaking BluRay. Although you can change it to English speaking the subtitles when the Mexicans are speaking are in German. I have watched the first three episodes and 50% is spoken in Mexican with German subtitles meaning that I haven't been able to follow what's happening properly which is hugely disappointing having waited 6 months for this to come out onto BluRay!From the little I have seen it looks like another good season on board the Nathan James but my long anticipated wait for release onto BluRay is ruined by not speaking German!!Season 4 was ruined by the disc never turning up so I had to buy DVD to watch it instead (different seller) and then replace later with BluRay, so this is like a kick in the teeth!!Sellers should have to flag up clearly when this is the case as now that I've opened the disc I can't send it back! I suppose I will have to waste another £20+ buying another 'English' copy!!!

Hatte mich sehr gefreut Adam Baldwin und Eric Dane noch einmal in dieser Serie in Aktion zu erleben. Action gab es dann auch reichlich, allerdings ohne Dramaturgie. Die Story ist grundsätzlich nicht schlecht und hätte bestimmt das Potential gehabt in mehreren Staffeln erzählt zu werden. Leider wurde hier komprimiert, gestopft und gekürzt, um alles in 10 Folgen zu pressen. Unwichtige Nebencharaktere in uninteressanten Nebenhandlungssträngen dienen nur dem Zweck das Erzähltempo zu erhöhen. So werden dann die Hauptcharaktere, die die Handlung eigentlich tragen sollten, von dieser wahnsinnig beschleunigten Erzählweise einfach nur mitgerissen und teilweise recht emotionslos entsorgt. Selbst das einstmals stolze "letzte Schiff" -zum Nebenschauplatz degradiert- hinterlässt nach dem Abspann nur das Gefühl, dass es sich hier nicht um ein heroisches letztes Gefecht gehandelt hat, sondern die Nathan James aufgrund eines fatalen Navigationsfehlers gesunken ist, der für mich ganz klar in den Drehbüchern verankert ist. Schade. (Passendes Zitat dazu von Mike Slattery: "...wenn sie Mitgefühl wollen... Das steht im Wörterbuch zwischen Magenschmerzen und Mist")Trotzdem bleibt Tom Chandler für mich der "Real Captain America" und ich danke den Machern und Akteuren für diese hervorragende Serie, die mich sehr gut unterhalten hat und ich werde mir die Serie immer wieder gern ansehen (insbesondere Staffeln 1-4)!

The speech was in German.

Great story