Summary
Masters of the Air is a standout TV series that depicts the brutality and horrors of war with breathtaking action sequences and detailed character development. The series is strengthened by an exceptional ensemble, featuring many Hollywood stars in the making. Apple strikes gold once again.
The horrors of World War II have been depicted in numerous films and TV shows over the years, including the miniseries Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Apple TV+’s latest miniseries Masters of the Air works as a companion piece to those two award-winning shows, with the same producers (Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman) all returning once again.
Masters of the Air Season 1 review and plot summary
This highly anticipated war drama series centers on the 100th Bomb Group of the United States Army Air Forces as they were sent on many perilous combat missions throughout the Second World War, which resulted in an unsettling number of casualties, leading to their nickname the Bloody Hundredth. Their missions involved daylight bomb raids of specific targets in Nazi Germany, leading to intense air battles.
The series portrays these battle sequences with a verve and ferocity that will shock and enthrall. Masters of the Air feels both cinematic in its scope and its execution. The action is always tense and dazzlingly shot, demonstrating both the brutality and futility of war at the very same time. You never know which characters will make it back to base alive and which ones will be lost from one mission to the next.
Our fearless air crew unit is led by Majors Gale “Buck” Cleven (Austin Butler) and John “Bucky” Egan (Callum Turner), best friends who trained together before joining the Bloody Hundredth. Austin Butler channels a young Brad Pitt with this iconic turn, playing Gale as a mysterious yet charismatic leader, whilst Callum Turner’s Bucky is just as complex, a drunkard who encapsulates the American fighting spirit in every scene.
These majors lead a team of 35 planes and 350 brave air crewmen with the hopes of completing 25 missions in a row for that rare chance to return home to their high school sweethearts and the safety of a war-free America. The series stars many more standout players, including Major Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle), a navigator who narrates the entire story, and Lt. Curtis Biddick, played by Barry Keoghan, who is back after traumatizing us all with Saltburn in 2023.
As the series progresses, we are introduced to many other characters, including Sgt Ken Lemmons (played by Jude Law’s son Raff Law) and the new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, makes a late appearance as 2nd Lt Robert Daniels. There’s even a small cameo from Louis Hofmann (Dark) to look out for.
With such a large, sprawling cast of characters to juggle, it does take a little while to fully invest in the crewmen, but once the show enters the darker depths of the war and provides us with added tension in some shocking ways, Masters of the Air hits its stride. These are characters that you will want to see succeed and stories that will test your resolve. This is bloody and brutal filmmaking that doesn’t hold back.
Masters of the Air is breathtaking yet brutal
Masters of the Air is another strong addition to Apple TV+’s ever-growing library of content. The series truly soars when depicting intense and harrowing air battle sequences, which hammer home the futility of war. These violent and gruesome action sequences are both breathtaking and shocking to behold. The series is further strengthened by an impressive ensemble cast, giving all its up-and-coming Hollywood stars a chance to shine.
The series isn’t without its faults though. At times it can be hard to keep up with so many cast members and it takes a few episodes to build a bond with the central players. The filmmakers try hard to create a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie in the group though and it is worth the wait to see this initial groundwork eventually pay off. Once the series passes the halfway mark, the storylines are finally given the chance to truly kick into gear.
Masters of the Air is a breath of fresh air in the TV landscape, choosing to take its time, where other stories would rush through their plot points. The series is crammed full of action scenes, but it also finds space to develop its characters. This Apple Original doesn’t rely on melodrama or twist endings to keep its audience entertained either, but instead focuses on cinematic visuals and impressive storytelling, which should be respected and applauded.
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