Masters of the Air: Review

Based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name, Masters of the Air follows the men in the Bloody Hundredth of the Second World War who dropped bombs on enemies during the day—the most dangerous and exposed time. The adaptation promised to portray the psychological and emotional price paid by the young men as they fought against the Third Reich and tell the story of how they were captured, wounded, or killed, as well as the lucky ones that made it home. There are many war stories, limited series, and movies that cover the Second World War and the bond between the soldiers, but Master of the Air brings something new, particularly in the later episodes.

Visually, the show is spectacular, with an extremely stylised look that is an impressive accomplishment in cinematography that can sometimes make up for the lack of substance in the early episodes. However, there are many moments that feel like a video photoshoot rather than a series with something to say, particularly when Austin Butler is on screen and has a minimal amount to do. The most impressive moments of the series are, of course, in the air, where we see the majority of the action through the danger the Bloody Hundredth face every time they take to the skies to fight the enemy. In the air, everything striking about the series combines intense action and the visual strength of the series to amplify the perilous situations faced.

While some characters fit the aesthetic of the series, only three of them have any depth from the writing to give an alluring performance that counters the otherwise hammy writing. While Austin Butler takes the lead in the marketing of the show due to his star power, it is Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, and Nate Mann who propel the story forward and give layered, intense performances in their roles. Each character has a different role, despite the similar job roles they have. In Callum Turner, we get Maj. John 'Bucky' Egan, a pilot in the bomb group who struggles in later episodes with his misfortune and lack of lack outside of being a pilot, knowing that he has nobody to write to. Narrating the series is Anthony Boyle’s Lt. Harry Crosby, a navigator who, despite constant air sickness and a humble attitude, is promoted and is responsible for saving lives. Crosby is one of the hearts of the story and is easily beloved thanks to the writing and the natural likability of Boyle. Another standout is Nate Mann as lucky Major Robert 'Rosie' Rosenthal, whose skill is established in his premier episode when he is the only plane to return despite two engines being dead, a non-functional oxygen system, and a large hole in a wing. While the other characters are compelling, it is Mann who steals the show and captivates as Rosie, one of the luckiest and most skilled men in the group.

Narratively, for the first half of the series, there is a distinct pattern shown that fast becomes repetitive but is only saved by the bloody action that decimates the Hundredth in the sky. Almost every episode in the beginning follows the same structure: the team party then gets a mission briefing, flies, and then returns. It’s impressive at first but quickly becomes predictable. However, the series regains momentum in episode five, when Crosby and Eagan take a central role in the narrative and Rosie is introduced. The situations they find themselves in, particularly for Eagan and Rosie, when they must barrel out of their planes are intense but show the two sides of what can happen. Eagan finds himself in enemy territory and is captured by the Germans for months, while Rosie lands in no-man's land, but his side is winning and he’s able to make it home. There are some moments that promise a deeper exploration between the teams, such as the strained relationship between the British, who fly at night, and the Americans, who, more dangerously, fly during the day. The Americans feel they are stronger because they are in a more dangerous situation and focus on precision, but only a handful of scenes in one episode are covered, when a more interesting choice could have been to explore that beyond a few scenes in one episode. Similarly, it isn’t until the penultimate episode that the fighter pilots are introduced, and that is the only episode in which they have screen time of any substance. Given how closely they work with the bomb crew, it would have been an interesting choice to focus on these fellow masters of the air to show the different teams and how they come together, given that one of the more pointed moments in the early episode remarks about how America is successful in the air due to the relationships between the crew.

The emotional level of the series is shown through the three main characters, Crosby, Eagan, and Rosie, who have different struggles due to the loss and pressures of the war. Eagan struggles with his place in the world and the loss of his friends, but is shown his own destruction when he is marched through enemy land and is violently confronted by German civilians. It’s a powerful moment that Turner conveys with terror and hints of shame as he walks through the harrowing cries of people pulling their dead out of rubble in a city he had just commended for bombing despite the civilian links. It is a strong moment that is amplified by current events. Due to the mass loss, Rosie’s team is forced to spend time at a retreat for respite with therapists on hand. Rosie’s reaction is typical of the time, and he wants to get back to work. There is a vulnerability to Mann’s performance that carries the emotional weight of the series as he views his fellow brothers’ private tears. In a more nuanced take, lucky Rosie can leave having completed the required number of missions, but again, Mann delivers power subtly as Rosie re-enlists, knowing he cannot leave his team to go on deadlier missions. Despite not being in action due to his promotion, Crosby feels the toll and pressure of the war and refuses to sleep, constantly powering through until he breaks. As the episodes go on, the effect of the war deepens, and that is truly a strength of the series as well as the scenes in the air. 

Masters of the Air is a visually stunning account of the Bloody Hundred's time in service that shows the effect of the war on the brave men who fought. The series does not glorify war or attempt to make it heroic but focuses on a character-driven approach that offers something a little fresher to the war genre. It isn’t until the final half of the season that things pick up and explore the emotional impact of the war, but too much time is spent on repetitive narrative structure when a deeper exploration between the Hundredth and the fighter pilots could have offered more than brief appearances in the final two episodes.