IR TV Review: MASTERS OF THE AIR - EPISODES 1 & 2 [Apple TV+]
"Masters Of The Air", like "Band Of Brothers" before it, is about how experience changes a person in all facets of their existence. Everyone thinks they can handle life until they are thrown in the ringer. And no generation like that of the young soldiers of World War II (save maybe for World War I -- but that very different in terms of the technology) would have to grow up and be handling such conflicts barely in their 20s (if that(. The two main characters that bond but also have some growing up to do rests in the characters of Major Gale Cleven (Austin Butler) and Major John Egan (Callum Turner) who each have their own obstacles as they are stationed in England as the new front line of American bombers. Egan arrives in England first bringing American bravado behind him before learning the grim return of the bombing raids. Cleven is more clean cut though he himself is always trying to push in the side of good while still being a realist.
The aspect that fuels into the 2nd episode is how seat-of-the-pants and guess work was involved in the raids. The aspect of cluster bombs and civilian casualties in an interesting perspective here but one that doesn't register until they see flack affecting their own. But life on the base is also about the heirarchy. Some airmen simply cannot paint within the lines but others need the reminder that they are still alive. There are glimmers of hope such as the head basse mechanic played by Rafferty Law (son of Jude) who understands that there is a need of play. Cleven's voice over almost reminds viewers that there are many unsung heroes of the war who never get called out for valor. A moment when there is a joy of setting a runway on fire to clean off the oil is brilliant with Law and some local English kids.
Barry Keoghan (before his career altering "Saltburn" role) keeps in playing slightly off characters. He is the Brooklyn in the house but also knows that his character runs close to stepping over the line but needs to keep in check with the team and the heirarchy that governs the fleet. When the bombers start lining up at different points, one gets the feeling of that attention to detail that Spielberg and Hanks can bring to such a production. These young fly boys are just starting to be put through the ringer but is also about what they are willing to do to protect each other. When one of the planes is damaged on a ruined run, the empathy and risk some take in figuring out how to get them back to land is quite riveting (and has an undeniable parallel to the original "Top Gun"). But again these boys are still boys in a very unforgiving environment. With the end of Episode 2, they finally see what they have signed on for and learned some loss. But trauma and tragedy in this arena are inevitable...it is just a matter who we watch these guys and their missions bring them to bear. A
By Tim Wassberg
