A response to Mr. Cravens Film Studies Question : "Why does Mike go back to Vietnam to find Nick? Be specific with this one and use examples."

Rating: 7/10 (8 December 2014)

I believe Mike went back for Nick because he could not carry on with an unkept promise to his best friend. Before they went to Vietnam Nick made Mike promise that he would not come back without him. Mike made that promise thinking he could keep it, but sadly he could not. They were separated during the helicopter escape when Mike did the right thing to save a friend that had fallen, but in doing that he abandoned Nick. He saw him later in Saigon but reluctantly left him once again because he could not convince Nick to come back. When Mike is back in the US, the promise that he made to Nick eats at him. His relationships go to hell because Nick is the only thing on his mind. Being back home without Nick just feels wrong, he cannot even go to his coming home party because of the guilt. He cannot hunt without Nick, he spies a buck but doesn't pull the trigger. Eventually he realizes that he must return to Saigon. In his second time in Vietnam he risks his life to show Nick that he cares for him, and wants to bring him back to the safety of small town America, but by that time Nick is too far gone. He is addicted to the danger and thrill of Russian roulette, and eventually the game takes his life against his former best friend, Mike.