The Dynasty

The vast majority of my football-watching life to this point occurred during the Bill Belichick & Tom Brady New England Patriots dynasty. As such, this Last Dance-style sports doc was always going to hit the nostalgic sweet spot for me. Filmmakers Matthew Hamacheck & Jeff Benedict are largely able to transcend the "nostalgia grab" narrative, however, by featuring excellent production values and one-on-one interviews with key Patriot figures that are as enlightening as they are sometimes exceedingly strange.

The Dynasty examines exactly that--the New England football dominance of 2001 through 2018. Quite literally every main event of that time period is covered through the prism of old TV footage, sit down interviews with the figures themselves, and color commentary from NE or national reporters. There will likely never be another dynasty rivaling the one created by Brady, Belichick, & owner Robert Kraft, and this ten-part series examines it all.

For the most part, I'd call this a pretty fair examination of the "Patriots Way", so to speak. They are hit hard on the Spygate scandal, the mismanagement (which led to tragedy) of the Aaron Hernandez situation, and Belichick's slide into utter arrogance towards the end. At the same time, the team's remarkable resiliency through it all is chronicled step by step.

Of course, to get the "big hitters" (Brady, Kraft family, Bill, other key players) to participate whatsoever there were a few seeming concessions made. The narrative here about "Deflate-gate" is poo-poo'd almost to minimization levels, and the elder Kraft is often portrayed as the "white knight" of the whole shebang despite off-gridiron scandals and chumminess with NFL commissioners that are never even hinted at. But all in all, a relatively small price to pay for on-the-record cooperation.

The strange--and often outright hilarious--piece of "Dynasty" is Bill Belichick's participation (or lack thereof). He does not have one insightful or constructive comment on anything asked of him. The now-former Patriots head coach simply refuses to engage--either playing to his stereotype or actually living it to fruition. As such, he is painted (rightfully or wrongfully who can tell) the villain of the piece simply due to his reticence towards any sort of candor.

Overall, I enjoyed "Dynasty" and more often than not had both Friday night episodes binged before my head hit the pillow! I can't quite give it the full 10-star treatment--mainly due to Belichick's odd presence and the Deflate-gate "hatchet job" episode--but it was a treat to re-live (through the lens of 20+ years of history) the entire saga of the dynastic New England Patriots.

This was a very fascinating, informative documentary that allowed life-long fans to relive amazing moments while at the same time educate those unfamiliar with the greatest sports dynasty of all time. From humble beginnings, through controversies both real and imagined all the way until the bitter, inevitable end this series provides the viewer with a front row seat to all the ups and downs. My only disappointment is with many of the reviews disparaging this phenomenal documentary. To be a fan is natural and to "hate" a team that displayed consistent success at the expense of ones own team is understandable but, being unable to see past your own fandom to appreciate true greatness is unforgivable. True football fans will see the documentary for what it is: a recording of greatness as it rose and fell. Ignore the negatively of some of these reviews. They were written by fake football fans and bandwagoners who have allowed their bitterness to cloud their judgement.

I've only seen a few sports documentaries over the years, but I'm glad I caught this one. "The Dynasty" allows us all to peek behind the curtain and to see the rise and fall of the patriots dynasty. This show gives an inside look at how Robert Kraft, Bill Billichick, Tom Brady and company, all established themselves as champions, as well as the struggles they all dealt with over the years. It's important to note how much of a role ego plays in an arena of this stage. But it's also worth remembering that we're all human and could've made the same mistakes or choices. What's most fascinating is reliving those moments from the players', staff's, and management's perspectives. All in all it was a nice trip to the past and it was a pleasure to be part of their journey.

I see a lot of review bombing going on and I really don't know why. This documentary is exceptional and I think people are letting their emotions get in the way. If you have Apple TV+ and are even remotely aware of the NFL, this should automatically go to the top of your list.

Overall Take

From the jump, this docuseries makes one thing crystal clear: This isn't a highlight reel.

This is the real story - the drama, the dysfunction, the genius, the resentment, the winning... and the implosion.

