Masters of the Air,the excellent follow-up series to one of HBO’s best shows,Band of Brothers, is free to watch this weekend, which means everyone should check it out. Released in 2001,Band of Brotherswas a groundbreaking series. Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, it felt like a spiritual successor toSaving Private Ryanat the time, and there have beenthreeBand of Brothersshowsso far, focusing on different parts of World War II.

The Air Force-focusedMasters of the Airis the latestBand of Brothersfollow-up, that premiered early in 2024. For anyone wanting more WWII, prestige miniseries,Masters of the Airis perfect, and given that it will be free to watch the first weekend of January, there is no better time to check it out. Not only does it do a good job of standing on its own, but it continues the legacy thatBand of Brotherscreated over two decades prior.

Damien Lewis and David Schwimmer in Band of Brothers

Its Spiritual Sequels Are Almost As Strong

Band of Brothersis one of the greatest miniseries of all time, and with World War II providing such a rich tapestry of stories, it only made sense that the series would be followed up in some way.The first follow-up,The Pacific, was released nine years afterBand of Brothers'2001 premiere. The Pacific was also released on HBO, and unlikeBand of Brotherstelling the story of Easy Company in Europe,The Pacificfocused on the United States Marine Corps' actions in the Pacific Theater of Operations. It was a fantastic follow-up to a groundbreaking series.

10 Best Episodes In The Band Of Brothers Franchise, Ranked

Of the three war dramas that make up the Band of Brothers franchise, each show offers a few episodes that could be considered the best in TV history.

Released 23 years afterBand of Brothers, and 14 afterThe Pacific,the second companion series to HBO’s 2001 show wasMasters of the Air. WhileBand of BrothersandThe Pacificwere both HBO series,Masters of the Airwas created for Apple TV+. The move to a different studio didn’t change much in terms of quality, asMasters of the Airis an immaculately crafted look at the 100th Bomb Group working through dangerous missions to destroy various targets in German-occupied Europe, focusing on the Air Force side of the United States Armed Forces during World War II.

Bucky singing in Masters of the Air

Masters Of The Air Is Free To Watch This Weekend

Apple TV+ Is Free The First Weekend Of The Year

Apple TV+ has a plethora of underrated TV shows that no one seems to really talk about, unfortunately.

If watchingMasters of the Airdoesn’t take up the entire weekend, there are plenty of other shows to check out on Apple TV+, including some of the best series of the past couple of years. Some easy recommendations are the sci-fi thrillerSeverance, the heartwarmingTed Lasso, the hilariousShrinking, and the award-winningSlow Horses. The generational family dramaPachinkois also a must-see. There are also plenty of movies to watch as well, including,Fly Me to the Moon, andWolfs. There is no shortage of great movies andgreat TV shows on Apple TV+.

_Masters of the Air  2nd Lt. Robert Daniels

Why Masters Of The Air Is The Perfect Show To Watch This Weekend

The Breathtaking Combat Sequences Make It Worth It

There really are few shows as good asBand of Brothersand how it was able to focus on the characters at the heart of the world’s most horrific moments, but some come close, and bothThe PacificandMasters of the Airare worthy companion series to the enduring HBO miniseries. Given that it will cost nothing to watch,Masters of the Airis the perfect series to check out. It also helps that it is very good, withtruly breathtaking aerial combat and characters that are incredibly well realized.

For anyone who loves the stories coming out of WWII, or seeing incredible characters face nearly impossible odds,Masters of the Airis an easy recommendation.

Masters of the Air TV Show Poster showing Austin Butler and Several Air Pilots in World War II Uniforms

Being the official follow-up to bothBand of BrothersandThe Pacificis integral, as everyone involved withMasters of the Airis dedicated to making it the best experience possible, exploring the intricacies of World War II and how various units of the Armed Forces navigated the war. For anyone who loves the stories coming out of WWII, or seeing incredible characters face nearly impossible odds,Masters of the Airis an easy recommendation, and needs to be watched when it is at its most accessible.

Masters of the Air

Cast

Masters of the Air is an Apple TV+ original war drama starring Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, and Barry Keoghan. The series follows a group of eleven World War II pilots who fight German fighters in a bomber called “The Flying Fortress.” The miniseries was based on the book Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany by Donald L. Miller.