Love the intensity, the action, the bonding, and the training sessions that Maverick gave to the team that was selected for an intense mission!
There was also lots of flashback to the first movie and does tie up the loose ends. Especially between Maverick and Rooster (Goose's son).
Sadly, Iceman passed on due to an illness but it was Iceman that brought Maverick back to train the team.
After their mission was over, Maverick and Rooster reconciled their differences by stealing an F14 from the enemy base and flying it back to their carrier.
Again, he 'buzzed the tower' in an F14 with the same guy there! LOL! What a call back to the previous movie!
It was both an emotional and celebratory scene on the flight deck of the carrier. The new team congratulated both Maverick and Rooster. Rooster and Hangman (has 2 kills to his name) respected each other (flashback to the same scene where Iceman and Maverick did the same after their mission).
Maverick does become an ace pilot with 2 more kills in an F14! He has now 5 kills (3 kills from the previous movie) to his name!
Rooster also helps out at Maverick's place and worked on Maverick's P51 Mustang. Maverick finally also found the love of his life in this movie as the movie ends.