Episode 3 of Xuxa, The Documentary tries hard to be emotional, but ends up feeling hollow and overly polished. It touches on significant moments - Sasha's birth, Xuxa's relationship with Ayrton Senna, and the tragic Xuxa Park fire - yet fails to explore any of them with real depth. Everything is presented in a way that seems designed to protect Xuxa's image rather than reveal anything truly personal or vulnerable.
The narrative structure is a mess. Scenes jump from one topic to another with no clear connection, making it hard to follow or feel invested. One moment we're watching Sasha being born, then we're hearing about Senna, and suddenly we're at the fire - all without meaningful transitions or context. It's emotionally disjointed and confusing.
Even the emotional moments between Xuxa and Sasha feel staged. The documentary leans heavily on dramatic music and editing tricks to manufacture sentiment, rather than letting genuine emotion emerge naturally. It's manipulative, and frankly, exhausting.
The Xuxa Park fire should have been a turning point in the episode - a moment to confront trauma and show resilience. Instead, it's glossed over. There's no investigation, no voices from those affected, and no real insight into how it changed Xuxa's life or career. It's mentioned, then quickly brushed aside.
Visually, the episode is slick and well-produced, but that's part of the problem. Pedro Bial's direction feels too reverent, too controlled. There's no grit, no conflict, no behind-the-scenes truth. It's all curated to maintain a flawless image, which makes the documentary feel more like a PR piece than a genuine exploration of a public figure's life.
In the end, Episode 3 is a missed opportunity. It could have been powerful, raw, and revealing - but instead, it's safe, shallow, and emotionally manipulative. For someone expecting honesty and depth, this episode earns a disappointing 2 out of 10.
