Movies and shows about World War IIhave long been a staple in Hollywood, touching on universal themes of the human condition. The best directors have since transformed the genre by combining the bleak realities of war with a multifaceted approach that evokes our connections to the past. One series that explores the complex, intense humanity that accentuates war’s real-life horrors is already one of the year’s best: Apple TV+’sMasters of the Air. Created byJohn ShibanandJohn Orloff, thenine-part companion seriesto HBO’s critically acclaimedBand of BrothersandThe Pacificis finally premiering after being in development for more than a decade.Masters of the Air, which hails from the award-winning producing team ofSteven Spielberg,Tom Hanks, andGary Goetzman, isan engaging war story with a stellar set of performances and a lavish production scale rivaling big-screen features.
Masters of the Air
During WWII, five miles above the ground and behind enemy lines, ten men inside a bomber known as a “Flying Fortress” battle unrelenting flocks of German fighters.
What Is ‘Masters of the Air’ About?
Adapted from New York Times bestselling author Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name,Masters of the Airfollows the true life experiences of young men serving in the 100th Bomb Group, also known as the “Bloody Hundredth.”Through a raw lens that highlights the psychological and emotional burdens endured by these men working to dismantle Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich, Orloff builds a spectacular portrait surrounding the complexities of American heroes. In telling the story of the airmen wedged into B-17s flying over Nazi Germany,Masters of the Airtakes notes from its companion pieces and evenSaving Private Ryanto elevate the cinematic experience with a sweeping, visceral epic bursting with grandeur.
Narrated across its nine episodes by navigator Maj. Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle, in a compelling performance),Masters of the Airchronicles the story of 10 men facing the grim realities of their missionswhile fighting Nazi Germany during WWII. Thrust into combat, the crew soon became a battle-hardened group in warfare, dropping bombs more than any other aircraft under the command of the United States Eighth Air Force. Throughthese nine installments, which raise the stakes in practically every way, we learn about the 100th bomb group led by a pair of charismatic commanders, Maj. Gale “Buck” Cleven (AustinButler) and Maj. John “Bucky” Egan (Callum Turner). Though Butler and Turner are more than enough to sell the show thanks to their incredible charm, they never miss a beat and shine while bringing a powerful ethos to the writing and direction.
‘Masters of the Air’ Is Elevated by Its Strong Cast
Butler’s Egan and Turner’s Cleven might have similar nicknames, but the two are a bit of an odd couple. Egan is boisterous and loud with a swashbuckling attitude who dares to go rogue when needed, but he has immense heart and energy, something Turner colorfully brings to life. Countering Egan’s larger-than-life character is Cleven, a strong and silent type with a steady girlfriend (Isabel May). He’s level-headed, attentive, and understands the weight of the situation each time without ever giving up. It’s a nuanced performance from Butler that is uncompromising and equally gripping. As the best of friends lead the charge and become inspirational figures to their squadrons thanks to stellar piloting and steadfast faith in the cause,the two represent an impenetrable dynamic within a lasting brotherhood.While the series’ companion pieces dive into themes of comradeship and lost innocence,Masters of the Airdelves into what three years ofthis specific pressure does to the human spirit.
‘Masters of the Air’ Cast and Character Guide: Who Stars in Apple TV+’s World War II Series?
There’s a reason this division was nicknamed the “Bloody Hundredth.”
The heart extends to the series’ entire cast, with characters that are forged in both grit and sincerity — Nate Mann’s Maj. Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal holds his own, with an impressive performance that is a true standout. As the series works to integrate its characters across nine episodes,Masters of the Airis stacked with a stellar supporting ensemble with sharply layered performances that bring its main story to a rich life. Alongside Mann and Boyle, on-screen presences likeBarry Keoghan,Rafferty Law, and the series’ ownTuskegee Airmen (or Red Tails), played byBrandon Cook,Ncuti Gatwa,andJosiah Cross, bring an intimate point-of-view through ambitious and captivating performances to help tell the story of the nation’s air war.
