‘Masters of the Air’ Recap: ‘Part Five’

2/16/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Callum Turner as Major John Egan in ‘Part Five’ of ‘Masters of the Air’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Masters of the Air’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at length about how the Apple TV+ series, Masters of the Air, has done a phenomenal job of fitting into the lexicon of the Band of Brothers saga. For much like its sibling shows, it’s bold, it’s powerful and it features moments that take our breath away, and well… what it does well and how it continues to offer tradition are topics we will continue to talk about because it continues to deliver on such matters, as evidenced by this week’s episode. For ‘Part Five’ happened to be a story that also followed in some proud traditions that this franchise is known for. Specifically, looking at a particular angle that no other WWII story does.

For instance, Band of Brothers took the time to ponder upon how the European Theater and all the combat that took place there, was not as polished and heroic as so many view it. It was war, and it was ugly. Whereas The Pacific pondered deeply upon the mental and psychological impact that war has upon the human psyche, well before PTSD was regularly discussed in our world and this series… is eager to point out that at times, the Second World War was nothing short of a meat grinder. Where good men were sent into dangerous and horrible situations… to die. Which yes, is a part of war, but likely could have been avoided or lessened had there not been such a push from on high to repeat victories quickly.

Which this episode explored… by putting the men of the 100th through the outright wringer. Because just like that, missions were being ordered daily, regardless of the fact that these men needed decompression time, or the taxing it put upon resources. But the brass simply did not care. They wanted their tons of flesh from the German War Machine and saw enough success to push, push, push. Which left the men tired, anxious, and worried that they might not make the golden number of twenty-five. Plus, they were suffering from grief over losing Major Cleven, but the brass cared not, and every man… was tasked to return to the skies for another mission in the heart of Germany itself.

Nate Mann as Major Robert ‘Robbie’ Rosenthal in ‘Part Five’ of ‘Masters of the Air’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

One that of course… turned out to be a devastating disaster. For only seventeen planes were mustered for this, and many of them were not the usual birds these men flew in. Which mattered in their minds, since superstition rode high, and some of the men that flew that mission… could confirm that move brought about problems. For several planes didn’t make it to the bomb point thanks to mechanical failure, and the handful that did… faced the full brunt of the Luftwaffe. After all, this was the heart of Nazi Germany, and they were ready defend the country in every way imaginable… which led to the unthinkable. In that, we were forced to watch pilots we’ve come to care about, either die horribly, or bail out into the heart of enemy territory. Of which Major Egan fell into the latter category.

Giving rise to a bleak episode. That truly hammered home the point at hand and made sure… to showcase the aftermath. For of the seventeen birds that made their way to Germany, only one… one… made it back to England. And with it came a crew that was deeply rattled, and deeply scared and that didn’t end when they touched down. For they showed signs of survivor’s remorse, and severe trauma from being the only bird from the 100th to make it home. All because the brass somehow thought might and fight would scare the German War Machine. When in fact, strategy would have easily done the trick, but alas… that was the bravado side of the war, one we’ve seen hinted at often in this trilogy, making it a miracle that the Allies won the war.

For bravado and bluster tend to cause more harm than good. But that aside, all of this made… for one harrowing tale. One that showcased that war is indeed hell, and that at times, good men were sent to die for dumb reasons, and it left us… in silence really. Because none of us expected to see these kinds of losses, nor did we know about them. But that is why stories in this vein are so important. So, we learn from mistakes, and understand what kind of sacrifices were indeed made, both noble and stupid, in the fight to keep evil from this Earth, and well… this is also a story… that changes everything. Since now, we will be introduced to whole new crews and whole new stories of war and survival, as this brilliant and powerful saga continues along. Until next time.

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