Summary

• Masters of the Air ranks third in the Band of Brothers franchise, facing criticism for historical accuracy and storytelling.
• The Pacific is the second best in the Band of Brothers franchise due to its amazing response but its different approach from Band of Brothers.
• Band of Brothers, the series that started it all, remains the best of the best in the war genre.

In 2001, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman created Masters of the Air, which means that the Band of Brothers franchise can now be dissected and ranked. Though each miniseries is produced by the same team, their differing stories, casts, and themes make them very distinct watching experiences. And based on reviews, critical acclaim, and awards, some series can be judged as better than others.

For context, in 2001, Band of Brothers was first released and portrayed the story of the 100th Bombardment Group and their unlucky missions during the spring of 1943.

4 Masters of the Air

Good, but the most heaviliy critiqued

Of the three Spielberg, Hanks, and Goetzman World War II miniseries, Masters of the Air comes in as the third best. This ranking does not imply that the series is bad, but only that, it's not as strong as its sister series. Firstly, it is important to reference Masters of the Air's Rotten Tomatoes scores. The show has a strong critics' score at 85%, however its audience score sits at a bland and surprising 69%. Compared to its predecessors, Masters of the Air has the most complaints from audiences, particularly when it comes to the show's historical accuracy and storytelling.

While many praise Masters of the Air for its incredible flight sequences and talented cast, others are underwhelmed by the series.

According to reviews, many feel that Masters of the Air lacks the strong themes that made Band of Brothers and The Pacific so enticing.

Rather than honing in on ideas of brotherhood or the effects of war, Masters of the Air simply tells its story. Furthermore, viewers struggled to connect with the characters, who were sometimes described as thinly written. Notably, these opinions are not shared by all viewers, and many found the series to be gripping and touching.

It cannot be said whether Masters of the Air will be popular during its award season, but accolades aside, it's vital to discuss how this series is different from its sisters. Masters of the Air replicates the ensemble feel of Band of Brothers, but has a handful of characters with particularly strong personalities and attention-grabbing stories. Masters of the Air also goes places that neither of its predecessors did, specifically with its POWs and MIA soldiers. Ultimately, Masters of the Air brought the franchise to the sky and focused on an incredible story rather than an overarching theme.

3 The Pacific

An irable companion

The second best Band of Brothers series is The Pacific. Upon its release in 2010, audiences were thrilled to get another segment of Band of Brothers, even if it was an entirely new story, and almost unanimously, viewers were impressed by The Pacific's visuals, characters, and meaningful themes. The series has garnered a 91% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 89% audience score, which is a 20% increase from Masters of the Air. Additionally, The Pacific has earned a 4.6 among Google reviews, with an overwhelming number of them being five stars.

The Pacific's praise is widespread, however much of it rests on the shoulders of the show's storytelling and characters. By focusing on three main characters, the series was able to delve deep into its protagonists, making them feel consistently real throughout the series. Furthermore, these characters are brave, dedicated soldiers, but they also don't pull punches. They are scared, angry, and yearning for home. Against the terrifying backdrop of the Pacific Theater, The Pacific successfully depicts the brutal reality of fighting in this lesser explored area of World War II and the moral quandries that come with it.

Ultimately, The Pacific has over 30 awards under its belt, but it's still considered the number two pick among the Band of Brothers franchise. This has to do with the fact that Band of Brothers established a baseline, and The Pacific not only hit the baseline, but did something completely different. In this way, both shows are amazing, but they are a bit too distinct from each other to truly compare. The Pacific has a more individual character focus, a completely different setting, and a much darker theme which makes it equal to but not better than Band of Brothers.

The Pacific won many awards, though only one of them was Primetime Emmy award.

2

1 Band of Brothers

The best World War II series of all time

Undoubtedly, Band of Brothers remains the best of the best, not only among its own franchise, but within the entire war genre. When it premiered back in 2001, Spielberg, Hanks, and Goetzman completely changed the game, proving that the war genre, though dark and devastating, can still have a life on the silver screen. Band of Brothers has an unbreakable 97% critics' score and 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. And like The Pacific, its Google reviews culminate in an incredible 4.8, with any lesser star ratings being almost non-existent.

The reasons for Band of Brothers success are overwhelming, however one of the most notable is its historical accuracy. In a genre where facts are often fictionalized to fit a dramatic narrative, Band of Brothers stuck unrelentingly to its true story. This was impressive for audiences, especially those who had ties to the real story. Furthermore, Band of Brothers' themes of brotherhood are unforgettable. The series gets up close and personal with its characters and their relationships, showing that these are not just soldiers: they are men, friends, sons, brothers, husbands, and more.

In the end, Band of Brothers blazed the trail for its companion series, and for this reason, it remains the best. Though its sister series have attempted to recreate the magic that received seven Primetime Emmy awards in 2001, they can only maintain parts of Band of Brothers' glory. The unforgettable ensemble cast, the historical accuracy, and the heartwarming and long-lasting themes make this series a total homerun that likely won't be sured any time soon. Band of Brothers is and will likely always be, one of the best World War II series of all time.