How Does ‘Masters of the Air’ Measure Up to ‘Band of Brothers’ and ‘The Pacific’?
With the eponymous book providing enough source material needed to conveyanother chapter in America’s WWII history,Masters of the Airis shot and developed exactly like a film made for the big screen, with sprawling cinematography and production design. In establishing the emotional context through pitch-perfect writing and strong battle sequences, we see robust similarities toBand of BrothersorThe Pacific. However,Apple TV+ does a remarkable job of establishing state-of-the-art battle scenes that thrust audiences into the height of air combat. It’s this specific design and choreography that providesMasters of the Airits medals for blockbuster-quality entertainment and a sharp pace that keeps its rhythm. In comparison to its predecessors, the special effects in this series are absolutely heightened for an eye-opening experience that is visceral and, at times, claustrophobic, allowing for an unabashed authenticity.
Some of the most enthralling scenes take place in the B-17s themselves, which amplify the series and deliver on expectations of who these “masters of the air” truly were. What we get are strong close-up shots of the action with characters smack-dab in the middle that bring an arresting pulse to the sequences. WhileBand of BrothersandThe Pacificwere mostly grounded wars, the horrors in the air are all their own, and Spielberg, Hanks, and Goetzman work with Orloff’s scripts tocreate an expansive story that defies what we know from history books.
A lot of horrific things took place in those cockpits and the series doesn’t shy away from those atrocities, with airmen getting hit by flak bombs or being trapped in the inferno of a spiraling B-17.Masters of the Airleans into itsgraphic reality with an intensity that creates a lot more gravitas through the eyes of these young airmen.In these moments, some of the series' most naturally reactive scenes tie into its overall portrait of courage, loss, and triumph.
‘Masters of the Air’ Is More Than Just a “Fight and Survive” Story
With episodes shot and designed cinematically,Masters of the Airis more than just a “fight and survive” story. There is an incredible heart at the center of this show and a humanity that surpasses the genre’s usual exceptionalism narratives. In becoming a story of courage and hope through the bonds of brotherhood,the appeal of the series would not have been possible without its captivating writing, direction, and outstanding cast.By understanding who these characters are in battle, we also understand the psychological and emotional price they endured to help destroy the horrors of Hitler’s Third Reich. It’s a conversation that was taboo during its time, but many soldiers experienced loneliness, while others battled thegnawing effects of slow-building PTSD and trauma.
Through these characters’ inner turmoil, and the squads putting mental health first by allowing their airmen some recreational downtime or much-needed rest, there is a deeper sense of duty that permeates throughout. Without spoiling plot points, one such powerful scene happens when Maj. Rosenthal’sattachment to WWII is given a chilling reality.Mann’s sobering expression as he walks through an area decimated by war during that period speaks to us simply through his eyes and body language. It is one of the series’ darkest moments, but also emphasizes how deeply and emotionally affected he is by the sight before him.
Masters of the Airis an immersive television experience that also serves asa strikingly visceral and graphic period piece. Episode after episode, it takes audiences on a breathtaking journey to the chapters of history we rarely see or understand, and strengthens itswar story of brotherhood through sacrifice and courage. This saga of ordinary men demonstrating acts of extraordinary courage is awe-inspiring and will, for lack of a better phrase, hit you right in the feels. From the beginning ofMasters of the Air’s opening credits featuringBlake Neely’s lush, symphonic theme, the series offers a cinematic approach to airmen experiencing the external and internal facets of war and the perils of their responsibility. With incandescent storytelling, action-packed sequences, and exceptional performances,Masters of the Airis Apple TV+ at its very best and proves to be the first must-watch series of the year.
Masters of the Air is Apple TV+ at its very best and holds up as a must-watch triumph about the Second World War.
Masters of the Airpremieres with two episodes on January 26 on Apple TV+ in the U.S.
