Yea. It's only 9 episodes which is 1 fewer than Band of Brothers or The Pacific got.
Masters of the Air | Apple TV+ (WWII miniseries from Spielberg, Hanks)
- Thread starter Aragorn
- Start date
From the scenes for next week it looks like they will jump forward to spring 1944.
good episode, too bad it's just 2 two go.
- Rosenthal doesn't want to go home despite 25, applaud his decision, but that risk.
- So Crosby does hook up with Sandra middle name to the grave... I mean they've had chemistry and yay for more Sandra. I'm not condemning Crosbys affair, just think his change of heart was a bit out of character - if they gave it an episode more/more time)
- Bucky and Buck trying to survive, macgyver around to remain up to date and planning to escape maye
- next week looks to be intriguing with Crosby's flame Sandra seemingly being a spy/agent
- Also Redtails in the trailer for next weeks episode
- Just a gut feeling that: Rosenthal will attack the camp to free Bucky and Buck
I didn't bother to double check this for accuracy, but....
....some people talking about the show said Crosby did have an affair but it was with someone else, which is why they changed the name of Landra Wingate to Sandra Wesgate, because they combined two characters into one.
Bucky's wiki page shows he was in a prison camp until the end of the war (May 1945). Buck's wiki page doesn't list when he got out of the camp. In January 1945 the American POWs were force marched to a different prison camp to avoid being liberated by the Red Army, 32 escaped during the forced march but all were recaptured. In late April 1945 the Americans were marched to another over crowded prison camp by the Germans to avoid being liberated by the US Army. A lot of them were able escape and the German prison guards who were escorting them made no attempt to stop the escapes.
Rosenthall flew 52 missions and was shot down twice, once over German occupied France on 10 September 1944, was recovered by the Free French and returned to the UK. the second time 3 February 1945 on his last mission he was shot down over Germany and recovered by the Red Army.
Rosenthall flew 52 missions and was shot down twice, once over German occupied France on 10 September 1944, was recovered by the Free French and returned to the UK. the second time 3 February 1945 on his last mission he was shot down over Germany and recovered by the Red Army.
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It has been oddly paced at times and the prison camp stuff seems odd since
ReaL life spoiler
Buck and Bucky both are imprisoned for nearly the rest of the war and do not fly again in ww2. The recently introduced Tuskegee Airmen are real people who also were imprisoned in Stalag 3 (maybe not with both Buck and Bucky in a barracks), and also did not escape and were imprisoned until near the end of the war and did not fly again in ww2.
I'm not sure about the reason for the prison stuff. I think there was plenty of "meat" for flying missions and seeing how the base coped with the stress and losses. It seems like they wanted to keep the original male pilot leads around even knowing their "air" story wasn't there.
Maybe if Rosenthal had been an original member of the squad it would have had the show focus on him from the start and not worry about the prison camp... But they were historically accurate with him joining later.
Not that odd at all since it looks like they are sticking to what really happened.
They aren't in just one camp. They are moved to other camps away from the front lines to avoid them being freed by allied armies.
From the wiki page on Stalag Luft III:
Just before midnight on 27 January 1945, with Soviet troops only 26 km (16 mi) away, the remaining 11,000 POWs were marched out of camp with the eventual destination of Spremberg. In freezing temperatures and 15 cm (6 in) of snow, 2,000 prisoners were assigned to clear the road ahead of the main group. After a 55 km (34 mi) march, the POWs arrived in Bad Muskau where they rested for 30 hours, before marching the remaining 26 km (16 mi) to Spremberg. On 31 January, the South Compound prisoners plus 200 men from the West Compound were sent by train to Stalag VII-A at Moosburg followed by the Centre compound prisoners on 7 February. Thirty-two prisoners escaped during the march to Moosburg but all were recaptured. The North, East and remaining West compound prisoners at Spremberg were sent either to Stalag XIII-D at Nuremberg on 2 February or to Marlag und Milag Nord at Westertimke.
