Apple TV's "MASTERS OF THE AIR"

A partial review by Dennis D. McDonald

I'm up to Episode 5 of this series. The source book MASTERS OF THE AIR on which many of the incidents portrayed here are based was a tough read. Its portrayal of the harsh and deadly reality of daylight bombing from England during WWII by the US was unflinching in its portrayal of the waste, horror, and carnage.

Episode 3 of the TV series is a nerve-wracking portrayal of one such raid. We watch as dozens of bombers are shot down from the sky. That so many were able to work in that environment is a testament to youth, courage, initial ignorance, and personal values including patriotism.

Production wise, the use of combined digital and practical effects is masterful and recreates what it must have been like to take those hulking 4-engined bombers up. Based on what I've seen so far, major kudoes are due to the producers for showing modern audiences what our ancestors did.

At the same time, if you do become engaged with the reality of what these people did in their belief they were defending freedom and democracy from fascism -- which they were -- you may also come away with the depressing realization that there are many Americans alive today who are OK with tearing down the democracy and freedom these young people fought and died for.

Review copyright (c) 2024 by Dennis D. McDonald