agmtw logo
search
Alexander: The Making of a God

Alexander: The Making of a God

TV-MA

A documentary drama that fails to be both

6.5

TV Show

United Kingdom
English
Documentary, Drama
2024
HUGH BALLANTYNE
Agni Scott, Alain Ali Washnevsky, Buck Braithwaite

TLDR

In which Netflix tries to pull a History Channel and BBC but instead falls flat on its face.

What it's about

Combining interviews and dramatic scenes, this six-part docudrama follows the rise of Alexander the Great and his massive empire.

The take

Attempting to be both a serious, well-researched documentary and a serious, hard-hitting drama is nothing new. Many shows on educational channels like History have long employed skilled actors and directors to elevate their reenactments. But Netflix’s Alexander: The Making of a God doesn’t seem to know where (or when) to draw the line. There is no tonal balance, no tasteful blending of the two; instead, drama and docu are smushed into one incoherent mess. And that’s a shame because, on their own, they could have been worthwhile. The production value and acting that goes into the drama have enough heft to carry it through, while the history and research (though not the strongest) are engaging enough to whet our appetite for learning more. But as they stand, these mixed genres only distract us from appreciating either. 

What stands out

I wouldn’t be surprised if they shot the show without telling the cast and crew what they were actually doing, that the scenes they labored on would constantly be interrupted by talking heads explaining every subtext behind their lines. 

Comments

Add a comment

Your name

Your comment

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

Say Nothing

A powerful take on the Northern Ireland conflict that smartly shows all sides

8.5

Ethos

A level of attention to aesthetics usually reserved for the most elaborate films, mixed with a complex and relevant story, make this series from Turkey unmatched in its quality

9.9

Caliphate

A psychological thriller that provides insight on what drove so many young people to ISIS.

8.9

Pretend it’s a City

A wildly entertaining series of interviews with a New York legend

9.2

Occupied

Norway's most expensive show ever is a timely thrill ride with a grim geopolitical premise.

8.7

Interior Chinatown

A novel and daring action comedy that plays on Asian American stereotypes

7.5

Escape at Dannemora

Based on a true prison escape story, this slow-burn suspense thriller features once-in-a-lifetime performances by a star-studded cast

9.3

Unorthodox

A well-acted fact-based thriller about untangling the grip of a close-knit community

8.5

Wild Wild Country

Almost too outrageous to be true – this captivating true crime docuseries tells the unlikely story of an Indian cult in America

9.8

The Looming Tower

A well-written thriller miniseries about the rivalry between the CIA and the FBI and how they failed to prevent 9/11.

8.1

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.