Masters of the Air (TV Mini Series) Part Nine (2024) User Reviews

A terrific end to a great series of unrelenting focus

[ShippersAreEvil · 10/10 · 15 March 2024]

No, of course it isn't Band of Brothers or even The Pacific. Nor should it ever have tried to be. The story is different, the setting is different, the sheer number of both combatants and casualties is unimaginably different. So they didn't try to be.

The prime story choice they made, and maintained right up to the last minute, was an utter devotion to showing the experience as the flyers saw. No dwelling on bereaved lovers, no bogging down in minutiae, just the war, as seen by the men within the most dangerous theatre of operations of the war. So yes, that means we get the POW stories - because there were so damned many of them, how could it not be told?

Pushing TV technology to the limits, making bold choices and, above all, remembering that wars are not won by B17s (or Sherman tanks, or frigates or howitzers) but by *men and women* putting their lives on the line, or making sure the crew knows where to go, or ensuring that (like my mum did) they were properly fed when they returned from missions. This is what story telling is, not "did that image have the right number of rivets?"

And Rosie Rosenthal. What a man, what a man.

Good last episode to a good series

[mikechapman-84571 · 9/10 · 15 March 2024]

Forgetting any historical inaccuracies, mainly around the no show B17 type G. Forgetting the fictional story lineage, in how the the various protagonists arc into one story at the end. Forget this all for one minute.

The producers do well to give MotA a good send off. There have been some extremely good highs in this series, as well as some lows. The dramatisation, whether right of wrong, is eloquently storied in the finale.

Whatever peoples conclusions of this series are, especially putting it in comparison with BoB of Pacific, this is a wonderful telling of the air war. Ep 9 is a fitting send off, which delivers in telling the emotion of the airmen as they arrive at VE day.

The food drop missions was a nice addition- airmen for the first time in a long time felt proud to be dropping food, and not bombs.

Ive given up trying to care about the historical accuracy. You cant have it always accurate when getting across the sentiment of stories like this.

The whole series is a lovely tribute to those brave men, and unfortunately so few are still alive today to see it.

Its a series I will watch again for sure... but maybe will have to skip a few scenes while doing so.

it ended well anyway

[nerrdrage · 9/10 · 16 March 2024]

This series has been pretty hit or miss, particularly in comparison with its peerless predecessor, Band of Brothers, but at least this series can say it did one thing better: the final episode.

BoB's final episode was anticlimactic but Master of the Air's finale is the best episode of the entire season, hitting all the right emotional notes as it ranges from the horrible discoveries on the outskirts of Berlin to the dangerous days for POWs marched from one prison camp to the next, to the liberation of those camps and the final departure of the flock of planes, their mission over.

It's striking how the planes evolve from the rickety, scary crates of the early episodes to serene silver birds. Not a perfect series but a worthwhile one.

Next up, the Navy? Captains of the Waves. Bring it on, Apple.

And the Emmy goes to:

[matiasbockerman-03044 · 10/10 · 15 March 2024]

This episode was the best in the series and saved the series, maintaining quality that must be refined to the end of a quarter billion budget: description, directing, manuscript, visuality, narrative and narrator was topnotch. And one thing what makes this series great is the perpectives: it is rare to see so many different point of views.

Episode itself felt like short movie. Very very good, I don't really understand why people is giving 1 star reviews: that is so childlish.

It's a pity that most series don't have a recap function: I already have to forget who is who and therefore I will look at this again, and then give my final review. The current series scoring is 7.8, although it should be closer to 9: I don't like that people criticize the series before all episodes have come.

This is not at the Band of Brothers level, but at least as good as Pasific? Maybe even classic material. The only flaw was that no interviews with old veterans were shown, it would have crowned everything. All in all, after Ted Lasso, this is by far the best series on Apple TV. Sorry for poor English.

