TV Review: MASTERS OF THE AIR (Ep. 6) on Apple TV+

Part Six begins in the aftermath of Part Five, showing three very different outcomes for members of the 100th. It’s a change of pace from Five, as there isn’t any aerial combat and the action on the ground is relatively limited.

Major Egan, whose plane was shot down, is seen attempting to find food and evade Germans after his bomber was shot down. (Note: I was going to make a reference to SERE [Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape] training, but I couldn’t find confirmation that the 100th actually went through a form of SERE school during WWII; if anyone knowledgeable is willing to educate me, I’m all ears.) His efforts are unsuccessful, and he’s quickly shipped off with some other captured air crews on a POW train.

On the flip side, the crew of the lone B-17 that made it back are given a week’s R&R (rest and relaxation) at a bit of a resort called the Flakhouse. While some of the men are eager for a break, Major Rosenthal is anxious to get back, as he petitions the doctor to head back to base as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Lt. Crosby, struggling with the death of his best friend Bubbles, is sent to Oxford to represent the 100th at a conference. While there, he ends up having an unexpected roommate, Subaltern Wingate (Bel Powley), who quickly ends up becoming a dear friend and close confidant.

I won’t get too in-depth into the episode for fear of spoilers, but I wanted to note that the episode does an excellent job at illustrating the fact that although all of these men went through the same training, there’s no telling how a person will react to going through hell. Rosenthal wants to head back right away initially, but seeing another crew member sobbing uncontrollably in the garden at least gives him pause. Crosby seeks comfort in the friendship of Wingate, which hints at a connection beyond just friends. While Crosby is shown to be happily married in previous episodes, perhaps it’s grief over the loss of Bubbles that causes Crosby to contemplate blurring lines.

Meanwhile, Egan is still going through hell at the hands of German soldiers as well as the residents of bombed cities. Remember his bravado when talking about bombing German civilian centers? In Six, he’s forced to see the results of such missions, and he also has to deal with the civilians who are understandably a little upset.

There isn’t anything overly outstanding about the episode, nor is there anything truly deleterious. Unfortunately, I can’t say that Part Six will be one of the more memorable moments of the series. If you’re looking for action, you’ll likely need to get your fix elsewhere; HOWEVER, that’s not to say you should skip it, as the ending promises to be rather rewarding.

Part Six gets a C+