Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Here at FandomWire, we review the new Apple TV+ streaming limited series Masters of the Air, and the article is spoiler-free.
Few miniseries can achieve classic status across generations, butBand of Brothers,the groundbreaking 2001 World War II HBO miniseries, stands as a timeless masterpiece. Epic in scope, it pays homage to the subject matter and the courageous men who fought across Europe.
Steven Spielberg andTom Hanksfollowed up withThe Pacific, a well-received companion piece featuring awe-inspiring, intense battle scenes where new characters are introduced and lost in rapid succession. Now,Masters of the Airemerges as the third and potentially final chapter of the Second World War trilogy.
The Eighth Air Bomber Squadron alone had a staggering 75% loss of men through death, capture, or severe injury. The limited series serves as an inspirational tribute to the greatest generation.Masters of the Airshowcases some of the most awe-inspiring and undoubtedly greatest air combat scenes ever filmed.
Also Read:“I had a dialect coach”: Austin Butler Had to Get Rid of His Elvis Accent for Masters of the Air in Painstaking Process That Took Years to Develop
Apple TV+Masters of the AirSeason 1 Synopsis and Review
Masters of the Airfollows the 100th Bomb Group, operating B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft in the Eighth Air Force during World War II. The group earned the moniker “Bloody Hundredth” due to significant casualties in its combat missions. This series delves into the stories of the valiant men who flew bombers and fighter planes into German-occupied airspace.
The series depicts squadron members preparing for missions over the heart of Nazi Germany. The series showcases these brave men’s challenges from the outset until the tragic conclusion for many. Including the strenuous psychological toll. For instance, how could these men fly so close to heaven yet be so close to hell?
Based on the nonfiction best-sellerMasters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germanyby historian Donald Miller, the series effectively captures vast conflicts, dangerous aerial battles, and the harsh realities confronted by the airmen from all walks of life.
Also Read:“We lucked out”: Masters of the Air Executive Producer Feels He Struck Gold by Casting Doctor Who Star Alongside Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan
Masters of the Aircaptures WW2 aerial combat like never before!
Have you witnessed World War II aerial combat scenes like these before? Think again! These brave men are piloting tin cans over enemy airspace, where grabbing a metal machine gun with bare hands doesn’t burn from heat but from the intense frostbite at 25,000 feet. Bullets frequented your head more than the occasional seagull.
These airmen conducted bomber missions initially without air support, defending themselves solely with their wits, courage, and three guns equipped with their ship. They faced off against dozens upon dozens of enemy German fighters. One scene in particular, I won’t spoil, depicts about 50 Luftwaffe’s lined up like cavalry soldiers, this time coming at wicked speeds and riding in cool steel.
In what might be the series’ most extraordinary scene, particularly “Part 5,” so many men have to abandon their ship; you can’t tell if German AA gun Flak fire is creating clouds in the sky or hundreds of parachutes are opening, dropping our boys to safety. We are introduced to the legendary Red Tails of the Tuskegee Airmen in a spectacular aerial fight scene.
At the 28-minute mark of “Part 7,” the scene has the breathtaking beauty of controlled chaos.
Also Read:Masters of the Air: Austin Butler Landed Steven Spielberg’s World War 2 Story After Tom Hanks Grew Concerned About Actor’s Mental Health
IsMasters of the AirWorth Watching?
Masters of the Airis worth watching because of the incredible cast. If you weren’t sureAustin Butlerwas a movie star before, you damn well should be now. Alongside Callum Tatum from The Boys in the Boat, they are magnetic in their roles. There is a deep bench of actors, including Barry Keoghan, Nate Mann, and Anthony Boyle, a standout in a sea of actors that disappear quickly.
This mirrors World War II films likeThe Thin Red Line, where an onslaught of American servicemen oversaturates an attack to bring home victory. In the end,Masters of the Airis a remarkable achievement, structurally superior toThe Pacificwhile instilling controlled chaos with a structure that doesn’t come close to the holistic storytelling ofBand of Brothers.
It would have been nice to have intertitles at the end of each episode, explaining in greater detail the loss, the reasoning, and the importance of each battle. These are my few quibbles with the third chapter in Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’s “The Greatest Generation Trilogy.”Masters of the Airhonors its subject and itself with some of the finest historical storytelling you’ll see on streaming.
You can stream Masters of the Air on Apple TV+ starting January 26th, 2024.
Grade: 9/10
M.N. Miller
Film & Television Critic
Articles Published :336
M.N. Miller is a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Mansfield University and a Master’s from Chamberlain University. However, he still puts on his pants one leg at a time, and that’s when he usually stumbles over. When not writing about film or television, he patiently waits for the next Pearl Jam album and chooses to pass the time by scratching his wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. M.N. Miller was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs but chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. You can also find his work on Hidden Remote, InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Geek Vibes Nation, and Nerd Alert.
More from M.N. Miller
What We Hide Review — Mckenna Grace Anchors a Haunting and Profound Tale of Survival
Witchboard Review — Over-the-Top, Campy, Scary Goodness For Fans of the Genre
Nobody 2 Review — Odenkirk Packs Some Wicked Punches and Savage Laughs
Recommended
Fallout Season 2 Trailer Goes to New Vegas: What Are The Deathclaws and Who’s Justin Theroux Playing?
When Is The Vince Staples Show Season 2 Releasing on Netflix?
Relay Review — Riz Ahmed Anchors a Thriller That Struggles to Deliver
Every Fallout Season 2 Detail Revealed at Gamescom 2025
Switch 2 Scores Another Huge Win, as Indiana Jones The Order of Giants Lands September 4
Sekiro: No Defeat Might Outshine the Elden Ring Movie as FromSoft’s Next Big Adaptation
Anthony BoyleAustin ButlerBarry Keoghancallum turnerDee ReesIsabel MayMasters of the AirNikolai KinskiSawyer SpielbergStephen Campbell MooreSteven SpielbergTimothy Van PattenTom Hanks