With the approach of US forces on 13 April, the American prisoners at XIII-D were marched to Stalag VII-A. While the majority reached VII-A on 20 April, many had dropped out on the way with the German guards making no attempt to stop them. Built to hold 14,000 POWs, Stalag VII-A now held 130,000 from evacuated stalags with 500 living in barracks built for 200. Some chose to live in tents while others slept in air raid slit trenches. The US 14th Armored Division liberated the prisoners of VII-A on 29 April. Kenneth W. Simmons's book Kriegie (1960) vividly describes the life of POWs in the American section of Stalag Luft III in the final months of the war, ending with the winter forced-march from the camp, ahead of the advancing Soviet troops and eventually being liberated.
From the wiki page on Stalag Luft III:
Just before midnight on 27 January 1945, with Soviet troops only 26 km (16 mi) away, the remaining 11,000 POWs were marched out of camp with the eventual destination of Spremberg. In freezing temperatures and 15 cm (6 in) of snow, 2,000 prisoners were assigned to clear the road ahead of the main group. After a 55 km (34 mi) march, the POWs arrived in Bad Muskau where they rested for 30 hours, before marching the remaining 26 km (16 mi) to Spremberg. On 31 January, the South Compound prisoners plus 200 men from the West Compound were sent by train to Stalag VII-A at Moosburg followed by the Centre compound prisoners on 7 February. Thirty-two prisoners escaped during the march to Moosburg but all were recaptured. The North, East and remaining West compound prisoners at Spremberg were sent either to Stalag XIII-D at Nuremberg on 2 February or to Marlag und Milag Nord at Westertimke.
With the approach of US forces on 13 April, the American prisoners at XIII-D were marched to Stalag VII-A. While the majority reached VII-A on 20 April, many had dropped out on the way with the German guards making no attempt to stop them. Built to hold 14,000 POWs, Stalag VII-A now held 130,000 from evacuated stalags with 500 living in barracks built for 200. Some chose to live in tents while others slept in air raid slit trenches. The US 14th Armored Division liberated the prisoners of VII-A on 29 April. Kenneth W. Simmons's book Kriegie (1960) vividly describes the life of POWs in the American section of Stalag Luft III in the final months of the war, ending with the winter forced-march from the camp, ahead of the advancing Soviet troops and eventually being liberated.
Other than the ground crews, medical staff, and the 2 enlisted members of the air crew who were shot down over Europe and returned to England by the resistance.
Additional information about life in Stalag Luft III from the (caution-spoilers in the link) American Air Museum in Britian.
During the forced march from Stalag Luft III to Stalag Luft VII-A. One night, 100th Bomb Group pilot Gale (Buck) Cleven took shelter in a building previously used by Polish and Russian slave labour. The straw mattresses were "so infested by bugs they could have moved by themselves". In the general chaos of the march, Gale (Buck) Cleven evaded and made his way to the American lines. He was back at his base of Thorpe Abbots twelve days later.
Probably also why they keep showing what is going on in the POW stalag.
Probably also why they keep showing what is going on in the POW stalag.
I'm fine with them focusing less specifically on the actual missions as the show's progressed. From a cinematic point of view it would have started to get a little too repetitive. I think they've still done a good job of demonstrating the toll it takes on these pilots, seeing the turnover rate and showing how the characters know the odds of them going home are pretty long.
The pacing in this penultimate episode was definitely off, though. I really wish Apple had given them ten episodes.
The pacing in this penultimate episode was definitely off, though. I really wish Apple had given them ten episodes.
hmm, kinda disappointed by the final episode before the finale too.
don't really mind the episode itself, rather how it kinda feels off pace with what was happening prior and how little (1 episode) is left.
don't really mind the episode itself, rather how it kinda feels off pace with what was happening prior and how little (1 episode) is left.
Example: they could have started to introduce the Tuskegee airmen/red tails, like an episode or two earlier, even if it was just the characters at the bar and the talk before their first seen mission to keep it historically mission accurate if needed.
Same thing for Sandra being confirmed as an agent of sorts.
Like why even introduce characters, if there's little time to tell/show a story arc.
I can't see how they can wrap up all the character stories in that one episode - even if they don't focus on the overall war progress and just summarize them with a couple of sentences - which would be fine IMO, as clearly the focus of the show isn't the overall picture.
