Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg produced 'Masters of the Air' debuts on Apple TV+

Even in this current entertainment reality where the amount of programming feels limitless, running across a production such as “Masters of the Air” is a rarity.

It's a throwback in its examination of the men who served as Army pilots during World War II, individuals that continue to dwindle in number.

Produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, whose affinity and affection for those veterans are well known through a prior effort on HBO called “Band of Brothers,” “Masters” is reminiscent of the mini-series era that began in the ‘70s with “Roots.”

It possesses the scope and range that the best mini-series in television history often displayed and has that in common with its cousin, “Band of Brothers.”

It’s a sprawling historical epic based on true events that is laced with compelling stories about not just the battles, but also the people. It’s told through the narration of Lt. Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle), who mentions right from the beginning that the men who flew in the Army Air Corps were from all over − a fact that is emphasized in the story.

We meet Buck (Austin Butler) from Wyoming and John Egan (Callum Turner) from Wisconsin and become immersed in their respective stories as they come to learn the harshness of what they have to contend with in battle and eventually in captivity.

Just as importantly, the assorted writers and directors display a duty to historical fidelity – at least at a cursory level. It is a piece of entertainment, after all. But in remembering the role the Tuskegee Airmen played in the war and delving into the lives of those pilots, giving a voice to these men who were treated as second-class citizens despite their sacrifices, it proves balanced and more compelling.

That equilibrium is even more prevalent in how the series makers present the war. There is little doubt the cause is just and noble, but sometimes those factors can be glossed over in favor of candy-coating the effects of war.

It features great performances from Butler and Egan among a host of others and represents another win for Apple TV+, a streaming service that continues to emphasize quality programming over quantity to great effect.

A prequel worth watching

If “Masters” feeds the desire for entertainment featuring substantive topics, “Sexy Beast,” a series prequel to the 2000 film of the same name that starred Ben Kingsley, satisfies the hunger for mindless entertainment.

Kingsley gave a ferocious performance as the member of a crew of highly skilled thieves, portraying an unhinged Don Logan in the film.

To say Emun Elliott takes that persona and runs with it would be an understatement. Paired with his more temperate buddy Gal (James McArdle), they make an interesting pair and serve as a guide through London’s maze of organized crime.

The series shows how Don and Gal came to be the people that inhabited that film. By the third episode, I was hooked.

It fits right in with the British gangster film sensibility that pervaded some of Guy Richie’s works like “Snatch” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” Yes, that's a good thing.

It’s definitely worth sampling.

George M. Thomas dabbles in movies and streaming for the Beacon Journal.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg-produced 'Masters of the Air' debuts