The Unraveling: A Masterpiece Episode

[ibrahim_hammad · 16 March 2024]

In "The Unraveling," the bitter cold of World War II's snowy landscapes isn't just a setting; it's a living, breathing element that engulfs both characters and viewers alike. The meticulous attention to detail in portraying the snow-laden terrain and the biting winds adds an immersive layer to the storytelling, drawing audiences deeper into the harrowing realities of war. Against this backdrop, the episode's cinematic brilliance truly shines, transforming what could have been a standard TV fare into an unforgettable cinematic experience. With every gust of wind and every falling snowflake, "The Unraveling" solidifies its place as a masterpiece of television storytelling.

A perfect end to the story

[jread-5 · 10/10 · 15 March 2024]

The last episode depicts the final collapse of the Third Reich as seen by aviators of the 100th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force. The chaos of the end of the War is very well depicted, including children forced to fight for the Wehrmacht as soldiers. As Russian forces advanced during the winter of 1944, prisoners of war including Gale Cleven were force-marched from Stalag Luft III located 100 miles south-east of Berlin to another camp and eventually by rail to Nuremberg in Bavaria. Major Rosenthal was shot down near the front line of the advancing Russian forces who picked him up. Rosenthal witnessed the Russians' discovery of the death camps and saw up close what type of people he had been fighting.

It's important to realize that the story draws on real experiences of real people, so the basic plot cannot stray too far from the truth. The CGI effects are astounding. The views of the vast bomber forces in box formations seen from behind are unforgettable, as are the vicious fighter attacks and flak. Some reviewers are unhappy that the B-17G chin turrets are not seen. They may forget that the producers built three full-size B-17Fs as props and probably were not willing to update them to the G model. B-17Fs were actually used in 1943 when the group formed. As the bombers experienced the deadly Luftwaffe head-on attacks, more frontal firepower was needed. Perhaps they producers didn't want to have chin turrets appear when the planes were in the air and disappear after they landed. In any case, it is a relatively unimportant quibble. The air battles are terrifying to watch as depicted.

The end of the episode is very touching. The group was employed to drop food to starving Dutch civilians. There is a series of biographical sketches and photographs of some of the actual characters so that we learn what happened to them after the War.

We also learn that the Eighth Air Force was rewarded for their service in Europe by being redeployed to B-29s and to Okinawa so they could take part in the invasion of Japan. Luckily, Enola Gay made that unnecessary.

A good ending

[kenstallings-65346 · 9/10 · 19 March 2024]

The series had skipped a few beats with episodes seven and eight, but the coda episode nine wrapped things up in a satisfying manner.

The second half of the series focused heavily on the POW scenes, and frankly were the best vignettes of the last four episodes, and that truth was doubly the case in the series finale, as the liberation scenes are inspirational. Drawn tightly on the actual liberation of the camp, where the POW's are juxtaposed with the extreme emotions of pending liberation, with the very real risk of being shot dead by guards wanting to go down in a blaze of glory, the scenes are mesmerizing.

All that was missing from the true story was the special chow line that was set up shortly after the POW's were safe, that served them steaks and mashed potatoes.

In terms of the bomber missions, which thankfully the series returned to showing, we see where the 100th BG, and the 8th Air Force, did become the true masters of the air. In their final mission on Berlin, the group performed highly successfully, and we see the harrowing details of Rosenthal's final combat mission.

However, the pinnacle of the episode was the highly accurate representation of Operation Chowhound, where the 100th's final mission delivered food to Holland, to relieve mass starvation. Flown under a ceasefire truce with the Germans, the crews in real life had more enthusiasm to fly these missions than any other. The mission had more positive impact on the morale and moral compass of the bomber crews than several weeks of psychological treatment could have achieved.

The final scene is literally soaring, as the crews fly home. One cannot help but to admire their accomplishments, and this series helped to bring the reality of their heroism to light. That's the final lesson of this series, and why it needed to be made. It brought the books much closer to life.

"Part Ten"

[allmoviesfan · 10/10 · 23 April 2024]

The final chapter of Masters of the Air was as good as I expected, with American POWs sent on an unrelenting march through the bitter German countryside, assailed by snow, wind and sleet and freezing temperatures, as their German captors tried to keep them away from advancing Allied forces. The scenes where the camp they end up in is finally liberated will definitely tug at your heart strings.

