Chris Connor reviews the finale of Masters of the Air…
Masters of the Air has perhaps not been discussed in the same manner as Band of Brothers or The Pacific but it has proven a smash hit regardless, carried by its star cast and exhilarating action. It’s the quieter, character-driven moments that have been most impactful really showing the toll of the war on these pilots. The key question ahead of its finale was whether or not it could stick the landing and go out on the high note it deserves. The answer for the most part an emphatic yes.
The finale comes in at the 70 minute mark so a good deal longer than other episodes, covering the period from February to May 1945 and the final days of the war in Europe. The core focus is split between Majors Egan and Cleven, in German POW camps and Rosenthal and Harry Crosby in England. With a few major developments in the war to cover, it can at times feel rushed but it is a thrilling ride regardless as we wait to see what befalls our heroes and if they survive the war.
The beginning half of the episode really hammers home the brutality of the situation facing all the men as Rosenthal has to parachute out of a mission, coming across mangled bodies and seriously injuring himself, to be saved by Russian troops. Meanwhile the troops at Stalag Luft III are forced to walk through the bitter cold of the German winter on to several other camps, with conditions worsening all the time as the Allied forces close in on them.
The action is some of the best in the series, with a real sense of urgency and danger, it is used sparingly keeping the focus predominantly on the more human elements at play. If at times the series has meandered here every second feels like a must-watch.
The performances across the series have kept it airborne with Austin Butler and Callum Turner earning plaudits but Anthony Boyle’s Crosby grew week on week as the Hundredth suffered loss after loss, he kept his composure and Boyle more than held his own against his established co-stars.
Even with some narrative jumps which feel inevitable with the scale of the finale, Masters of the Air goes out on a high note with the blend of breathtaking action and warmth and realness that have been found across the series. It is another success story for Apple TV+ and will surely please fans of the previous series’.
Chris Connor
