It's not every day we get to see a soldier admit their deepest fears, and in the finale episode of Masters of the Air, Lt. Harry Crosby confesses. So, what is Harry Crosby afraid of in Masters of the Air? Let's find out.
CONTENT SPOILERS: This article contains spoilers for Masters of the Air, so proceed with caution.
What is Harry Crosby Afraid of in Masters of the Air Finale?
Of all the remaining members of the 100th Bomb Group, Lt. Harry Crosby (played by Anthony Boyle) had one of the heaviest storylines in the series.
He lost his best friend and in turn, gained a higher position on the force. He went and cheated on his wife and now dawns the finale of Masters of the Air, where his reality starts to sink in.
When Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal (Nate Mann) returns, he shares a couple of drinks with Crosby. At this time, Crosby decides to share a secret: he's about to become a father.
"You know, Rosie," Crosby tells his comrade, "Sometimes I wake up and I don't even recognize myself in the mirror."
As the lead navigator for the 100th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, the guilt was slowly consuming him. He's become a changed man since he left home, but his confession doesn't make it all okay.
In fact, to put it in simpler terms, he recites a particular quote from Friedrich Nietzsche that corresponds to how he felt in the finale.
READ MORE: Did Buck Cleven Leave Bucky Egan Behind in Masters of the Air Finale?
Friedrich Nietzsche's Quote Meaning Explained
In addition to Crosby's agony, he decides to quote from the works of one of the classic German philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche.
As Nietzsche's quote goes: "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster... when you gaze long into the abyss the abyss also gazes into you."
Considering the historical background that Masters of the Air is based on, Crosby was having an existential crisis.
While he strived to save the people, he felt deep down, that his personal fear of becoming a terror himself, has come true, given the amount of mistakes he made on his journey.
However, the quote also serves as a reminder to his fellow soldiers not to use violence in exchange for their freedom, which also happens to be reflected in the final moments of the episode.
In the meantime, all episodes of Masters of the Air are available on Apple TV+.
What do you think of Masters of the Air finale? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
READ NEXT: Masters of the Air: Why Did Buck Cleven and Bucky Egan Fight in Episode 8?
Follow our official Facebook page for more news coverage and other explainer articles! Check out more right here on Epicstream.