Apple’s latest show, Masters of the Air, initally excited many fans with their promising trailer a month ago. However, the first two episodes have failed to live up to the high expectations that fans gathered from the trailer.
Key Takeaways:
– Masters of the Air fails to recapture the magic of its predecessors Band of Brothers and The Pacific.
– Critic complains of digital elements and maudlin scenes in the series.
– There’s a lack of self-awareness and irony, with strong patriotism prevalent throughout.
– Critic remains unimpressed after the first two episodes, unlikely to return for the third.
Weak Start Disappoints
Following the première of Masters of the Air, critics and viewers alike find the series wanting. The first two episodes present overly digital scenes and an overflow of overly sentimental sequences, recalling missteps in other recent series.
The way the character portrayed by Austin Butler gazes out from beneath a misty, desaturated cloud of cigarette smoke gives rise to concerns. The critic describes the scenes as excessively digital and melancholically maudlin, deviating from the magic of Band of Brothers or the horror of The Pacific.
Doubtful Continuation
The Arstechnica critic’s lack of enthusiasm about the series goes beyond disappointment. After watching the first two episodes, he feels he has seen all that Masters has to offer. Expectations of witnessing a grim, no-holds-barred look into the dangerous lives of B-17 piloting during the World War are left unmet.
The show seems to hold no irony or self-awareness, nor historic interviews with war veterans which would have added a human touch to the protagonist’s story. The critic laments about the relentless patriotic spirit present throughout the series, creating little room for other emotional nuances.
Missed Opportunities and Overbearing Patriotism
The critic argues that Masters lacks the depth and maturity needed for a successful World War II show. Instead, it provides a monotonous narrative focusing on patriotism and omitting derogatory facts about war. This overarching narrative approach leaves viewers without a holistic understanding of the historical events during that time.
There seems to be no other allowed emotion aside from an all-consuming patriotism that leaves no room for layered storytelling. The focus falls largely on God, the United States of America, and the enemy’s downfall. Interpersonal relationships or nuanced emotional strands are left unexplored, with only the protagonist pining for his love interest back home.
Final Thoughts
The critic feels that Masters of the Air like an extended Call of Duty cutscene. He finds that the show lacks depth and maturity in its storytelling, and believes it does not do justice to the complexities of World War II. Based on this review, it appears the critic is unlikely to tune in for the third episode. It remains to be seen if the series can recover from its initial missteps and win over the critics and its viewers.