Ultimately, the war ends and the men of the Bloody Hundredth are left to take stock. The last 15-20 minutes were very poignant, as was the information about the main protagonists. Well done to those in charge of casting: they really nailed it.

Brilliant television from start to finish. And a fitting tribute to the men who flew countless missions over occupied Europe, often paying the ultimate price. We should be thankful, as the world we live in today is in large part thanks to their bravery.

PART 9, THE ENDING

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 10/10 · 28 April 2024]

Masters of the Air, a popular Apple TV Plus series, has come to an end, with episode 9 being a supersized, almost feature-length installment. Despite the unbalanced pacing in the latter half of the series, the final episode is a return to the show's best, forming a strong ending for the Apple TV Plus series. The show opens with a thrilling aerial sequence starring Rosenthal, who demonstrates his steady nerves and unflinching leadership. The opening scene is the show at its best, with Nate Mann bringing Rosenthal from newcomer to leading man. Rosenthal goes down in Russian-controlled territory, shouting "Coca Cola!" at soldiers approaching to prove his Americanity. Fortunately, they believe him and he ends up on the long road back to England. Along the way, he stumbles across an abandoned concentration camp, which is difficult to watch as he realizes the depth of the atrocities committed there.

Eventually, Rosenthal makes it back and resettles into the swing of things without issue. He remains a steady presence for the rest of the episode, welcoming back Cleven and offering wisdom to struggling Crosby. The series has come full circle with Rosenthal, from newbie to established stalwart, and it's very satisfying. The show's main characters, Egan and Cleven, remain the heart of the show. The prisoner of war camp is evacuated, and tension rises as they attempt to escape. Egan is caught and almost shot, making Cleven's escape poignant. Their reunion is sweeter back in East Anglia when Cleven realizes it's his pal talking to him over the radio. The new camp Egan is transferred to is liberated, and the men fight back after so long. The Tuskegee Airmen are largely in the background, but their introduction last week positioned them as major players. Rosenthal, Crosby, and Cleven fly a supply drop mission in clear skies, and Egan welcomes them back on the radio for a joyful reunion. This is a fitting final hurrah for the characters, as VE Day ends the war and sends the men of the Bloody Hundredth home in a moving ending.

A Modest Redemption - Episode 9 - "Part Nine"

[xNanoks · 8/10 · 8 May 2024]

That is a wrap. That was Masters of the Air. Part Nine is the show's final entrance, and it goes without saying that all eventually goes well for our winged heroes. At least, as well as it can go, for most. As for how it closes out this epic Mini Series: it's a modest redemption of a greatly stumbling tale. Part Nine continues right where we left it at Eight, mostly focusing on the POW storyline, and its connection to the bigger show's plot. We get closure on almost all storylines that show tries to tell, where one is closed off quicker and more abrupt than the other.

Episode 9 is directed by Timothy Van Patten, which is one my all-time favorite TV show directors. The clear vision of the story that he wishes to portray is a good one, but it struggles to fully redeem itself as the mini series that could have been. Too many episodes that it must rectify, too many botched and rushed storylines it needs to close, and so many high expectations to withstand. If only the setup would've been better, the overall excitement after finishing the penultimate entry in the series would've been of a better level.

But there is redemption indeed. Part Nine mixes the will to end the show with a phenomenal portrayal of our now beloved main characters. As always, Nate Mann shows his versatility, Anthony Boyle his vulnerability, Austin Butler his sheer will. But episode 9 is truly Callum Turner's redemption arc, as he is given, rightfully so at last, more emotional screen time than before. To fully appreciate an actor's wide array of capabilities, one must first cover the material. And this is where he shines, finally.

An end of a story worthwhile telling, and worthy of its tale, Part Nine closes off Masters of the Air with a solid 8 out of 10.

Too little too late...

