User reviews

This episode goes deep into the psychological challenges faced by the bomber crews. The stark mathematical odds of survival stacked against them, with the juxtaposition of extreme danger followed by relative luxury, an existence which will last only as long as they remain alive, get captured, or hit the lottery and complete their 25 missions.

The interpersonal is examined and, when combined with the additional aerial scenes, powers this episode into the stratosphere. It hits the highest of marks because it uses the previous episodes to build to this emotional destination.

We are seeing the wholesale destruction of lives, and how the few who are still alive try to come to grips with how they have survived so far, while so many others they considered as good or better are either dead or captured.

The episode's coda is most powerful, not merely for this series, but for any television or movie presentation. It is entirely real, as it uses a precise narrative from Harry Crosby's autobiography.

The unflinching look into how these men battled, and tried to endure and survive, can be read in books, but those are incomplete experiences. This series is helping to fill in the missing pieces by showing us how it played out in full color action.

Missing still is the raw guttural instincts of experiencing the risk of death and maiming, but no series can achieve that. We can only go so far as seeing the characters play out the scenes of what took place in a real time and place where the extraordinary became routine.

By use of outstanding special effects production with engrossing characters, based very strongly on real people who tried and often failed to live through this madness, this series is getting us as close as possible to appreciating what these bomber crews experienced.

That is the moral lesson, and only the very foolish would fail to appreciate it.

The definitive episode by far!!!

This was by far and will probably standout as the best episode of the series.

You know the players , we know situations and it's a real detailed account of what the book tells.

This episode goes in by the horns, you can feel the build up of the tension to the battle and oh boy does it deliver!

. Taking place during the war where tensions were extremely high and the loss of bomber numbers was insane and the odds now against them.

The crews are on breaking point , after losing many good men, you can just tell they've seen enough but are getting on with the job.

I feel with all the naysayers griping about band of brothers comparisons , this is 'masters' bastone episode and it sits up there as a classic episode in TV.

The producers have been building up to this and it sure delivers.

10/10.

A great episode, best of the series so far. You could tell it was a different director to the other episodes. Not sure why but it just felt a bit more real. Even the effects seemed to be a bit better in this one.

It was basically a lottery if these crews made it back or not. Seems like it was just send up as many planes as possible & if half of them made it back then it was a success.

To be honest I'd been a bit disappointed with the series so far after really looking forward to this show for years. Band of Brothers is one of my favourite shows of all time, so I had high hopes for this. But I'm enjoying it more as it goes on.

This is by far the most compelling episode, especially from a POV standpoint of how terrifyling these missions must have been like for those young men. The action sequences are stunning and you cannot think about how it must have been like to be a sitting duck out there. Even the parachute landings beyound enemy lines are so scary. Did the enegy track the parachute? Are they waiiting?

There is one problem thought....who care you lives and who dies. There is no investment any of the characters. It's just another bomber going down. With BOB I shead tears.... I'd like to with this series. So far all "meh." There is still time so we'll see.

Definitely the best episode so far, and the reason is simple. More action and combat and less nonsense. These men's stories are important and the show must have more to it than just combat, but it must be the right proportion. There's no mistake why everyone says this episode was the best. The action always draws viewers of war shows over substance. The mission and the air battles were amazing. Imagine the horror of not only being in one of these flying fortresses during battle but then having to jump out of one that is going down in flames. Just remarkable bravery. I'm hopeful the rest of this series will come together and be another great one from Hanks/spielberg. I'm sure they will shed some light on these downed pilots escapes from enemy territory. I think the most hazardous and scariest place during war would probably be a submarine but a close 2nd would have to be in the air during combat. Great episode . Hope it keeps up this way.

Wow, this is by far the best episode of the season. I don't know if it's the low expectations I set because of past episodes, but this episode finally showed the quality I've known this show to be capable of.

One of my biggest gripes all season long is how very little time we've had to see our characters on significant combat missions or in significant danger. The tension was high, and the writing was good. An entire episode devoted to a combat mission is not something I'd think to beg for out of a TV series about Airforce operations in World War II.

Now I understand character development and story setup, but these things have been the weakest part of this series. Especially considering the writing outside the planes has always been kinda cringe.

The only part of this episode that was a bit outlandish and ridiculous was that a pilot during the mission was somehow maneuvering this bomber in ways that I could not possibly believe is maneuverable it was like he was piloting a fighter jet all of sudden. Now, I don't know anything about these bombers or how they can move, but it definitely didn't seem realistic to me.

But all the same, this episode had an amazing combat sequence and looked great. The cgi was solid, but I've seen better. Sufficient it to say it held up in the sequences that used the cgi.

