Masters of the Air

Masters of the Airis a 2024 Americanwar dramaminiseriescreated byJohn ShibanandJohn OrloffforApple TV+.It is based on the 2007 book of the same name byDonald L. Millerand follows the actions of the100th Bomb Group, aBoeing B-17 Flying Fortressheavy bomber unit in theEighth Air Forceineastern EnglandduringWorld War II.The series serves as a companion toBand of Brothers(2001) andThe Pacific(2010). It is the first series to be produced byApple Studiosin cooperation withPlaytoneandAmblin Televisionand starsAustin Butler,Callum TurnerandAnthony Boyleas part of an ensemble cast. The series consists of nine episodes.
Principal photographybegan in England in 2021 but was delayed on several occasions due to strict government measures related toCOVID-19.Masters of the Airpremiered on January 26, 2024 to generally positive reviews, and received three nominations at the76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, winning one.
Masters of the Airrecounts the story of the 100th Bomb Group duringWorld War IIand follows bomber crews on dangerous missions to destroy targets insideGerman-occupied Europe.
The show portrays the intensity of war, the dangers that the airmen face, and the friendships and relationships that develop.
100th Bomb Group
Tuskegee Airmen
Other
In October 2012, there were reports of a third World War IIminiseries, in the same vein asBand of BrothersandThe Pacific,but focusing onUnited States Army Air Forcesaircrewsof the Eighth Air Force, that was being considered byTom HanksandSteven Spielberg.In January 2013,HBOconfirmed that it was developing the miniseries, based onDonald L. Miller's bookMasters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany, to be adapted by John Orloff.The series would focus on the 100th Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force.
In October 2019, it was reported that Apple had made a deal with Spielberg's and Hanks's respective production companies to stream the series exclusively on Apple TV+ instead of HBO.In a statement, HBO later confirmed that it had decided not to move forward with the series.The Hollywood Reportersaid it would consist of nine episodes at a total cost of $250 million.The series is the first Apple TV+ series to go into production under the technology firm's in-house production company,Apple Studios.
In October 2020,Cary Joji Fukunagawas announced as director of the first three episodes.In February 2021,Austin ButlerandCallum Turnerwere cast to star.Anthony BoyleandNate Mannjoined the cast in March,withRaff Law,James MurrayandTommy Jessopadded in April.Freddy Carterrevealed his casting in a May interview,while set photos revealed thatBarry Keoghanwas also cast.In June,Dee Reeswas announced as directing episodes of the series.In July,Anna Boden and Ryan Fleckwere also announced as directing episodes.Colleen Atwoodserved as costume designer.
In February 2021, it was reported that production had begun atDalton Barracks(the former WWII airfieldRAF Abingdon) inOxfordshire,England.Retrospective temporary 12-month planning permission was applied for atNewland Park, Chalfont St Peter, following the construction of a WWII barracks on the site.Filming paused briefly in July due to positiveCOVID-19tests.Production also occurred inHemel Hempstead.The series usedon-set virtual productionby Lux Machina for cockpit scenes.Stephen Rosenbaumserved as the visual effects supervisor for the miniseries.In total, 3,447 visual effects shots were used for the series.Over 1,600 visual effects shots were done byDNEG, including most of the aerial sequences.
Masters of the Airpremiered on Apple TV+ on January 26, 2024.
A companion documentary titledThe Bloody Hundredth, narrated byTom Hanks, tells the story of the 100th Bomb Group that inspired the stories inMasters of the Air. It was released on March 15, 2024, on Apple TV+.
On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes, 85% of 98 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Soaring high with its immaculate production design and acutely well-observed characters,Masters of the Aircan stand proud alongside its sibling seriesBand of BrothersandThe Pacific."Metacriticassigned the series aweighted averagescore of 72 out of 100 based on 41 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Writing forThe Guardian, Rebecca Nicholson gave the series five out of five, describing it as "truly fantastic television", portraying the experience of the pilots "as thrilling as it is terrible".However, in thei, Emily Baker rated the series two out of five, describing it as "the first big TV disappointment of 2024". Baker criticizes the predictable and "formulaic" drama, thin characterization, and storylines and suggests that the series is "too old-fashioned to compete with today's prestige TV".The Daily Telegraphcriticises the show, saying it "sacrificed authenticity for Hollywood clichés"Empirepointed out that it is all handled with "a certain strain of American exceptionalism" with non-Americans appearing as stereotypes, the British portrayed as "invariably stiff-upper-lipped" and "only a passing mention" for theRAF.
The series has been criticised regarding its accuracy,with many changes and omissions from the actual story of the 100th.The lack of a strategic narrative was also commented on - "the limited focus on strategy missed the opportunity to put the characters’ experience into context".
The quality of CGI for the aerial scenes was also criticised,including making the B17s seem "cartoonish".