I have a confession to make: I’ve never seen Top Gun.
Yes, I know – that probably sounds like movie fan blasphemy. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to know a single Maverick quote or remember who Goose is to be swept up in Nat Geo’s new docuseries Top Guns: The Next Generation.
The limited docuseries goes deep inside the U.S. Navy’s elite aviation program, following student pilots as they fight to earn their coveted “wings of gold.” The stakes couldn’t be higher, and each student is pushed to their physical and mental limits throughout their training.
Of course, their journey is anything but smooth. Each of the six episodes highlights a different stage of training – divebombing, aircraft carrier landings, and close-range dogfighting, for example – and shows how students handle the immense pressure. Some excel in one area but stumble in another, while others come dangerously close to washing out after critical mistakes. The program is unrelenting, and the show doesn’t shy away from the moments where failure feels imminent.
Nat Geo was given unprecedented access, even outfitting cockpits with cameras to capture every heart-pounding maneuver up close. The sequences feel cinematic for good reason: some of the same creative team behind Top Gun: Maverick were brought in to film the aerial footage.
But it isn’t all high-octane thrills. The series balances the intensity of flight school with quieter moments, pulling back the curtain on the pilots’ personal lives. Viewers see them with family and friends, reminding viewers that the risks aren’t just professional – they’re deeply personal. These glimpses of their humanity raise the emotional stakes and make both the victories and the setbacks hit even harder.
In many ways, this show feels like something different for Nat Geo. While it’s a network typically associated with nature or wildlife programming, Top Guns: The Next Generation blends elements of documentary storytelling with the tension of a competition series. The result is striking, immersive, and refreshingly unique. And while it could have easily tipped into military recruitment propaganda, it doesn’t. Instead, it stays grounded in the individual stories of the students and the extraordinary challenges they face.
All in all, Top Guns: The Next Generation is a thrilling, heartfelt ride with wide-ranging appeal. It captures not just the adrenaline rush of flying elite military jets, but the very real, very human journey of pursuing a dream against all odds.
And don’t worry – there is a scene of the students playing beach volleyball. Even I know Top Gun wouldn’t be complete without one.
Top Guns: The Next Generation premieres Sept. 16 on Nat Geo and streams Sept. 17 on Disney+ and Hulu.
