Masters of the Air episode 3 review: "A singular, formidable piece of television"

GamesRadar+ VerdictA suave, old-school cool start with visceral, violent aerial battles, Masters of the Air’s debut episodes showcase high-budget, cinematic, prestige television. GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict A suave, old-school cool start with visceral, violent aerial battles, Masters of the Air’s debut episodes showcase high-budget, cinematic, prestige television. A suave, old-school cool start with visceral, violent aerial battles, Masters of the Air’s debut episodes showcase high-budget, cinematic, prestige television. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Spoilers for Masters of the Air episode 3 follow. The high point of Band of Brothers, the 2001 spiritual predecessor to Masters of the Air, was undoubtedly ‘Bastogne’. A breathless masterpiece that simultaneously acted as a thundering shock to the system and a testament to its heroes during the Battle of the Bulge, the miniseries’ finest hour stood alone as a triumphant benchmark few have dared to reach since. The Masters of the Air’s third episode may not eclipse its big brother, but it is a similar statement of intent – with a rousing mission as daring as any that Easy Company pulled off. The Bloody Hundredth are tasked with flying deep into German territory to bomb production targets and factories. Their getaway? A one-way trip to Africa – if they can survive. As opening acts go, Masters of the Air does away with the slightly more methodical, intimate pace of the opening two entries. In its place, the human bravado of its flyboys is blended with a daring Hollywood-style premise that wouldn’t look out of place if Tom Cruise’s Maverick was busily conducting the briefing. As pea-souped skies stall take-off, there are people praying and pilots delivering cryptic riddles about being caught at a crossroads between Valhalla and Hell in purgatory. “It’ll be like a holiday,” Major Bowman boasts of his squadron’s final destination in Algeria. He couldn’t be more wrong. Fog of war (Image credit: Apple) As Bucky, Buck, Cros, and Curtis take off, it’s clear that it’s not always going to be smooth sailing – and that includes some stutters from the episode itself. The dogfights, while clearly strongly storyboarded with a clear sense of space, time, and purpose, feel too often like you’re watching a video game; when everything feels slightly weightless and restricted in the small cockpits and gun placements, it’s hard to get as emotionally invested. Crash landing (Image credit: Apple) No, it’s no ‘Bastogne’. It never could be. Masters of the Air, though, earns its wings in other ways: namely, the extended aerial sequence and its ability to drop a megaton of plot points without losing any of the desired emotional impact. As Bucky crashes his way onto African soil, it’s ‘mission accomplished’. In a cruel, twisted way, it is: a terrifying, towering 45 minutes that blows the show up and starts again. What comes next is anyone’s guess (unless you’ve been hitting the history books, that is) and the show is all the stronger for it. Masters of the Air is now streaming on Apple TV Plus. You can fill out your watchlist with our guide to thebest Apple TV shows. 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review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 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the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”