On July 2, Netflix and Field to Field Movies launched their six-part documentary collection Dash, which follows the world’s prime 100m and 200m sprinters. I had the pleasure of binge-watching the six practically 45-minute episodes over two days, and I’ve some ideas (with out spoilers) on why you need to perhaps assume twice earlier than streaming it—until you’re a diehard fan of Noah Lyles.
Field To Field Movies is identical firm behind the Formulation One racing collection Drive To Survive, the golf collection Full Swing and the professional tennis collection Break Level. These collection have resonated with present followers and attracted new audiences to the respective sports activities. World Athletics had an analogous intention with Dash, including buzz to the game within the lead-up to the Paris Olympics–however after watching, I don’t imagine that’s the case.
An excessive amount of Noah Lyles
In contrast to Full Swing and Break Level, the place every episode follows an athlete in rivalry for an upcoming event, supplying you with an in-depth look into their private lives, Dash revolves round Lyles solely. Whereas Lyles is undoubtedly one of the well-liked and fascinating stars in monitor and discipline, the collection provides him an excessive amount of display screen time. The primary episode presents a behind-the-scenes look into his household and private life, which is fascinating. Nonetheless, even when profiling different athletes like Marcell Jacobs, Zharnel Hughes, and Fred Kerley, Lyles continues to be prominently featured, overshadowing their tales. It felt as if the producers missed a possibility to go deeper into the backgrounds of Hughes and Jacobs.
Given Lyles’ dominant presence, the collection may have been named Noah Lyles: Highway to Olympic Superstardom as an alternative of Dash. Who is aware of, perhaps they’ll rebrand it for season two (apparently coming this fall).
Lazy manufacturing
I used to be shocked by the lazy manufacturing, at instances, throughout the collection. As an example, they’d present sprinters lining up for the 200m on the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, then instantly minimize to athletes pole vaulting at what seems to be the Eugene Diamond League. Moreover, there have been scenes the place Lyles or Hughes had been proven lining up within the blocks, and the footage would change to them lining up at a distinct race completely. I get that is stuff the vast majority of the viewers wouldn’t pick, and it’s stuff I (an off-the-cuff tennis fan) didn’t pick in Break Level, which had an analogous situation with exhibiting gamers serving on the incorrect aspect or match throughout the docuseries.
The collection builds up the drama for the 2023 World Championships from the beginning, however then reveals Noah Lyles‘ mother pulling out gold medals from these championships (see image under) midway into the primary episode. These are just some examples of the numerous manufacturing oversights that ought to have been addressed earlier than the ultimate minimize.
Lacking stars
From my understanding, the Field To Field movie crew selected to observe the highest and hottest runners from the 2022 season. The seven athletes featured are Fred Kerley (USA), Zharnel Hughes (UK), Noah Lyles (USA), Marcell Jacobs (Italy), Gabby Thomas (USA), Shericka Jackson (Jamaica) and Sha’Carri Richardson (USA). Whereas the collection in all probability goals to enchantment to the big U.S. market forward of the Olympics, it lacks sufficient star energy and leaves out a number of the prime sprinters on the planet. Notably absent: eight-time Olympic medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica and Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, the U20 world 100m file holder. There’s no excuse for leaving out Fraser-Pryce; she’s one of many biggest sprinters ever, and the world’s quickest mother—isn’t {that a} implausible plot for an episode? Tebogo, probably the greatest up-and-coming athletes, would have added one other thrilling dimension to the collection. Hailing from non-sprint powerhouse Botswana, he has shortly change into one among Africa’s largest rising stars, which I feel would have made for a compelling story.
Lack of World Championship protection
Whereas it’s essential to offer a behind-the-scenes have a look at the Diamond League, dedicating 4 of the six episodes to it’s extreme. The collection ought to have included two or three episodes constructing as much as the largest occasion, 2023 World Championships, and three episodes specializing in what occurred there. Alternatively, the collection may have adopted every of the seven athletes on the World Championships and their preparations, much like Drive to Survive.
I’m not telling you to not watch the present; it’s entertaining and gives some fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbits, showcasing the coaching and schedules of world-class athletes throughout a world championship 12 months. I’ve written this piece to spotlight what I imagine the informal followers of the game wish to see—and that isn’t six straight episodes of Noah Lyles.
