There ’s something unambiguously enduring about well - made World War II thrillers . Maybe it ’s because going to Europe to fight the Nazis remain one of the most virtuously simple causes of warfare in American chronicle . Maybe it ’s because there ’s still a general respect for the men who fought the war that has n’t been totally extinguished . Whatever the reason , Masters of the Airdoesn’t feel out-of-date , quondam - fashioned , or stale , and that is a miracle in and of itself .
The third installment in a trilogy of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks - producedm WWII - set miniseries , Masters of the Airoffers a different perspective on the notorious war than its two predecessor . UnlikeBand of BrothersandThe Pacific , both of which say in spades on - the - ground fib , the newApple TV+ showfocuses on the efforts of the hundredth Bomb Group , a United States Air Force getup of B-17 pilots and crewman that was tasked with helping the Allies take control of Europe by dropping turkey on Nazi - controlled area of the continent .
Despite the differences that separate it from its fellow WWII drama , Masters of the Airsucceeds for many of the same reasons asBand of BrothersandThe Pacific . Not only is it exceptionally well - made , but it also boasts a level of heart that allows its broad , uncomplicated notions of valor to reach far , far severely than they should . It ’s a nine - hour Dad Epic of the highest order — one that is ironically overflowing with some of Hollywood ’s most hopeful young performer .
Based on Donald L. Miller ’s 2007 nonfictional prose playscript of the same name , Masters of the Airfollows and dramatizes the adventures of several fellow member of the hundredth Bomb Group — a unit of measurement that was unofficially dub the “ Bloody Hundredth ” due to all the losses that it experienced throughout World War II . The series ’ ostensible leads are best protagonist Gale Cleven ( Austin Butler ) and John Egan ( Callum Turner ) , a pair of majors in the U.S. Air Force . They are joined in the 100th by Harry Crosby ( Anthony Boyle ) , a gifted sailing master prone to air sickness ; Curtis Biddick ( Barry Keoghan ) , a brash , cocky poor boy pilot ; and Robert “ Rosie ” Rosenthal ( a breakout Nate Mann ) , a natural - born leader .
As is the casing inBand of BrothersandThe Pacific , certain faces come and go throughoutMasters of the Air ’s nine episodes . Some characters are sent home , while others adjoin tragic ends in their planes . Contrary to what the revolving doorway nature of its cast might suggest , though , Masters of the Airacknowledges the blinking cost of state of war without go out of its way to bludgeon witness with disaster and death . Created by John Shiban and John Orloff , it ’s a series that is most interested in exploring the braveness of its real - liveliness fighter , all of whom demonstrated amazing level of both bravery and camaraderie in the face of unimaginable horror . Its intended effect is bittersweet , but uplifting , and throughout its installments , Masters of the Airgradually realise its climactic swells of emotion , katharsis , and heartbreak .
That ’s due , in no little part , to the efforts of its performer , most of whom bring in distinguishable layers to their persona even whenMasters of the Air ’s scripts do n’t have enough clock time for them . Turner shines as the worked up , reckless Eagan , while Butler cements his place as one of Hollywood ’s few really up - and - coming movie star with his clear - eyed , personality - driven performance as Gale Cleven , the unofficial leader of the 100th ’s pilots . Opposite them , Keoghan and Boyle predictably slip more than a few scenes playing two part who could not be more different from each other . Newcomer Mann , meanwhile , turns in a memorable performance as Rosie , a cowcatcher whose commitment to his unit drives him to imposingly larger-than-life heights .
The series does its ripe to give each of its characters their due , but it inescapably fight to successfully juggle all of its various cowcatcher and crewmen . Certain figure , like Bel Powley ’s Alexandra Wingate and Laurie Davidson ’s Herbert Nash , are n’t developed as deeply as they could be . The show ’s late - season attempt to branch out the scope of its story by introducing the perspective of the Tuskegee Airmen , a grouping of African American fighter pilots , is undeniably admirable as well , but the unit ’s founding make out too late for its members to be give as much depth as many of their white counterparts .
These issues are , thankfully , alleviated by several clever choices made by Shiban , Orloff , and their fellow writer . Their decision to center each ofMasters of the Air ’s first four episodes , in special , around private missionary work loan a heightened narrative centering and uncompromising occasional social organisation to its initial installments . By introducing several non - air - base storylines in its 2nd half , the series is also able to uprise into an even more comprehensive portrayal of its real - life sentence soldier ’ wartime experiences than many may expect .
master of the Airis additionally elevate at all times by the sheer workmanship on display throughout it . Director Cary Joji Fukunaga and cinematographer Adam Arkapaw lay down a visual vibrancy in the show ’s scuttle chapters that is observe by its other directors , Dee Rees , Tim Van Patten , and Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck . With its eye - pop colors , impeccable production intention , muscular steering , and telling optical effect , the miniseries is able to attain an even greater cinematic quality than bothBand of BrothersandThe Pacific , and which still feels rarified on TV .
Masters of the Airisn’t ultimately as narratively balanced as its two Spielberg and Hanks - bring forth predecessors , but its cast and spirit of technical showmanship assist it make up for its shortcoming . Only a few week into 2024 , it ’s already emerged as a competition for the rubric of the year ’s most visually arresting , well - crafted miniseries . Never once does it seem like it ’s on the sceptre of crashing into the ground . On the opposite , it soars more often than it does n’t .
The first two sequence ofMasters of the Airare cyclosis now on Apple TV+ . New episodes premiere weekly on Fridays . Digital Trends was given early access to all of the series ’ nine instalment .
