Wasn't going to do this but decided to have a little fun with The Dynasty on Apple TV, which started on Friday night with the first two episodes. These aren't going to be comprehensive reviews, but quickie recaps via categories. What I have so far (you can make suggestions for new ones in the comments):
Synopsis
Best Quote
I Didn't Know That
That Was Cool
Goosebumps Moment
LOL Moment
Biggest Nitpick
I Wished They Asked
Belichick Watch
Kraft's Moment of Glory
Episode MVP
Lingering Question
I will say, I think Patriots fans are going to love it. It's really meant for you guys. The direction and editing are outstanding. I have a few issues with it, as we'll get into, but it's really well done and worth the money. If you're interested in purchasing (if you haven't seen Ted Lasso and Black Bird - Hijack and Silo were solid as well - it's a good excuse), following this link to purchase will help BSJ.
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EPISODE 2: THE SNOW BOWL
Synopsis
The game ... but also the Tom Brady origin story. (Length: 39 minutes)
Best Quote(s)
Bedard: "Tom, I feel like he got the best out of me because he was so well-prepared, that I felt like I had to keep up with his preparation... Yeah, I loved working with Tom every day." Bill Belichick
"Coach Belichick taught me so much. I could not be the player I was without him." - Brady
Every Patriots fan had to go change their pants.
Giardi: Greg is taking all the best quotes. 'Oooohhh, I'm the boss." - Bedard (probably).
"I remember thinking, the shine is off this nickel a little bit. Maybe now I've got a chance to get back in there and play." Drew Bledsoe recalling the Pats' loss to the Rams and Tom Brady's play in that game (2 interceptions). It didn't play out that way, obviously.
"Hey Adam, man, this is going to be the most difficult kick of your life...if you miss it, you're done." - Adam Vinatieri on the conversation he had in his own head before his game-tying field goal in the driving snow.
"Thank God for Adam Vinatieri. Damn. They should bronze his damn foot, for real. Put his foot on your damn car, like it's a Rolls Royce." - Ty Law on Vinatieri's kick(s)
I Didn't Know That
Bedard: The Wiggy doink reception off Patten in the Snow Game. I had forgotten about that. I mean, it was all going their way.
Giardi: Tom's sister, Nancy Brady, tells us how they used to compete in everything, including racing home from church and the taunting that ensued if he won. Tom Sr. talking about his son doing "dot" drills as a teenager to improve his speed/foot speed. "He was a perfectionist. I think you always worry - I mean, a perfectionist is almost a kiss of death in some ways because no matter how well you do, it's never good enough for yourself." - Galynn Brady, Tom's mom.
That Was Cool
Bedard: Vrabel spiking a ball at practice and screaming, "F--ck off, Brady!!"
Giardi: Belichick talked about how Brady made him better because he was so well-prepared: "I felt like I had to keep up with his preparation." Brady said they had quarterback school, morning, noon, and night. It's just a reminder of what the relationship once was and why the franchise benefitted greatly.
Goosebumps Moment
Bedard: This from Bruschi, after the Snow Game.
And Vinatieri explaining how Brady's emergence caused them to go from Drew's team to a true team. A lot of foreshadowing there.
Giardi: Brady is getting the bleep knocked out of him in Buffalo, popping right back up, and heading back to the huddle. That toughness will always be the most underrated thing about Brady. He was a beast, especially in the early years. There was none of that whining to the refs like he and all the QBs do now. I'm going all old bastard on you, but THAT was football.
LOL Moment
Bedard: "Drew ... he looks like a wildebeest under attack!" - Scott Pioli doing his Ernie Adams impression.
Awesome. One question: how does Adams know what a wildebeest under attack looks like? Big nature show guy?
Giardi: Scott Pioli's impression of Ernie Adams is glorious. More, please. And again with the outfits/haircuts. The picture of Brady's sisters in their softball uniforms was amusing. The hair. So much hair.
Biggest Nitpick
Bedard: No mention of Dick Rehbein in the Brady origin story? That's criminal.
Giardi: The documentary doesn't accurately depict what was happening around Bledsoe then, though Felger is doing his best to remind everyone on the Sports Hub. But he was right. It was a real split with the media. Paper versus paper (Globe vs Herald) and radio host versus radio host (Dale Arnold v. Eddie Andelman). Fan vs. fan. Bledsoe wasn't the same guy. He had been hit too much, something Pioli brought up: "He got hit. A lot. After dozens and dozens and dozens of vicious hits, Drew had started becoming human."
I Wished They Talked About
Bedard: I wanted Brady to unleash on the 49ers for drafting Gino Carmazzi. Just talk all sorts of crap with expletives. I did like this from his father:
"He became a Patriot (getting emotional), which was a jubilant time for the family." - Tom Brady Sr.
Giardi: Why, if the Pats were so confident in who Brady was and what he was becoming, did they put the shackles on him for the first half of the Raiders game? Do you know what coaches always tell you about bad weather? It's easier for the offense because they know where they're going, whereas the defense has to react to the offense's movements. I think the Raiders getting conservative in the second half contributed to them blowing the lead.
Belichick Watch
Bedard: "But coach game over and was like, 'Come on guys, we still got a shot at this.'" - Brady. And then audio of Belichick saying, 'We just gotta get the ball in the end zone here."
Giardi: Belichick giving the Raiders game ball to Robert Kraft, saying it all starts at the top. They used to appreciate each other.
Kraft's Moment of Glory
Giardi: "The snow just came continuously. We tried to clear, by the rules, but as little as we had to. I know I'm not supposed to say that, but that's the truth." - RKK talking about how they dealt with the snow during the 2001-02 playoff game against the Raiders. If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying.
Bedard: Totally agree with MG ... so Kraft is saying he was part of that decision now? Of course it was all Bill, just say Bill. #snowgate
Patriots Hardo Moment
Bedard: "The media, it's a group I call the scriiiiibes. It's just a lot of people who don't have a clue what they're talking about frankly. But there are some experts in New England on football. And they all work on the coaching staff for the Patriots." - Ernie Adams.
Ooooh, sick burn, Erns. How long did it take you to come up with the scribes nickname? Three days? At least Ted Williams whipped out the Knights of the Keyboard spontaneously. You, sir, are no Ted Williams. Stick to numbers, film and stealing signals.
Giardi: There is no other place to go then where Greg just went. Ernie was trying a little too hard there.
Episode MVP
Bedard: Adams. He was great throughout, and his look at the snow had me cracking up.
Giardi: The video of the snow game. Magical. Took me right back to that time and place. Hearing Gil Santos' voice again, the snow blowers on the field, Brady spiking the ball after his TD run and falling down. Jermaine Wiggins making some big catches. Adam Vinatieri drilling that kick to force OT, then again to win it.
Lingering Questions/Comments
Bedard:
- Are we sure that the draft room and Belichick phone call videos were actually about Brady? It's not really clear. His name isn't mentioned once. As my kids would say, 'That's sus.'
Giardi: Are we sure that wasn't a fumble? I mean, it looked like a fumble. Smelled like a fumble. Was a fumble. Except for that rule. That ugly but wonderful tuck rule.
"We didn't write the fucking rule." - Brady.
"God bless Walt Coleman, and the tuck rule." - RKK
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I'm just going to leave this here every week just as a reminder:
