Part Six

Very good series although why are so many scenes filmed in dark you can hardly see anything in some scenes !!!

The lights must have been switched off rather spoils it or is this done for effect.

The flying scenes obviously mostly done in cgi are bright and fairly convincing.

Most of episode is dark and some of the characters are not even visible.

This a Great War movie but could be improved by using better lighting in key scene's.

Like the reconstruction of the airfields and replica B17 bombers although difficult to follow with so many characters follow , Overall an enjoyable series and quite moving in places.

Finally, some life and personality in a portrayal from this series! I continue to watch the show despite my disappointment with the overall execution. I just haven't grown attached to any of the characters in particular, and that's unfortunate as there are some talented people cast. Anthony Boyle's character is minimally compelling, but I enjoyed Bel Powley's introduction and flirtation with him. I just hope we haven't seen the last of her.

I felt like the people in Band of Brothers were so well drawn and real, and I just haven't found any depth to these characters. I don't know whether the source material was lacking or what, but no one is here is richly adapted, sadly.

Episode 6 of Masters of the Air showcases the ability to create tension, stakes, dread, and interesting character development without putting its heroes inside a plane. The show's final moments only touch on the air force base, which has been the center of the show. The harrowing storyline begins with Bucky (Callum Turner) landing deep in German territory and being captured by German farmers. He is taken on a series of voyages that show the brutality of war. The scene where Bucky and other unlucky POWs are paraded through a bombed-out German town gives him a new perspective on the war, revealing that Americans are not viewed as the "great liberators" they signed up to be.

From there, Bucky's journey becomes safer, but his fate is essentially sealed. He arrives for interrogation with Lieutenant Haussmann (Louis Hoffman), but refuses to give anything more than his name, rank, and serial number. The scene never rises above "we're not so different, you and I" territory, but it is redeemed by the equally horrific, wordless scene as Bucky is taken to the train. The show has turned a corner and is living up to its potential, demonstrating that it can create tension and stakes without putting its heroes inside a plane. In episode 6, Crosby attends a lecture in Oxford and meets his British counterparts, while Rosenthal (Nate Mann) is sent to a countryside estate to escape recent events. The purpose of this plotline is to give Crosby an outlet for his feelings about the war and the death of his friend Bubbles. He meets Alessandra Subatern Westgate (Bel Powley), an unspecified British member of the RAF who serves as his roommate. Despite her terrible writing skills, Westgate knows the torment soldiers face firsthand and provides a shoulder for Crosby to cry on. Rosie is ordered to take time off at the "flak house," a posh estate in the English countryside, after three missions in three days. He prefers to get back in the cockpit than talk about his feelings. This segment of episode 6 is the most effective, showing the psychological effects of the war in interesting ways. Rosie sees a fellow soldier crying uncontrollably in solitude, a profound moment of introspection for him. The contrast between the endings of Rosie and Bucky's storylines elicits interesting thematic material. Bucky is in a terrible situation in a Nazi POW camp, but he's now reunited with Buck, whom he believed dead. Rosie, in a safer place by the end, is filled with fear and uncertainty. While episode 6 is far from perfect, it's hard to not be excited for the remaining episodes of Masters of the Air.

A masterly juxtaposition of two very different interrogations

One, obvious and pointed, as a smarmy German officer uses every trick he can think of to wheedle information out of Egan, who is far too smart and far, far too loyal to fall for it.

The other, not at all obvious, as a charming and confident - yet coy about her job - British officer befriends Crosby in a most unlikely way. To me it is obvious that she has been sent to see if the best navigator in the 8th is one to get drawn into a compromising position that could leave him open to blackmail, should he be captured by the Germans. This isn't made up - the woman is real and from Crosby's own account(1).

And, of course, there is a third with Rosie's crew sent on R'n'R, but also being assessed to see if they are fit to continue.

This is the part of war we don't talk about being spoken out loud. The grief that stays with you, the suspicion that surrounds you, and the pain and horror that will leave scars for a lifetime.

1. I did like the Scotland reference, allowing the playful idea that the mysterious young woman might be a very young Princess (future Queen) Elizabeth. A nice bit of wit in the darkness.

Once again, we are faced with a much calmer kind of episode, after being spoiled by its predecessor. However, this time around, instead of being a cold shower, it's more the phase between two warm baths. One knows the episodes will pack punches again in the not too distant future, and to take the time to heed the tranquility set in episode 6 is both wise and comforting. Do not however, take up too much comfort, as there is plenty to get lost in and make slip your eager mind in this episode also.

After the destructive events taking place in episode 5, episode 6 interludes its own plot by narrating the need for peace and quiet. Albeit for just a few days. Instead of downright defeat in their eyes, our main characters are seen with reflective nature. Nate Mann continues to warrant the question of why we're not able to see him more in other shows, while Boyle and Turner are presenting themselves as the show's most centric pieces, more and more. The dialogue sometimes steers its way into more predictable water, sometimes riddled with clichés, but even that does not take away from the fact that the deliverance on their lines is impeccable. To create tension and unlock emotions from its viewer by not using conversational backdrops is a skill most would be envious of. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck continue to marvel and daze in that aspect of storytelling.

While the episode omits any form of real combat, the room for breathing is welcome, if paced well. If you interlude, tell your story, and then create a powerful bridge to the next episode, with a touch of humour, anger and tension, the episode plays itself. As a cherry on top of this cake of interbellums, Bel Powley could not have been cast in a better role. Credits for Masters of the Air often goes to combat, CGI and special effects, but my word, costume design, done by Colleen Atwood, is near perfect.

A welcome and well-paced pause amidst a rapidly expanding show, episode 6 scores a very strong 8 out of 10.