‘Band of Brothers’ and ‘The Pacific’ Never Had a Single Bad Episode

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After almost two years, most viewers and critics agree that Apple TV+’s World War II series, Masters of the Air, is a well-made and well-acted show, but it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as The Pacific and Band of Brothers. While all three series were created by the same production companies, Playtone and DreamWorks, HBO set a high bar with compelling stories and excellent casting, making The Pacific and Band of Brothers consistently engaging.

The series BoB, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air powerfully portray the brutal experiences of American soldiers fighting World War II on land, in the air, and at sea, giving viewers a comprehensive look at their lives and sacrifices. The Pacific and Band of Brothers especially stand out, offering two exceptional seasons that prioritize impactful storytelling and deeply honor the brave men and women who fought for freedom, even amidst the deadliest conflict in history.

What Is ‘The Pacific’ About?


HBO

I was so excited when The Pacific came out on HBO in March 2010! It’s the follow-up to Band of Brothers, also made by Playtone and DreamWorks, and just as amazing. It really brings to life the experiences of the Marines in the Pacific during World War II. The show is based on two incredible books – With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by Eugene Sledge and Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie – and it shows how bravely they fought for our freedom.

Bruce McKenna, the writer behind Band of Brothers, also created The Pacific and ensured both shows had the same strong storytelling. Joseph Mazzello plays Sledge and James Badge Dale plays Leckie, and their powerful performances are based on the authors’ real experiences during the war. Like Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan before it, The Pacific features a large cast, representing the many similar stories of those who served.

As a huge fan of war dramas, I was completely blown away by HBO’s The Pacific. They really didn’t hold back with a $217 million budget spread across 10 episodes, and it showed – you felt like you were right there in the fight with these guys. It wasn’t just action, though; seeing the psychological toll it took on the Marines was incredibly powerful, and the performances from actors like Rami Malek and Jon Bernthal, before they were huge stars, were unbelievably realistic. Like Band of Brothers before it, The Pacific earned a Primetime Emmy for being an outstanding miniseries. While it didn’t quite reach the legendary status of Band of Brothers, with an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (and a fantastic 91% from audiences!) and an 8.3 on IMDb, it came incredibly close, and it’s a series I highly recommend.

‘Band of Brothers’ Remains the Best WWII TV Drama Ever Made


HBO

Following the success of their Oscar-winning film Saving Private Ryan, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg created Band of Brothers, which many consider to be one of HBO’s best series – alongside shows like The Sopranos and The Wire. Premiering in September 2001, this expansive TV series, based on Stephen E. Ambrose’s book, chronicles the experiences of Easy Company, a unit within the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. The series reunited much of the team from Saving Private Ryan and was praised for achieving the same level of cinematic quality on television.

Band of Brothers is a powerfully realistic depiction of America’s involvement in World War II, following the journey from the D-Day landings to the end of the war in Europe. It vividly portrays both the incredible courage and the harsh realities of combat. Unlike The Pacific, which centered on naval battles, Band of Brothers focuses on the difficult and relentless ground war fought by Allied forces in Europe. The series’ combination of intense action and intimate character development demonstrated that Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks were at the peak of their filmmaking abilities.

With the high production quality you’d expect from a movie and strong acting from a talented cast including Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Scott Grimes, Donnie Wahlberg, Michael Fassbender, and many more, BoB provided 10 hours of truly captivating television.

Released when people typically watched shows live each week, rather than streaming entire seasons at once, Band of Brothers remains a critically acclaimed series. As of 2025, it’s ranked #4 on IMDb’s list of the Top 250 TV Shows, boasting a 9.4/10 rating with every episode scoring at least 8.6. The show also enjoys a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 97% of viewers giving it their approval, proving it’s a beautifully made story that continues to resonate with audiences.

Having won six Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries, Band of Brothers is widely recognized as a hallmark of HBO’s consistently high-quality drama. While Masters of the Air wasn’t made by HBO, it’s almost as impressive as Band of Brothers and another top-tier WWII miniseries.

‘Masters of the Air’ Flies High But Falls Just Short of ‘The Pacific’ & ‘Band of Brothers’


Apple TV+

Released in January 2024, the Apple TV+ miniseries Masters of the Air is based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name. It’s a continuation of the acclaimed World War II series Band of Brothers and The Pacific – arriving 23 years after Band of Brothers and 14 years after The Pacific. While not an HBO production, it was created by the same production companies, Playtone and DreamWorks, with the goal of delivering a similarly grand and cinematic experience.

Unlike other WWII miniseries that centered on soldiers on the ground, Masters of the Air tells the story of the brave pilots and crew of the 100th Bomb Group, offering a comprehensive look at American air operations during the war. The series stars Austin Butler as Major Gale “Buck” Cleven, Callum Turner as Major John “Bucky” Egan, and Anthony Boyle as Lt. Harry Crosby, with Barry Keoghan as Lt. Curtis Biddick. It features a large cast similar in scope to the acclaimed series Band of Brothers and The Pacific.

While the way Masters of the Air was made differs from typical streaming miniseries, one of its shortcomings was its length – it only had nine episodes, compared to the ten episodes of HBO’s Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Despite this, and while it doesn’t quite reach the same incredible level as those award-winning HBO series, Masters of the Air is still a solid and comparable war drama.

For example, the series Masters of the Air has received positive reviews, with an 85% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 73% audience score. According to the site, the general opinion is:

As a huge fan of Band of Brothers and The Pacific, I can honestly say Masters of the Air is right up there with them. The show looks absolutely stunning – the production design is flawless – and the characters feel so real and well-developed. It’s a truly impressive series that lives up to the legacy of those other two masterpieces.

Though it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as Band of Brothers and The Pacific, Masters of the Air is still worth watching for fans of those classic WWII shows. With a Metascore of 72 and a 7.8 rating on IMDb, the Apple TV miniseries offers strong performances and exciting aerial combat, even if it looks a bit more polished than the grittier, film-based look of Band of Brothers. While not flawless, the show has generally received positive reviews and stands as a solid companion piece to the beloved HBO series. You can stream Masters of the Air on Apple TV, and Band of Brothers and The Pacific are available on HBO Max.

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2025-12-02 03:35