Part Three

Masters of the Air continue to underwhelm. While the visuals and cinematography at times can be good, the characters, their development, and the writing is less than great.

This episode is all about the mission, which is great because it leaves no time for dull dialogue and cliche moments like the first two episodes had. But now that we get an entire episode devoted to aerial combat, I still don't feel completely satisfied.

The reason is that the show is failing to pack an emotional punch. I mean, how could it be when you don't care too much for the characters. Then, on top of that, the combat sequences aren't hitting me as hard as other war films have or how the sequences in Band of Brothers did.

The creators of this show need to understand the level of quality that is expected and they are not reaching it. Band of Brothers is one of the great World War II TV dramas of all time. Admittedly, it's a high bar to reach, but with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks both producing, I expect nothing less.

Here's hoping the show will improve as the season goes on, but after three episodes, I'm beginning to think this is all the show will offer.

IMDb: 6/10 Letterboxd: 3/5

Watched on Apple TV+ in 4k Dolby Vision.

Mission Briefing: Episode 3, titled "Part Three," takes us deep into the heart of the war with the Bloody Hundredth on a daring mission: bombing German factories and escaping to Africa. Buckle up, it's a bumpy ride.

The aerial dogfights are masterfully crafted, visceral and intense, putting you right in the cockpit with the B-17s. The episode doesn't shy away from the human cost of war, showcasing the fear, camaraderie, and sacrifice of the airmen. The limited time window for the mission adds a constant layer of tension. The CGI and production design are top-notch, recreating the period and the vastness of the sky with stunning realism. Butler delivers a nuanced performance as Major Gale Cleven, showcasing both his leadership and vulnerability.

As mentioned, Butler is a standout, capturing the complexities of his character. While individually talented, the actors are often limited by the masks and script, making it harder to connect with them emotionally.

Stunning aerial cinematography and CGI bring the B-17s and dogfights to life. Sound Design is immersive and impactful, amplifying the tension and chaos of the battles. Score's emotionally charged music elevates key moments and adds depth to the narrative.

No spoilers.

From okay-ish, to stunning. From bland characters, to in-depth treasures. From tedious speed, to exhilarating momentum. Third time's the charm indeed. It took us two episodes, which, in anything but a mini series would be fine, to get to the episode that shows us Masters of the Air's true potential. The episode has nearly everything the show missed thus far. By the end, we've been on a journey, witnessed the cost of war, and see where our aerial troops stand amidst conflict.

While no guarantee can be given for the momentum to be held at this very point in the show, episode 3 sets the stage anew. If you look past the grim nature of mission briefing telling nothing of the severity of the challenge ahead, facial expressions and hard-heard sighs make up for its absence. The action in particular, is stunning. Nearly capturing the feeling of being on such a plane yourself, Cary (director for the first two episodes as well) takes you deep into the battle. The mission is an immensely important one, one that has been told many times but never has been captured this beautifully.

Add to the above that we can finally begin to see the splintering of arcs and storylines, the episode is easily the best so far. With it setting the tone for the episodes to come, hopefully, one can't help but wonder how their favorite characters will fare further down the line.

9 out of 10 knots. Stunning TV.

This series is sweating the details and getting them right. Want to know how real it is portrayed? Ask pilots and they will tell you. It's real enough to be visceral. You feel the situation as it's played out.

The entire episode is devoted to the most historic mission the 100th Bomb Group flew during the war, as they launched from England, flew over all of Germany, and then continued on to North Africa.

The only way the mission was deemed to have any chance of success was if it was part of three air wings coordinated to carry out three attacks simultaneously. As so often happened in the ETO air war, events conspired to ruin the plan.

This is the mission that earned the 100th their name, "The Bloody 100th." Their part of the mission is the only one that flew as planned, and they bore the brunt of the German response in a most brutal manner.

What is being done here is history played out on screen for all of us to see. Moreover, since it is more than a documentary, it opens up a look into the psyches of the men who flew it.

Exact dialog in the episode is verbatim of what the actual aviators in the war said, and how they said it. It's raw and unnerving, and this series deserves high marks for turning outstanding production values into far more than a simple mini-series.

What is being done is for the first time, our modern era is being taken back to a time where even the men who participated are challenged to try to put into words the scope of what took place, even as their inner selves would like to bury it deep so they don't have to think about it.

It takes all aspects to combine to reach the true sense of what these men experienced. This series is achieving that combination, and we would do well to carefully consider its stark reality.

In the two-episode premiere of Masters of the Air, it is difficult to predict if Cleven, Egan, and Biddick will survive the entire war due to the lack of detailed knowledge about each man's history. However, the episode "Part Three" provides a good reason to ponder the lack of knowledge. Despite Cleven and Egan's uncertainty about Curt Biddick's whereabouts, the audience is certain. In the opening episodes, Biddick manages to avoid a deadly crash-landing and ends up with friendly people on the coast of Scotland. In the episode, the 100th Bomb Group, led by Lt. Roy Frank Claytor, successfully bails out of a plane that is going down fast. However, Biddick's attempt to steer his downed plane and save his co-pilot's life is thwarted by a highly placed tree cover, and the plane blows up midway through the episode. Barry Keoghan is bid adieu to the immensely talented actor, who is off to deal with his burgeoning film career. Chapter 3 involves a dangerous "three-punch combo" mission to Africa, aiming to bomb Regensburg for the longest time over German territory and deepest into Germany. Major Bowman announces the plan, which involves three task forces flying together and then splitting, allowing only one squadron to defend. The first squadron will refuel, while the second squadron will drop bombs on Schweinfurt. Instead of turning back, they will fly to Africa in Telergma, aiming to confuse the Germans while the Americans bomb sites with precision. Major Egan (Callum Turner) volunteers to fly in Captain Cruikshank's fort as a reserved commander pilot, despite being in the back seat. The 100th is "tail-end Charlie," meaning their squadron is at the end of the most dangerous place. Major Kidd leads the 418th, Major Veal leads the 349th, and the 351st squadrons are in the high position. Colonel Neil 'Chick' Harding orders the 100th to fly alone without cover or air support, causing chaos. Extra fighters stop the Germans from coming back for a second offensive. Quinn is held at gunpoint by resistance fighters in Germany-occupied Belgium. After jumping out of the plane, he lands safely and meets a girl who identifies as an American. She finds her father, who alerts her to the resistance. They explain that he can either turn himself in to the Germans, be placed in a prisoner camp, and survive the war, or escape back to England. If caught, he will be executed as a spy.