‘Masters of the Air’ reviews: Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan lead ‘eye-watering’ Apple TV+ limited series

Vincent Mandile
·5 min read
4
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

On January 26, 2024, the highly anticipated limited series “Masters of the Air” began streaming on Apple TV+. Based on the 2007 book “Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany” by Donald L. Miller, the series stars Austin Butler, Barry Keoghan, Callum Turner and Anthony Boyle as members of the 100th Bomb Group, a B-17 Flying Fortress unit in the Air Force during World War II. 

Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, the show created by John Shiban and John Orloff is seen as a companion to “Band of Brothers” (2001) and “The Pacific” (2010). Early reviews prove it’s a hit with critics, flying high at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences rank it even higher at 92% fresh. The critics consensus reads, “Soaring high with its immaculate production design and acutely well-observed characters, ‘Masters of the Air’ can stand proud alongside its sibling series ‘Band of Brothers’ and ‘The Pacific.'” Read our full review round-up below.

More from GoldDerby

SEE Apple TV+ drops new teaser trailer for World War II limited series ‘Masters of the Air’ [WATCH]

Kayleigh Dray of AV Club writes, “Many will praise the series for offering up an ambitious spectacle, but we honestly believe that its success lies in its refusal to shy away from the humanity of war. Which is all to say: Watch this show.” She continues, “With an eye-watering production budget of $200 million to $250 million, and with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg (the creators of ‘Band Of Brothers’) as EPs, this World War II miniseries ticks a lot of boxes—particularly in terms of production value and special effects. It feels, at times, like an immersive experience. The cast, too, is quite frankly ridiculous. And the fact it’s based on the real first-hand accounts of the real soldiers involved in the 100th Bomb Group? That just adds an extra layer of realism and gravitas to events that viewers will appreciate and eventually curse as they wipe the tears away from their sodden cheeks.

Alex Maidy of JoBlo’s Movie Network states, “No one will finish watching Masters of the Air without feeling every conceivable emotion, and that is an achievement these actors and filmmakers should be proud of. Austin Butler and Callum Turner deliver excellent performances but are balanced by an ensemble cast of rich talent more than up to the caliber of this story. ‘Masters of the Air’ resonated with me more than the other two series as my grandfather served in World War II in the Air Force, and seeing this era recreated on screen is a powerful reminder of an era we will hopefully never endure again.

SEE Apple TV+ unveils first look, airdate for WWII limited series ‘Masters of the Air’ from Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman

John Nugent of Empire Magazine writes, “Some minor quibbles aside, this is another blockbuster TV smash: a dazzlingly vital history lesson that summons the best tension, drama and emotion of ‘Band Of Brothers.’” He concludes, “’Masters Of The Air’ does occasionally remember that there were other countries fighting with the Allies in World War II, but the RAF enjoy only a passing mention, and non-Americans are largely depicted through stereotypes or clichés (Brits are invariably stiff-upper-lipped; one German gets the unironic line, ‘For you, ze war is over’). This is a view of the war from a triumphalist American lens; the final episode even offers a moment of literal flag-fluttering Stars-and-Stripes patriotism.”

Brian Tallerico of The Playlist notes, “While it’s unfair to compare nearly anything to ‘Band of Brothers’ or even ‘The Pacific,’ it’s almost impossible not to do so here, given the strong sense that this is practically a sequel to those earlier projects. The blunt truth is that it doesn’t come close to operating on the same artistic level. The attention to detail will be enough for some viewers (even with some relatively shoddy aerial CGI), especially those interested in this chapter of history, but ‘Masters of the Air’ makes several mistakes that Playtone (that’s Hanks/Spielberg’s company) avoided in the HBO productions, succumbing to over-written dialogue, cliched characters, and a sense that everything looks too pretty. Some of the performances elevate the production, as does a pair of major talents in directing chairs in the final run of the show, but it’s hard not to call this major series a disappointment.”

PREDICTthe 2024 SAG Awards winners by Feb. 24

Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Don’t miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?

Best of GoldDerby

Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.