| Masters of the Air 18:46 - Mar 1 with 2011 views | DubaiR |
First of all superb 3rd part of Band of Brothers a d the Pacific
Two of the cast are from Hammersmith (although a Chelsea fan)
Bel Powly though is from Sheppards Bush. Is she QPR? |  | | |  |
| Masters of the Air on 18:51 - Mar 1 with 1985 views | Gloucs_R |
Quite enjoying it but nowhere at good at the other two series you mention.
Horrific to think that those lads were nearly all under 23 and more died in bombing runs than any other unit... As in it has the lowest survival rate. [Post edited 2 Mar 7:51]
|  |
| |
| Masters of the Air on 22:29 - Mar 1 with 1774 views | loftboy |
Haven’t watched todays yet, I now live quite close to where the 100th bomb group was based, there’s a museum and cafe there, will give it a visit when the weather gets a bit better. |  |
| |
| Masters of the Air on 05:39 - Mar 2 with 1623 views | DubaiR |
I must do too. Live Halesworth. Sure I have driven past, it. | | | |
| Masters of the Air on 07:20 - Mar 2 with 1560 views | Sharpediver |
I've enjoyed most of it. The special effects are outstanding and bring to life the full horror of life as a bomber crewman in WW2. Their bravery is, (as was that of the British crews), astonishing and humbling.
However, I think some of the writing and characterisation is poor. The British are invariably painted as cartoon type toffs and clods with a superior and bumbling, imperial mindset and the Germans are portrayed in an even more cartoon-like fashion as unblinking , brutal Nazi robots. The French and Belgians and Poles are plucky, brave, guerrilla fighters. The only positive mention of anyone from these Islands is courtesy of a nod to the Scots and the Irish. And the local but simple East Anglican school children.
The Americans, of course, are cast as simple but honest lads, lovers of freedom and equality from the New World, all trying to understand and sort out the mess the Old World has bequeathed them.
So far, no mention of Jim Crow laws, lynchings, segregation, or the fact that the USA's insulatory and neutral policies in the years following WW1 facilitated Hitler's path to war. I think the role of black US airmen is going to be addressed in later episodes so am looking forward to seeing how this is tackled.
The previous episode, set partly in Oxford, was particularly cringeworthy in terms of all the stereotypical portrayals of the British (who were, by this time, only 18 months away from electing the most left wing, socialist Government the country has ever seen before or since).
The freedom and equality loving Americans, meanwhile, failed to introduce any meaningful Civil Rights legislation until 1957 and most black voters in the Southern States had to wait until 1965 until they received the vote.
Anyway, just my take. There's still a few episodes left and like I said, have enjoyed most of it. I'd love to see a UK version based on Bomber Command. Max Hastings book on this, though now a bit dated, is still an excellent read on this - as are his many other works on WW2.
So I would recommend it, but nuanced it isn't. [Post edited 2 Mar 8:09]
|  | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