I fear some characters simple will get montage/voice over "after X had Y happen, he/she survived and did/became that or simply X died"
Same thing for Sandra being confirmed as an agent of sorts.
Like why even introduce characters, if there's little time to tell/show a story arc.
I can't see how they can wrap up all the character stories in that one episode - even if they don't focus on the overall war progress and just summarize them with a couple of sentences - which would be fine IMO, as clearly the focus of the show isn't the overall picture.
I fear some characters simple will get montage/voice over "after X had Y happen, he/she survived and did/became that or simply X died"
- PoWs: Bucky & Buck & Tuskegee airmen
- Rosenthal
- Crosby
- Sandra
I hope this isn't the case. It would be better if they at the very least had a longer episode for the series finale.
Did anyone else feel like the Tuskegee Airmen stuff was sort of shoehorned in there? Honestly, they could have skipped all the P-51 stuff (although it was cool to see) and just start with the three aviators showing up in the camp. But I guess it did provide a bite of meat in a show that just sort of goes nowhere interesting in gigantic leaps and bounds, especially considering the subject matter.
One more to go, but I'm pretty much ready to render my final judgment on this effort now.
I liked the Tuskegee Airmen better in the HBO movie with Lawrence Fishburne and Cuba Gooding. That one actually made me cry when Cuba Gooding's character went down. Red Tails was a bit of fluff that was great for kids in a Saturday Matinee- good in that George Lucas Star Warsy, Indiana Jones kind of way.
I liked the story of B-17's and their trials and tribulations better when it was Memphis Belle. Or Twelve O'Clock High. Or anything but this.
I liked the story of Bomber crewmen falling in love with Englishwomen better when it was Hanover Street.
I liked the story of P.O.W's better when it was The Great Escape, or Stalag 17, or Unbroken. Or anything but this, where nothing of note happens in the P.O.W. camp except them marking time and not attempting to escape.
I liked the story of the Air War in Europe better when it was Battle of Britain, or Piece of Cake, or Dark Blue World. Or anything but this.
In short, every element of this show has been done WAY better before now. This show is NOT a worthy successor to either Band of Brothers or The Pacific. Not even in the same class. I never would have thought Tom Hanks could have made a series about WWII just.... boring.... but he managed. The Greyhound movie should have been my first clue that he might be losing his touch in this arena- that was an awful movie as well. Out of 8 episodes so far, I've nodded off during at least half of them.
Do not recommend, and once this ends I'll never rewatch it. I can't even count how many times I've rewatched BoB and The Pacific.
One more to go, but I'm pretty much ready to render my final judgment on this effort now.
I liked the Tuskegee Airmen better in the HBO movie with Lawrence Fishburne and Cuba Gooding. That one actually made me cry when Cuba Gooding's character went down. Red Tails was a bit of fluff that was great for kids in a Saturday Matinee- good in that George Lucas Star Warsy, Indiana Jones kind of way.
I liked the story of B-17's and their trials and tribulations better when it was Memphis Belle. Or Twelve O'Clock High. Or anything but this.
I liked the story of Bomber crewmen falling in love with Englishwomen better when it was Hanover Street.
I liked the story of P.O.W's better when it was The Great Escape, or Stalag 17, or Unbroken. Or anything but this, where nothing of note happens in the P.O.W. camp except them marking time and not attempting to escape.
I liked the story of the Air War in Europe better when it was Battle of Britain, or Piece of Cake, or Dark Blue World. Or anything but this.
In short, every element of this show has been done WAY better before now. This show is NOT a worthy successor to either Band of Brothers or The Pacific. Not even in the same class. I never would have thought Tom Hanks could have made a series about WWII just.... boring.... but he managed. The Greyhound movie should have been my first clue that he might be losing his touch in this arena- that was an awful movie as well. Out of 8 episodes so far, I've nodded off during at least half of them.
Do not recommend, and once this ends I'll never rewatch it. I can't even count how many times I've rewatched BoB and The Pacific.
Rosie's story arc aside, nothing "new" was introduced, for me this was a full on wrap up episode, not just the "actors > real life people montage" at the end.
