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.
Synopsis
Combining interviews with gripping reenactments, this docudrama explores the life of Alexander the Great during his conquest of the Persian Empire.
Storyline
Combining interviews and dramatic scenes, this six-part docudrama follows the rise of Alexander the Great and his massive empire.
TLDR
In which Netflix tries to pull a History Channel and BBC but instead falls flat on its face.
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.