I'm just disappointed they've waited this long in a nine episode season to get this good. I feel like we've only had two episodes, or I guess now three are devoted to combat missions. When in Band of Brothers, we were constantly with the characters in and out of combat. Granted, one show is Army, and this is Airforce, but still, I am confident the Airforce flew plenty of combat missions that we would've been able to show.

Anyway now that this show has finally reached the quality I expect from writing, character, character interactions, and the level of stakes they must find a way to maintain it only I'm not sure they will. I hope to be proven wrong.

IMDb: 8/10 Letterboxd: 4/5

Watched on Apple TV+ in 4k Dolby Vision.

Episode 5 of Masters of the Air, titled "Part Five," continues to elevate the emotional intensity and combat realism as the bomber crews face even more harrowing challenges. This episode centers around a particularly dangerous bombing raid deep into enemy territory. The mission is fraught with complications from the outset, as weather conditions, mechanical failures, and German defenses all conspire to push the crews to their limits. The episode juxtaposes moments of high-octane action with introspective character development, showing how the physical demands of combat begin to break down the mental and emotional resilience of the airmen.

The standout aspect of "Part Five" is the way it handles the psychological strain of the war. The once-confident crew members are now visibly fraying under the pressure, with tension bubbling over in key scenes. The focus is particularly sharp on the bombardier, who struggles with the weight of the lives he is responsible for both in the air and on the ground. His internal conflict about the morality of his role in the war is explored in a series of quiet, reflective moments that break up the action. This inner turmoil adds depth to the episode, humanizing the characters beyond the scope of their wartime heroism and showing the emotional toll that constant exposure to danger can take.

From a technical standpoint, the episode excels in its direction and cinematography. The aerial combat sequences are filmed with remarkable detail and intensity, giving the viewer a real sense of the danger the crews face. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga makes expert use of long, unbroken shots during the bombing runs, emphasizing the relentless tension as flak explodes around the planes. The dogfights with German fighters are chaotic and visceral, with sharp editing that heightens the suspense. The episode's pacing is also commendable, as it balances these action-packed moments with slower, more character-driven scenes that allow the audience to breathe and connect with the crew on a personal level.

However, despite the episode's strengths, there are moments where it feels somewhat repetitive in its narrative beats. The cycle of mission preparation, execution, and aftermath, while realistic, begins to follow a familiar pattern by this point in the series. Although "Part Five" attempts to delve deeper into the psychological effects of war, some of the emotional moments feel a bit forced or overly familiar, especially in comparison to previous episodes. While the characters' breakdowns are crucial to the story, the episode doesn't always offer fresh insights into their struggles, occasionally relying on tropes of war drama rather than pushing the boundaries of character development.

The performances in this episode are universally strong, with the ensemble cast continuing to deliver nuanced portrayals of their characters. The lead actors, particularly the bombardier and the pilot, bring a raw vulnerability to their roles that contrasts with their earlier portrayals of stoic, duty-bound soldiers. These performances are underscored by the subtle shifts in the group dynamic as the strain of continuous combat begins to erode the camaraderie they once shared. The tension within the crew is palpable, and the actors do an excellent job of conveying the unspoken fears and doubts that have begun to creep into their interactions.

In conclusion, "Part Five" of Masters of the Air is a compelling and visually stunning episode that continues to explore the brutal realities of aerial warfare. The direction, cinematography, and performances all contribute to a tense and emotionally charged hour of television. However, the episode's reliance on familiar narrative beats and its occasionally forced emotional moments slightly diminish its impact. Despite these minor shortcomings, it remains a strong entry in the series, offering both thrilling action and poignant reflections on the psychological toll of war. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the series further develops these characters and themes in future episodes.

Where episode 4 left me with a pondering sense of the show's overall plot, albeit in a low quality manner, episode 5 finally shows us everything. Better yet, it shows everything in its deserved and upmost beauty. Where episode 3 was a diamond in the rough, episode 5 is stunning yet terrifying, slow yet perfectly paced, beautiful yet dirty. It elevates itself above the rest of the bunch by being well crafted, by all meanings of the saying.

As we have come to expect, and as such almost lesser value, the action scenes taking place high up are gorgeous. But what episode 5 does in a better manner than episode 3 is pacing. It takes time to tell a story of character amidst the rampant carnage. Being the first episode directed not by Cary, the place-taking director is Anna Boden, accompanied by Ryan Fleck. The difference in styling of the episode works to its advantage, as the crafting of the action sequence is only this beautiful because it takes its time to first construct a closer connection to the crews heading up into the clouds.