[CloneIMDb · 7/10 · 17 March 2024]

This was easily the best episode of this frustrating series. I wanted to love the show but aside from some impressive aerial battle visuals and sequences, this show falls completely flat. The characters are criminally underdeveloped, the strategy, scope, and uniqueness of aerial combat go completely unrealized on screen. I follow a history professor on YouTube who does episode reviews so I know there is a remarkable attention to detail, yet I know next to nothing about the main characters. I understand that the remarkable losses of the Bloody 100th imply there are not many through lines for most characters, which makes the fact that I know next to nothing about Buck, Bucky, Crosby, and Rosie even worse. Buck looks and talks cool and doesn't drink, Bucky drinks a lot and likes baseball, Crosby gets air sick and narrated the show, and Rosie likes music. That's all I know about these real people. The emotion during the final minutes is simply a matter of historical perspective and had nothing to do with any cathartic payoff for any character. It's frustrating and disappointing.

Terrible conclusion

[rapeel-21164 · 1/10 · 15 March 2024]

Bizarre episode. Full of clichés and an incomprehensible story. The primary characters remain indistinguishable and undeveloped. I truly hope that we will - eventually - have a better record of the heroes of WWII. I really don't understand the story that they are trying to tell.

This episode is a conclusion that reflects all that was "Hollywood" in the series. (That is not a compliment.). Special effects - flying - were great. But the characters look like they were developed by a committee. I don't care about any of them.

"Memphis Belle" told a better story. As did "Twelve O'Clock High" (the best).

There is no excuse for this blatant error thecb 17 g had a gun turret

[tims_friends · 6/10 · 15 March 2024]

I was expecting this series to end with a bang and I was so disappointed that the cgi artist did not even after all the research the did put a chin turret on the b 17 g. This error is totally inexcusable! The rest of the episode was nice . I gave it a 6 and that is generous. So many CGI mistakes with the b 17s unforgivable!

The way the series ended was ok I will watch it again . Overall I'd give the series a c plus.

Why the writers had to contrive so many events when the reality is a better story.

If any CGI artist can explain to me why you made so many mistakes with all the reference material and the 4 or 5 b 17s to go see in the southern California area is inexcusable.

Terrible-a fitting end to a season of the same

[Briskit485 · 1/10 · 15 March 2024]

Just like the rest of the series, this episode tried to cover way too much in too short an amount of time. Technical errors of this episode abound. Anybody with a passing interest in the subject matter will recognize it and there is no excuse, other than the producers and writers complete lack of competent detail and laziness. But everyone will recognize the rah rah trite back slapping over the top drama that is the norm for Masters of the Air. Of course, time has to be spent ticking the concentration camp box, the extermination box, the Tuskagee race box, the German war crime box, the British children hero-worship box etc etc etc. I thought this was a show about airpower in the European theater in WW2? I can't believe the big names who made this drivel haven't owned up to its awful execution. There was almost a note of accuracy in the sudden 'I'm going home' ending. The relief on the actor's faces were probably there because they could finally leave this abysmal production, with a hope for doing better in their next project. If they get one. A great idea, very poorly executed.

Bad ending to a mediocre show

[DemonicAngelicPirate-1925 · 6 April 2024]

It has been said before about how much the British and the Americans were much more than the stereotypes that are depicted in this show and I watched to the end even though it was painful and some obvious inaccuracies which others have pointed out but I need to say that cutting off Churchills speech at that very point was just not on and missed out on educating the world about how a part of Britain had been occupied by the Germans Churchill's famous speech cut off when he was about to say that the Channel Islands were to be freed as well it's such a shame that they did this I know they had to cut it off at some point but surely after he said that would have worked too Hanks et al you let everyone down with this CGI soaked saga

Apple do better.

This show made the impossible possible

[geddie-65989 · 1/10 · 24 March 2024]

How tf do you make war boring?? Find out by watching this series!! Good luck connecting to/remembering any character other than Austin butler and that other guy!?! CGI is surprisingly bad for something to come out in 2024. Last episode's name should be changed to "Part 9 The Pandering". It's a wonder why Steven Spielberg hasn't made anything of note since like what Super 8???? I never saw it but has anyone? I get he's trying to cash out Band of Brothers but his quality has fallen off. Anyways the show was underwhelming be ready to be introduced to 30 characters only for them to die 10 minutes later. I also made an IMDB account just to write this.