I’m of the opinion that when it comes to Netflix’s Untold series, nostalgia serves as the secret sauce.
That’s largely why the polarizing sports-centric documentary series has been able to survive despite some of its most high profile episodes receiving lackluster reviews. Other than journalism-minded hardos (like this author), who cares if the series didn’t sufficiently hold controversial figures like Urban Meyer’s feet to the fire? Most sports fans are just happy to have a vehicle to re-live the glory days of Florida football, regardless of how little time is spent focusing on Aaron Hernandez.
But unless you’re yearning for the heyday of Deadspin — and who isn’t? — that key ingredient is largely absent from the series’ latest installment, Untold: The Fall of Favre. Rather, the episode serves as an hour-long takedown of one of the NFL’s previously most beloved players, with nostalgia-inducing moments few and far between.
All things considered, the hour-long episode is unlike any previous installment in the Untold series, which has released five volumes dating back to its debut season in 2021. In fact, I strongly suspect that the biggest criticism of the episode from Favre supporters will be the exact opposite of the criticism the series has typically received from the aforementioned hardos; that it was too hard on is subject.
Unlike most Untold episodes, the primary subject didn’t participate in this one, which is hardly surprising considering both its premise and said subject. Netflix describes the project as a look at “Brett Favre’s controversial career, the dark side of sports stardom and the scandals that marred his legacy” and it certainly lives up to that billing.
The first 13 minutes of the episode are largely scandal-free, focusing instead on Favre’s rise from small-town Mississippi to becoming one of the biggest stars in all of sports. As is a theme throughout the episode, the archive footage is incredible, including access to Favre’s high school and college careers.
Jenn Sterger makes her debut roughly one-fourth of the way into the episode and it never looks back. In fact, the middle half-hour feels like it’s just as much about Sterger as it is about Favre, with the two set on a collision that culminates with the most famous dick pics in NFL history.
The final 15 minutes of the episode are focused on the Mississippi welfare scandal, which famously produced defamation lawsuits against Pat McAfee and Shannon Sharpe, neither of which did much to vindicate Favre. Perhaps the most powerful scene of the hour-long episode comes via former Front Office Sports reporter and executive producer A.J. Perez, who can be seen listening to recorded threats he received from Favre’s representatives over his reporting on the Hall of Fame quarterback.
Favre’s willingness to exert his power and influence serves as the common thread throughout the episode, whether it be how he interacted with his coaches, his repeated faux retirements, his treatment of Sterger — who says that she’s still never met Favre to this day — and obviously, his alleged involvement in the Mississippi welfare scheme. Ultimately, the episode doesn’t pull any punches, with all of the blemishes on Favre’s character, both big and small, on full display.
Fall of Favre stands in stark contrast to most of the other high profile entries into the Untold series and while spending one hour focused on Brett Favre’s flaws doesn’t make for a particularly fun watch, it is both informative and worthwhile. Here’s to hoping that Netflix and Untold take similar chances moving forward with an approach that could help balance some of their more nostalgia-dependent episodes.
