The Last Dance is an American sports documentary about the NBA created by Jason Hehir.The Last Dance is about the final season of the Chicago Bulls in the late nineties. With many victories already under their belt, this team still tries to achieve one last triumph before the club is disbanded. This documentary comprises no less than 10 episodes, each with a runtime of around 50 minutes. With Michael Jordan in the lead role, the series unveils the ins and outs of the Chicago Bulls during the eighties and nineties.
Various backstories are told alongside the main storyline. Not only that of Michael Jordan himself but also those of famous teammates like Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr, Dennis Rodman, and coach Phil Jackson. They all contribute to the invincible Chicago Bulls that dominated the NBA for most of the nineties.
Thanks to never-before-seen footage, we frequently get a behind-the-scenes look, and especially many anecdotes about what was going on within the NBA during this period. Of course, you get to see the well-known highlights of all the games they played. But it's always beautifully introduced, making each game a spectacular climax.
He was not only an exceptional athlete but also became a global icon and role model thanks to his technique, perseverance, and work ethic.
Throughout the series, several interesting internal struggles are brought to light. Jerry Krause, the Chicago Bulls manager, for instance, did not always have the best relationships with the players. Yet, on the other hand, he did what he had to do to make their team a top squad. Scottie Pippen's frustration is also highlighted due to his subpar contract with the Chicago Bulls. All these elements make the whole so fascinating that this is a series you must watch. Even if you have only a slight affinity with basketball, it will certainly ring many bells and evoke nostalgia for the 'golden era' of the NBA.
The series also makes every effort to keep things uncomplicated. The structure is solid, and visually it always makes clear to the viewer which timeline it is in. The old archive footage is also clear and well-viewed. Naturally, Michael Jordan is the central figure in this story. He also gets the most screen time. He was not only an extraordinary athlete but became a global icon and role model thanks to his technique, perseverance, and work ethic.
No wonder Michael Jordan perhaps became one of the most appreciated sports figures ever. The long list of famous people appearing in this documentary is immense (including former President Obama and Justin Timberlake). This proves what a significant impact he made during his heyday. I, too, watched the ten episodes in full admiration, mouth agape. It was mainly a trip to the glory days of the NBA. Nothing felt forced, and everything followed logically. The only negative thing I can say is that after ten episodes, it was enough. But by then, I was already at the last episode.
The creators have done a remarkable job of weaving all the side stories and anecdotes into a structured narrative, with the last season of the Chicago Bulls as the guiding thread, of course. The result is more than impressive. Even though this series has been out for several years, it's absolutely recommended for anyone who was ever (or still is) fascinated by basketball, Michael Jordan, and the NBA.
A solid 8.5!
About the writer, Karzal
Mike (1995) has been a member of MySeries since 2016 and is mainly active on the English version of the site. Since 2018, he has been actively translating news articles, columns, reviews and basically everything that ends up on the Dutch site. The original articles, columns and reviews were actually written by others. During the week Mike can be found at IKEA, where he is a national systems specialist and occasionally also in the classroom to teach an English lesson. In addition, Mike logically enjoys watching series and has actually been spoon-fed this from an early age. The genre doesn't matter, there is a place for everything in the otherwise busy life.
