Season 1 (2016)
Consulting Producer: Sean Gleason
Starring:Kaique Pacheco, Guilherme Marchi, Robson Palermo, J.B. Mauney, Renato Nunes, Silvano Alves
Rating: TV-14
Plot:
This Netflix reality series follows professional bull riders as they risk pride, fortune, and health for eight seconds at a time.
Verdict
This could have been a great two hour documentary, but instead it's four and a half hours over six episodes. It's too long and becomes repetitious. I liked the first episode, but it plays more as reality television and each successive episode is more of the same. It never has a destination, instead continually reminding us about the difficulties of bull riding and the determination of these cowboys.
Skip it.
Review
Netflix seems to like the documentary/reality series. This plays more to being reality television, and Netflix has done crime, football, food, and now bull riding. This seems geared to generated interest in the PBR (Professional Bull Riding) organization.
The opening animated sequence is fantastic. I hoped the show would live up to that, and while the first episode is good even one episode can't sustain itself. This doesn't have a destination, and this season becomes repetitive.
The reason to ride bulls is for the rush. It's adrenaline. We're introduced to Adriana Moraes in the first episode, and this former champion is a titan of the sport. He's retired but adds his thoughts periodically. He ushered in the Brazilian riders who overtook the sport.
The show focuses mainly on 2015 rookie of the year Kaique Pacheo, three time winner Robson Palermo, 2008 champion Guilherme Marchi, and reigning and three time consecutive champion Silvano Alves. We get a look rookies, veterans, and guys in between. J.B. Mauney is one of the top American riders, and the series paints him as a bit of an underdog.
The series depicts the struggles of this sport, mainly injury. There's what seems to be manufactured drama about Brazilians scoring lower. This seems silly since so many Brazilians have been the champions. Even the show points this out.
The main problem is that this is just too long. It feels like it's capturing somebodies stream of consciousness thoughts on the sport instead of trying to craft a story or reveal a point. I like the inside look at bull riding, but I got all of the insight I needed after an episode.
 |
| Kaique Pacheo hitting eight seconds. |
It's astounding to see some of these guys encourage their kids to ride despite the injuries they've sustained and seen. Then again, many of these guys win the million dollar prize as top champion and buy their own ranch. It's their ticket out of poverty, but the series only briefly touches upon that idea.
If you followed Bull Riding your whole life, you would know better! This show was excellent, which I found myself in because I'm a true fan that attends these shows and knows why Renato Nunes was done with the PBR! Corrupt judges!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment. You make a valid point. Is this show geared for ardent fans or for those new to the sport?
DeleteThe show is marketed incorrectly. It’s a time line of the Brazilian perspective of the race to crown the 2015 PBR world champion, featuring the primary competitors. I thought in that respect, it was well done. Hopes and dreams, and the courage and determination it takes to put your body and mind through that every weekend to make a better life for your family, only to sustain a career ending injury. If grit was all it took, they’d all be winners. Bull riders and fighter pilots are cut from the same cloth- immortal until they aren’t.
ReplyDelete