But what truly evokes the emotion from a viewer will be the acting. Anthony Boyle plays the now well-known Crosby, who effectively portrays just about every emotion known to man. A rollercoaster of pride, sadness, insecurity and anger, yet no words are spoken. It is all perfectly readable from the captain's face, and even more powerful when words cannot possibly add anything. Callum Turner plays a broken shell of the once proud and almost uppity Bucky Egan, showing us only now how the events of episode 4 affect him. And as stellar a performance that Anthony and Callum deliver, it is Nate Mann that gives me goosebumps. A strong man, a proud man, broken into bits as the episode continues.

Irrefutable yet unexpected perfection. Irrefutable, because there's no denying that the show creates a new standard for itself. Unexpected, because at the end of it all, while the action-packed aerial battles take up the biggest time on screen, it is the actors' abilities to portray such a wide array of heartfelt emotions that propels episode 5 to not yet witnessed heights for Masters of the Air.

10 out 10. Perfection. '

Okay I know these bombing missions must be repetitious. They have the same angst, the same threats - flak, and then watch out when the flak stops because here comes the fighter plans to shoot you down.

And once again, the battle sequence was extremely well done, and spookier than previous missions.

The problem with this series is that the characters are so bland and interchangeable that there is zero emotional impact when their plane doesn't return. Wait, which guys didn't return? Does it matter, there will be new ones next week.

Which might be the point of this series, that it was all a horrific meat grinder, but it doesn't make for compelling TV.

This show seems to get progressively worse. The crews are all portrayed as screaming idiots that spend the whole show screaming in each others ears despite having wired Comms. I presume the script writers never spent any time listening to actual crews. The over the top CGI the nonsense about the crews being terrified about hitting civilian targets and still sticking with the nonsense about the bombers not hitting civilians. I'm struggling to find a likeable character in this series The effects are like the asylum made the series. I hope the budget was small because it certainly doesn't appear on the screen. This is going to be a struggle to finish.

Masters of the Air episode 5 marks the halfway mark of the limited series, with just four remaining episodes. The episode brings shattering loss, large-scale spectacle, and more lingering grief. Despite the bleakness, Crosby makes it back to base alive and well after last week's misadventure. Crosby and his crewmates find replacements in their beds, and Crosby's fellow navigator, Bubbles, admits he penned a letter to Cros's wife about his death. However, Cleven has not returned, and the episode is defined by absence. Egan mourns his friend alone, while Cros cuts a lonely figure as he eats solo, waiting for his friends to return. Anthony Boyle's portrayal of Cros, the narrator and audience surrogate, is a highlight of the show. Boyle's physical expressiveness and fear for his friends are evident throughout the episode. The focus is on aerial combat as the men embark on a death-defying mission. The score's rhythm is a ticking clock, and the VFX is consistently excellent. The first half of the battle is focused on Egan's aircraft, narrowing the scope of the action sequence. The emotional beats are even harder as flak rips through the squadron. Blake Neely's score lurches to the nightmarish as German planes fill the sky, turning the situation from bleak to hopeless. The battle that follows is on a blockbuster scale, with immaculate sound design sharpening every bullet, droning engine, and anguished cry. Egan and his crew have to abandon their plane, resulting in a vertigo-inducing free fall to dangerous ground. Lt. Rosenthal emerges as a key character, holding his nerve to drop bombs at the precise moment, manoeuvring around enemy planes on the attack, and even humming a rousing tune to encourage his crew. For much of this sequence, Rosenthal is wearing a mask, relying on Nate Mann's eyes to convey the stress, intensity, and determination of flying a plane in such extreme circumstances. The episode of "The Bloody Hundredth" is a haunting tale of the aftermath of the Battle of Stalingrad. Rosenthal's plane is the only intact Allied aircraft in the sky, and debris floats down slowly, illustrating the devastation of the battle. In just one episode, almost the entire Bloody Hundredth has been lost. The episode ends with Cros, alone in the frame, reading the eulogy and crying silently, contrasting with Egan's suppression of his grief. The camera lingers on the empty bed and the empty beds beside it, emphasizing the scale of the episode's losses and the inevitable change for the Bloody Hundredth. The episode highlights the enduring impact of the war and the loss of the lives of those who lost their lives.

Greetings from Lithuania.

Part 5 was brutal and combat heavy episode. Here for the first time we get to see the brutal realities of air combat. Cinematography was claustrophobic and epic at the same time. Special effects are top notch. Sound design was great. The outcome of the mission was heartbreaking - no spoilers. You really get to sense the weight of grim reality of war.

Overall, part 5 is brutal and grim as it gets. It's heartbreaking and shows us realities of war.