World War II is usually an ideal setting for talking about the pain, severity and horror of military conflicts. A recurring theme on the big and small screen, one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century also allows for an exploration of time. At the same time, about the harsh conditions to which it subjected an entire generation in just over five years of battle and struggle. The result is a premise that may be familiar, but at every opportunity, what happened is analyzed from a new perspective.
This is what happens to Masters of the air with AppleTV+. Based on the book of the same name by Donald L. Miller, the nine-episode series again chronicles the war, but this time from the air. In particular, what do members of the so-called 100th Bomb Group. The so-called Bloody hundredthif the advancing pilots were willing to die to stop the siege Third Reich. But much more than his willingness to attack directly was the conviction that the German air force was an important point of attack for Adolf Hitler. Thus, their destruction, or at least their destruction, allowed for significant advances in Allied strategy.
Masters of the Air
The Apple TV+ series returns to the military genre with a meticulous recreation of the aerial battles of the so-called Bloody Hundred. The group destroyed over a hundred German aircraft, and the production recreates this feat with a visual marvel that turns the battles into a thrilling experience. But its greatest strength is its writing, which gives the characters time, interest and depth.
The series borrows much of its plot from the book on which it is based. This allows you to create the same atmosphere of harsh realism that was glorified at that time in Brother by blood. The HBO series marked the history of telling stories about the harshness of war, as well as the vulnerability of those who fought in it. Screenwriter John Orloff achieves this balance by spending a lot of time exploring his characters. In fact, the first two chapters are dedicated to making two things clear. On the one hand, this is a team of men united by one goal. On the other hand, screen drama is more than just its technical side. The combination of both factors is what makes your story successful.
Through the air in search of triumph
The cinematography by Adam Arkapaw, Jack Fitzgerald, David Franco and Richard Rutkowski manages to recreate the sense of urgency of battle at altitude. Of course, two decades ago practical effects had to simulate pressure, low temperatures and wind force. IN Masters of the air, the solution is to use a digital and almost immersive experience to show what it’s like to pilot at 25,000 feet. An element which, from the opening scenes, will become important for understanding the behavior of the group of men who formed the British air vanguard.
The leading voice of this group of self-proclaimed fearless men is Major Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle). It chronicles the evolution from crew members with specific missions to a group of friends willing to give their lives for each other. The plot is constructed very carefully so as not to fall into sentimentality or embellished motives. The connection between characters is achieved when they understand that the other’s abilities are the key to survival. It is through this point of view that the story avoids creating artificial heroes or pushing the story in a certain direction.
Instead, he carefully examines the context of each and gives each figure a moment of attention, allowing you to empathize with each of them. From pilot Gale “Buck” Kleven (Austin Butler) and Major John Egan (Callum Tornero). Masters of the Air focuses on the emotional and intellectual development of the characters. In particular, it allows actors To show nuances beyond their ability to manifest, they wield heavy weaponry convincingly.
Starting with these two figures, the series deepens the story of what it’s like to fly without knowing if you’ll survive or even be convinced of death. One of the production’s greatest strengths is to ensure that this ambiguity doesn’t seem reckless or artificially bold. Pilots are afraid and show it. But fear is not enough to limit their understanding of their responsibility to the country and the world. Gradually, the series makes it clear that the main conflict is not how much realism it can show, but how believable the repeated risks its characters take are. An essential nuance to understand how to develop your script.
A series glorifying the military genre.
To describe scenes like Masters of the air, we usually talk about arguing with the soul. A vague term that implies that it is not just a story, but a story meant to move. The same can be said about the production of AppleTV+. but that would be to downplay his script’s efforts to create an emotional and truthful document.
Much of history is spent exploring motives. But no matter what this group of young officers may or may not decide, the problem is that they have few options. One of them is to allow Nazi Germany to turn them into another conquered territory. Second, resist while you can. The script then finds its best when it insists that the only purpose – and purpose – is to fight. before being defeated or crushed by enemy vehicles.
Produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. Blood Brothers on this premise of the same magnitude and solidity. But despite everything, The Masters of the Air retains its own personality and gives much more of a sense of combat in unusual places. Whether it was on a plane that was destined to be shot down, or in personal decisions in the barracks. The most interesting point in this magnificent work, which gets better from chapter to chapter.
Source: Hiper Textual
