The Top Gun franchise leaves no stone unturned with its depiction of the US Naval Aviation but leaves the details of Maverick's enemies to the viewers' imagination. At its core, Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick are human stories that explore the journeys and relationships of their central pilot characters. From their pursuits of self-discovery to their struggles with grief and loss, the franchise explores it all by using Naval Aviation as a narrative device. However, while these human elements play a crucial role in holding its narrative together, its depiction of slam-bang dogfights and aerial acrobatics is where its primary appeal comes from.