You get: Raw behind-the-scenes footage Candid interviews with all the key players (yes, even Brady, Kraft, and Belichick) Insight into how the machine ran - and what broke it down

This is House of Cards: NFL Edition - with rings.

Section 1: The Rise of the Empire

This starts with the humble roots - a nobody team with a cold, calculating coach in Bill Belichick and a sixth-round pick named Tom Brady.

Belichick, the scheming tactician, arrives like a storm cloud. Cold, brilliant, no-nonsense.

Brady, raw and underestimated, becomes the spark no one saw coming.

Drew Bledsoe's injury changes NFL history.

From here, the dynasty begins - and the first Super Bowl win in 2001 sets the tone: They don't just win - they shock the world doing it.

You feel the hunger in these early episodes. The chip on the shoulder is everything.

Section 2: Building the Machine

The middle of the series gets into the Patriots way - discipline, sacrifice, and complete control.

Brady transforms into a silent killer.

Belichick's system becomes law - no names, just roles.

Players are interchangeable cogs in a war machine.

The defense - Bruschi, Harrison, Seymour - becomes legendary.

And you start to see the price of perfection: Players speak about fear, silence, and being cut while still in their prime.

The joy is replaced with expectation.

Winning isn't a goal - it's a demand.

Section 3: The Cracks in the Armor

Then it shifts. The undefeated 2007 season looms.

Randy Moss joins, and the offense goes nuclear.

They steamroll everyone... until that Super Bowl. The Helmet Catch. The Giants.

18-1. And it haunts the dynasty forever.

That loss is a turning point. You can see the toll it takes.

Meanwhile: Brady begins to evolve - not just as a QB, but as a brand.

Belichick stays the same - ice-cold and unflinching.

Tensions rise. Control vs. Freedom. Logic vs. Emotion.

Section 4: The Second Era of Dominance

After setbacks and near-misses, the second wind hits.

The Malcolm Butler interception - absolute poetry.

The 28-3 comeback vs. The Falcons - the peak of NFL mythology.

Brady cements himself as the GOAT - the Michael Jordan of football.

But even during the greatest moments... you feel the divide growing.

Brady wants more voice.

Belichick sticks to his system.

Kraft becomes the mediator - and it wears on all of them.

Section 5: The Fall

This section is the most emotionally loaded.

You see the fallout of Jimmy Garoppolo's presence.

The "Guerrero rift" shows Brady asserting independence.

Belichick becomes isolated.

The locker room fractures.

Brady and Kraft connect emotionally. Belichick shuts down.

And when Brady finally leaves - it feels like a divorce.

Years of built-up emotion come to a head.

You can see it in Brady's eyes - tired, proud, and done.

It's not hate. It's just... time.

Final Episode: Legacy and Reflection

The ending doesn't pretend the dynasty ended perfectly.

Brady wins in Tampa - and it hurts Belichick's legacy.

Belichick struggles to rebuild without his QB.

Kraft looks back with bittersweet pride.

But the show doesn't pick a side.

It lets all three men - Brady, Belichick, and Kraft - tell their truth.

It's emotional. It's powerful. It's the end of an era.

Why It's a 10 out of 10 + Authentic, unfiltered storytelling + Candid interviews from the three pillars of the dynasty + Intimate look at one of the most successful (and controversial) runs in sports history + Not afraid to expose the dysfunction + Balances legacy with the human cost of perfection + High-quality production and pacing

Final Verdict

"The Dynasty: New England Patriots" isn't just about football.

It's about ambition, ego, control, trust, betrayal, and the brutal truth that winning comes at a cost.

If you ever wondered what it's really like behind a 20-year empire - this is it.

It's not a love letter. It's a portrait of power.

And it's damn near flawless.

I'll give them credit because they do have some never before seen footage of my beloved New England Patriots which was cool to see. Also they get some tid bits of players prospective that nobody's heard but is this a hit piece to try and make certain players/coaches look bad? They focus way more on the negative and drama than they do on the actual teambuilding, tough front office decisions, game strategy, and player relationships. Seriously they skip right over Super Bowls seasons to focus on scandals and murderer stories. It does sometimes catch lightning in a bottle, but could be been better.