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We've all been waiting for it. Even me, who almost never watches TV. Except for sports, that is. But I, who have barely been hooked on any TV series since The Sopranos, and who finished both Narcos, Breaking Bad and Game Of Thrones after the first season, and who never gave Band Of Brothers, The Wire, House Of Cards or True Detective a chance, am looking forward to it immensely. Because rarely has a TV series embraced wider. Folks; Stranger Things, season 5, is here.
Netflix – more than just fiction
The adventure of Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Max, Dustin and the others is extremely multifaceted. One thing is that both sci-fi and horror enthusiasts get their needs met, but here we are also in the middle of the Cold War. The Soviet Union against the USA. East against West. Communism against capitalism. But it doesn't stop there. For Stranger Things can be enjoyed alone as a magnificent period piece. Rarely has the 80s been portrayed more precisely. Here there are arcades, movie boxes, gaudy colors, bubble gum, high stockings and even higher hair. And most importantly; an absolutely legendary soundtrack.
But Netflix is more than just fiction, because even us sports idiots can get our needs met on the market-leading streaming service. And that's exactly why we've got our top 5 list of what to check out if you like sports;
1. Break Point – The dream of the Grand Slam
My wife was hooked. I think that's a good enough reason to watch Break Point. Because she doesn't like sports in general, or tennis in particular. And right here we are probably at the heart of the matter, because Break Point is more than just sports. You get to see behind the facade. Behind life on the court. We get to follow a bunch of athletes through their ups and downs, and even more in the hotel room, at the airport and on advertising assignments than out on the tennis court.
And even though I mean what I said, that this TV series is for everyone, it is probably extra interesting for those of us who follow tennis closely. Those of us who know the people, the tournaments, the stories and the sport itself will get enough meat on the bone to confirm that tennis is one of the world's most entertaining sports. So watch Break Point – The Dream of a Grand Slam. Either alone, or with your wife.
2. Sunderland 'Til I Die – Close to The Black Cats
It's hope that kills you, they say. And for the fans in this brilliant documentary series, hope is all they have. For Sunderland, once in good company, to have been relegated to League One, and for a city on its knees, it's one of the worst things that could happen.
Because just as "Sunderland 'Til I Die" is a declaration of love for a club, it is also a testament to a region in decline, a country burdened by EU directives and a people who can only think one game at a time.
For those of us who thought the soul of English football had gone abroad, it was good to see this TV series. Because English football still has soul, you just have to go down the league system, and north of the country, to find it.
3. Mr. McMahon – Wrestling in earnest
Are there any more people who grew up with wrestling here? The memories are so incredibly strong. Either it's because we had all the athletes in little action figures, and we had our fathers build wrestling rings that we simulated yesterday's matches in. Or the fact that the mothers drummed up an extraordinary meeting in the street when wrestling was first shown on TV. Surely they couldn't let their sons watch this? Or the countless hours of Wrestlemania. What a time.
But little did we know about the game behind the scenes. And that we, 30 years later, would better understand today's political currents in the United States. So watch McMahon, even if you don't remember Andre The Giant, Bret "Hitman" Hart, The Undertaker, Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper or Hulk Hogan. This is good entertainment.
4. Formula 1 – Drive To Survive
I don't know if I started watching Formula 1 because of "Drive to Survive", or if I watched "Drive To Survive" because I liked Formula 1. But it doesn't matter. Both are worth spending time on. A lot of time. Because just as a Formula 1 race is much more than just a race, we have 7 whole seasons of "Drive To Survive" to digest.
And that's what's so wonderful about these sports documentaries; because it's so much fun for us, even if we watched the race/match/tournament in real time, because we want to know what happened. And why it happened. Because these stories rarely come to light when you follow sports live on TV.
So fasten your seatbelt, take pole position and enjoy every minute of this fast-paced documentary about some of the greatest Formula 1 drivers in history.
5. The Last Dance – The Truth About Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls
I'll be completely honest; I don't like basketball. Still, I loved this documentary series. Because even I knew about the heyday of the Chicago Bulls, and I was very aware of how great Michael Jordan was. And is. But I was still blown away.
Because here we don't just get an honest meeting with the world's greatest basketball star. We get an honest meeting with the world's greatest sports star. Period. Even after his career ended, he has managed to maintain his relevance. But the way he led the Chicago Bulls to repeated heights throughout the 90s is immortalized here in a masterful way. Enjoy.
