Chris Connor reviews the seventh episode of Masters of the Air…
Following his capture at the end of the previous episode, John “Bucky” Egan finds himself reunited with his friend Major Cleven but not in the circumstances they might have wanted. They are in Stalag Luft III, a German POW camp famous for The Great Escape as depicted memorably in the 1963 John Sturges film. The episode heavily focuses on the US group in the camp, cleverly referencing events of the escape in the background but never too forcefully. We get a sense of how morale-sapping the camp has been with the men counting the odds of making it home alive.
It is a welcome return for Butler and his magnetic chemistry with Callum Turner. We get a sense of how much the men’s company means to one another. We get a sense of how keen these men are to escape, building a makeshift radio, however, the escape attempt has put together any further attempts to rest draining their energy and optimism.
Meanwhile, we also follow the men of the Hundredth, Quinn and Bailey have returned following their travels across occupied Europe, perhaps an odd decision not to follow the rest of their journey but the series’ focus is quite vast as it is. This is a boost for the men still recuperating from heavy losses. The men also find out that the minimum mission threshold to return home is increasing from 25 to 30, Rosenthal meets his quota before the rules change but is torn at the thought of going home while there is work to do and others won’t be given the same opportunity. This adds a moral dilemma and Nate Mann does an excellent job showing his inner conflict. This is in stark contrast to the scenes of the crew celebrating Rosenthal completing his 25th mission and preparing to head home.
The main mission is a bombing run on Berlin and the heart of the Luftwaffe, following a wholly unsuccessful mission earlier in the week, it is clear that the odds are stacked against the Hundredth but they carry on regardless.
With just two episodes to go there are a few threads to resolve but this episode does a fine job showing the thrills of success and the painful lows of loss and capture. The series has continued to hit the right notes balancing the thrilling action we’ve come to expect but also meaningful introspective looks at the men’s morale and the effect of the sheer devastation The Hundredth have endured.
Chris Connor
