Part One – The episode opens in a pub with two airmen discussing Major John “Bucky” Egan’s (Callum Turner) impending transfer. Becky and Peggy (Ella Rubin) share a dance. Major Gale “Buck” Cleven (Austin Butler) tells Marge (Isabel May) that Bucky is being shipped out tomorrow. Wishing she had introduced Peggy and Bucky sooner, she says soldiers need someone to write to back home. He claims to have written her a letter that she will get when he ships out in a few weeks. When she gets quiet, he assures her that she will be missed every second. The guys give a toast to Bucky. Marge explains how John and Gale got their nicknames. Buck finishes the story. Once alone, Buck promises to join Bucky in a few weeks. Bucky says if he is still alive. Buck reminds him that he is the 100^th Air Executive. Bucky tells him that he will be an observation pilot for the 389^th until they arrive. Buck demands he not die before he arrives.

Wilhelmshaven, Germany, May 21, 1943, 389^th Bomb Group – A fire breaks out on a bomber plane. With the fire out, the pilot levels out the plane. Duval (Sam Roberts) reports he has been shot. Bucky goes down to treat Duval. He orders him to stay alive. The plane comes under fire. Duval survives to be put into an ambulance. Bucky asks if the observation missions are always treacherous. A soldier suggests letting his men figure it out on their own.

The narrator (Anthony Boyle) says that in 1943, the 100^th bomb group joined the U.S. Army’s Eight Air Force in England in a battle against Nazi Germany. One of the men suggests calling the fort “Alice From Dallas” before showing Buck a photo of Alice. Burgin (Jon Paul Bell) asks Amison (Buck Braithwaite) to validate the fjord. Amison assures him that it is the right one. Bubbles gets approval from Blondie Tower in Greenland to land. The tower warns of 40 miles per hour winds and 50 miles per hour gusts and increasing. Buck struggles through the wind to land the plane. In another plane, Major Bill Veal (James Frecheville) misses the first landing.

Blue West One Airfield, South Greenland – The 350^th unit has four squadrons – Buck, Bucky, Captain Everett Blakely (David Shields), and Captain Benny DeMarco (Adam Long). Lieutenant James Douglass (Elliot Warren) and Lieutenant Howard “Hambone” Hamilton (Jordan Coulson) are Midwesterners. Lieutenant Charles Cruikshank (Matt Gavan) is English. Lieutenant Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle) and Lieutenant Joe “Bubbles” Payne (Louis Greatorex) are navigators. Crosby asks Buck where he is from. Buck points to Casper, Wyoming on the map. Handing a Sergeant a box, Buck says it is from Bucky as a “replacement”. Pulling a horse statue out of the box, the Sergeant questions how Bucky considers it a replacement for the narwhal tusk that he broke.

Aiming a dart, Tommy (Tommy Jessop) hits the center of the apple on top of Bucky’s head. Bucky excitedly bear hugs him. After making out with a girl, he returns to the Royal Air Force Thorpe Abbots Airbase.

En route to Thorpe Abbots Airbase from Greenland, Crosby’s plane gets separated from the rest of the 418th. While vomiting, he receives a request for a heading. Crosby orders him to turn right to 165. Lieutenant John Brady (Ben Radcliffe) shuts down the electricity to recycle it. Lieutenant Roy Claytor (Sawyer Spielberg) suggests it is a control circuit before leaving to pull a fuse. Crosby’s vomitus gets all over Bubbles. After checking the control circuit, Claytor says restart the batteries and generator. Brady follows his instructions and everything seems to be fine. As soon as they realize Crosby has taken them to France, the plane comes under fire. Brady sharply turns the plane.

Thorpe Abbots Airbase – Upon emerging from the plane, DeMarco is greeted by Bucky. After explaining how he won a dog, Meatball, in a game of craps, DeMarco boasts of how he loves to fly. Buck complains about Meatball’s howling. Bucky informs Buck that Lieutenant Brady is missing. He gives him one of the bikes that he got from Morris. They look up to see Brady. Inside the plane, the right wheel is stuck. Blum and Hafer (Ethan Moorhouse) try the crank manual with no luck. Brady orders the left  wheel retracted. They prepare for a crash landing. Brady lands the plane in a field. The men race to get out of the plane.

Bucky asks Brady to explain how they got separated from the rest of the unit. Brady attributes it to the clouds and an electrical problem. Crosby tells Brady that he didn’t need to cover for him. Denying his claim, Brady says there was a mechanical failure. He orders him to get control of his air sickness or stay off of his plane. Later, Crosby admits to Bubbles that he misguided Brady to France while vomiting. He believes he may be the worst navigator in the Air Force.

Colonel Harold Huglin (Nikolai Kinski) reminds Bucky of his responsibilities – 350 airmen and 35 plains. Bucky suggests he would be more useful as a squadron commander. Huglin assures him that Colonel LeMay will not pull the trigger on the 100^th Bomb Group under his watch. After dismissing Bucky, Huglin throws up bloody emesis. He refuses medical care.

The airmen are awakened early for their first mission. During a special breakfast, Chuck knocks over a salt shaker. Sergeant William Hinton (Oaklee Pendergast) asks him nicely to toss salt over his shoulder. Chuck tosses the salt shaker over his shoulder. When someone asks about the new CO, Veal orders them to focus on their flying.

Huglin tells the 100^th airmen that today’s target is Bremen. He says German U-boats took out 70 of their cargo ships last month. He warns of what will happen if materials do not reach Great Britain from America. Bucky will be the lead pilot for the 350^th and Veal for the 349^th. Huglin and Lieutenant Dye (George Webster) will be upfront in the 351^st. He explains the routine.

While getting dressed, the men receive a visit from the Army Chaplain Teska (Gary Shelford). Bucky offers Buck the money that he owes him. Buck reluctantly accepts it before climbing into the truck with his crew. He later joins Lieutenant Curtis Biddick (Barry Keoghan) in the cockpit. The pilots start their engines. The B-17 “Flying Fortress” has 12 onboard machine guns. A flare is shot into the air. Buck puts Marge’s photos on the panel. Buck takes to the air. The 100^th is three hours from Bremen. Steve Bosser (Fionn O’Shea) crawls down into the ball turret. A flare is shot into the air. Brady’s plane nearly collides with B-17. The Veal in the 349^th falls behind due to engine problems. He returns to the base. The Germans fire on Americans. Biddick scrubs the mission. The Americans fire back. Lieutenant Adams’ (Lino Facioli) plane goes down. The battle continues.

 

Masters Of The Air Review

The series is plagued by weak writing, subpar, overused CGI, poor editing, and unbelievable acting. The show tries to be smart but up ends up being a mediocre watch with a lot to do about nothing.

The oversaturated cast makes it impossible to keep up with all the characters. On a good note, most of the characters are totally unimportant.

The focus appears to be more on sex appeal than good entertainment. It seems they forgot that this is a war drama.

As far as facts go, they are sprinkled in with all the nonsense. A tedious watch at best. The pilot deserves a 4.5 out of 10. Get more Masters of the Air recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Ask how advertising on our site can help build your brand, click here. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest celebrity gossip, movies, TV shows, scams, and sports.