--
Would I rewatch it?
No, but I didn't do so for Band of Brothers and the Pacific either.
Do I want the time spent watching it back?
No, it was enjoyable and thanks to some history "rabbit holing" also a bit educational.
some thoughts
Visually, some rather meh CGI for plane scenes aside, it was well done.
Interesting characters and arcs.
If the focus is on the characters story arcs with the "history" being told more in the background the show had to halves.
1st was planes go up and come down (mostly in pieces), while the 2nd was: Prisoners of War.
For me, overall there were pacing issues and noticeable character changes - especially around Crosby.
Time jumps played their part for sure, but if you allude to some changes prior to the jump, that becomes less or even a non issue.
Would have done the show and characters good, if at least the introduction of the Tuskegee airmen was an episode or two earlier. As is, it feels kinda tacked on.
Same with, why did they introduce/expand on story/character (the whole Sandra spy thing for example) with so little to show for...
Hope you all mostly enjoyed it too.
"Air" we go
--
Would I rewatch it?
No, but I didn't do so for Band of Brothers and the Pacific either.
Do I want the time spent watching it back?
No, it was enjoyable and thanks to some history "rabbit holing" also a bit educational.
some thoughts
Visually, some rather meh CGI for plane scenes aside, it was well done.
Interesting characters and arcs.
If the focus is on the characters story arcs with the "history" being told more in the background the show had to halves.
1st was planes go up and come down (mostly in pieces), while the 2nd was: Prisoners of War.
For me, overall there were pacing issues and noticeable character changes - especially around Crosby.
Time jumps played their part for sure, but if you allude to some changes prior to the jump, that becomes less or even a non issue.
Would have done the show and characters good, if at least the introduction of the Tuskegee airmen was an episode or two earlier. As is, it feels kinda tacked on.
Same with, why did they introduce/expand on story/character (the whole Sandra spy thing for example) with so little to show for...
Hope you all mostly enjoyed it too.
"Air" we go
Finished it this morning. I felt the most powerful part of it was when Rosie walked through the concentration camp.
Finished on a poignant note.
Ultimately a strictly average show, in the end. The CGI was fuggin' terrible for 2024. Onwards and upwards!
Finished on a poignant note.
Ultimately a strictly average show, in the end. The CGI was fuggin' terrible for 2024. Onwards and upwards!
I liked the show very much and it finished strong despite having a couple episodes that were less engaging or not that interesting to me, i.e. Cross' spy lady affair or the entire prison camp storyline ( yes, i know it's not a story but what happened in reality).
The final episode was perhaps the best one for me both on the dramatic as well on the emotional side. Rosie's discovery of a forced labor camp packs a punch ( but not as brutal as BoB's discovery of an actual concentration camp), the 100th final "bomb" run to deliver supplies to their former enemies, prisoners being forced marched from place to place until they are finally rescued.
The first half started strong showing ss the brutal air campaing and what the losses did to morale and the psyche of the men but it somewhat flattened out later on despite some strong single scenes ( i actually wowed at the one where we look through the cockpit at a giant furball of Nazi fighters, P51s and bombers all fighting).
Surpassing Band of Brothers was never in the cards, to me it's a perfect show but Masters of the Air did a fantastic job showing us another side of WW2 and i never regretted a single second watching it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in that period.
The final episode was perhaps the best one for me both on the dramatic as well on the emotional side. Rosie's discovery of a forced labor camp packs a punch ( but not as brutal as BoB's discovery of an actual concentration camp), the 100th final "bomb" run to deliver supplies to their former enemies, prisoners being forced marched from place to place until they are finally rescued.
The first half started strong showing ss the brutal air campaing and what the losses did to morale and the psyche of the men but it somewhat flattened out later on despite some strong single scenes ( i actually wowed at the one where we look through the cockpit at a giant furball of Nazi fighters, P51s and bombers all fighting).
Surpassing Band of Brothers was never in the cards, to me it's a perfect show but Masters of the Air did a fantastic job showing us another side of WW2 and i never regretted a single second watching it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in that period.