Masters of the Air is a 2024 American war drama miniseries created by John Shiban and John Orloff for Apple TV+. It is based on the 2007 book of the same name by Donald L. Miller and follows the actions of the 100th Bomb Group, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber unit in the Eighth Air Force in eastern England during World War II. The series is the final of three companion piece miniseries, following Band of Brothers (2001) and The Pacific (2010), and is the only one not to air on HBO. It is the first series to be produced by Apple Studios in cooperation with Playtone and Amblin Television and stars Austin Butler, Callum Turner and Anthony Boyle as part of an ensemble cast. The series consists of nine episodes.
Principal photography began in England in 2021 but was delayed on several occasions due to strict government measures related to COVID-19. Masters of the Air premiered on January 26, 2024 and received positive reviews, with many highlighting the performances and action sequences but criticizing the screenwriting, tone, and historical inaccuracies. It received three nominations at the 76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, winning one.
Contents
Premise
Masters of the Air recounts the story of the 100th Bomb Group during World War II and follows bomber crews on dangerous missions to destroy targets inside German-occupied Europe.
The show portrays the intensity of war, the dangers the airmen face, and the friendships and relationships they develop.
Cast
Main
Austin Butler as Maj. Gale "Buck" Cleven
Callum Turner as Maj. John "Bucky" Egan
Anthony Boyle as Lt. Harry Crosby
Barry Keoghan as Lt. Curtis Biddick
Nikolai Kinski as Col. Harold Huglin
Stephen Campbell Moore as Maj. Marvin "Red" Bowman
Sawyer Spielberg as Lt. Roy Frank Claytor
Isabel May as Marjorie "Marge" Spencer
James Murray as Col. Neil "Chick" Harding
Nate Mann as Maj. Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal
Laurie Davidson as Lt. Herbert Nash
Joanna Kulig as Paulina
Louis Hofmann as Lt. Ulrich Haussmann
Jamie Parker as Dr. Huston
Bel Powley as Sub. Alessandra "Sandra" Wesgate
Sam Hazeldine as Col. Albert Clark
Josiah Cross as 2nd Lt. Richard D. Macon
Branden Cook as 2nd Lt. Alexander Jefferson
Ncuti Gatwa as 2nd Lt. Robert Daniels
Jerry MacKinnon as Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
Josh Dylan as Lt. George Niethammer
Guest
100th Bomb Group
Tuskegee Airmen
Kwame Agyei as Lt. Joseph Evans Gordon
Tomisin Ajani as Captain Erwin B. Lawrence
Bradley Banton as Lieutenant Lee "Buddy" Archer
Jonathan Jules as Lt. Shelby F. Westbrook
Darryl Mundoma as Lt. Charles M. Bussey
Francis Lovehall as Captain Wendell O. Pruitt
Rahshan Wall as Lt. Frederick D. Funderburg
Other
Nancy Farino as Lil, a barmaid at a pub frequented by the airmen
Tommy Jessop as Tommy, a local whom Egan befriends
Toby Eden as Billy Taylor, a boy who lives near the airfield, looked after by Lemmons
Alfie Tempest as Sammy Hurley, a boy who lives near the airfield, looked after by Lemmons
Harriet Leitch as Tatty Spaatz, a volunteer for the American Red Cross
Emma Canning as Helen, a volunteer for the American Red Cross who makes a connection with Lt. Nash
Ben Segers as Vincent, a Belgian resistance fighter aiding Quinn and Bailey in returning to England
Vincent Londez as Jean Achten, a Belgian resistance fighter aiding Quinn and Bailey in returning to England
Production
In October 2012, there were reports of a third World War II miniseries, in the same vein as Band of Brothers and The Pacific, but focusing on United States Army Air Forces aircrews of the Eighth Air Force, that was being considered by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. In January 2013, HBO confirmed that it was developing the miniseries, based on Donald L. Miller's book Masters 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 Reporter said 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 Fukunaga was announced as director of the first three episodes. In February 2021, Austin Butler and Callum Turner were cast to star. Anthony Boyle and Nate Mann joined the cast in March, with Raff Law, James Murray and Tommy Jessop added in April. Freddy Carter revealed his casting in a May interview, while set photos revealed that Barry Keoghan was also cast. In June, Dee Rees was announced as directing episodes of the series. In July, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck were also announced as directing episodes. Colleen Atwood served as costume designer.
In February 2021, it was reported that production had begun at Dalton Barracks (the former WWII airfield RAF Abingdon) in Oxfordshire, England. Retrospective temporary 12-month planning permission was applied for at Newland Park, Chalfont St Peter, following the construction of a WWII barracks on the site. Filming paused briefly in July due to positive COVID-19 tests. Production also occurred in Hemel Hempstead. The series used on-set virtual production by Lux Machina for cockpit scenes. Stephen Rosenbaum served as the visual effects supervisor for the miniseries. In total, 3,447 visual effects shots were used for the series. Over 1,600–2,000 visual effects shots were done by DNEG, including most of the aerial sequences.
Release
Masters of the Air premiered on Apple TV+ on January 26, 2024.
The Bloody Hundredth
A companion documentary titled The Bloody Hundredth, narrated by Tom Hanks, tells the story of the 100th Bomb Group that inspired the stories in Masters of the Air. It was released on March 15, 2024, on Apple TV+.
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 100 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 Air can stand proud alongside its sibling series Band of Brothers and The Pacific." Metacritic assigned the series a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Writing for The 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 the i, 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 Telegraph also criticized the show, saying it "sacrificed authenticity for Hollywood clichés". Empire pointed 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 the RAF.
The series has been criticized 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 criticized, including making the B-17s seem "cartoonish".
