The Thrill is Gone: How Netflix's Skyscraper Live Lost Its Edge in a Desperate Bid for Viral Footage.
In a shocking turn of events, the most recent installment of Netflix's "Live" series, Skyscraper Live, has left many questioning whether our addiction to high-risk activities on live television is an indulgence that needs to be reassessed. The event, which saw Alex Honnold scale Taipei 101 without any safety gear, was touted as a record-breaking feat that would push the limits of human endurance. However, in hindsight, it feels more like a reckless bid for viral fame than a genuine pursuit of adventure.
The problem lies not with Honnold himself, whose daring ascent up the 508-meter skyscraper is undeniably an extraordinary achievement. Rather, it's with the way his team presented the event to captivated audiences. While Free Solo, his previous documentary series, was carefully crafted to amplify the drama and tension of his climb without sacrificing Honnold's safety, Skyscraper Live took a more laissez-faire approach. The result was an hour-and-a-half-long broadcast that oscillated between moments of electrifying excitement and periods of sheer boredom.
At its core, watching Skyscraper Live felt like taking a long-haul flight in turbulent weather – punctuated by brief but intense episodes of panic. As the camera panned over Honnold's determined face, it was impossible not to think about the potential risks involved in this kind of stunt. The longer the broadcast went on, the more one began to wonder if we'd be tuning in solely for the thrill of possibility – that our friend might slip and fall to his death at any moment.
It's a concern that echoes through history, from Red Bull's Felix Baumgartner jump in 2012 to the Formula One crashes that have captivated fans worldwide. In each instance, there's an unspoken expectation that viewers are witnessing something extraordinary – albeit one with inherent risks.
The irony is that Netflix wants Skyscraper Live to remain a standalone event, rather than encouraging more high-risk live broadcasts like Free Diving or Rooftop Parkour. And for good reason – by capitalizing on the allure of human risk-taking, the company risks turning its "Live" series into a Victorian freak show.
As the article concludes, it's crucial that we reassess our fascination with this type of programming and prioritize genuine adventure over calculated risks. Our sphincters may have been able to handle the thrill of Skyscraper Live, but should we be willing to watch others risk their lives for our entertainment? Only time will tell if Netflix decides to take a different approach – one that prioritizes responsible thrills over reckless stunts.
In a shocking turn of events, the most recent installment of Netflix's "Live" series, Skyscraper Live, has left many questioning whether our addiction to high-risk activities on live television is an indulgence that needs to be reassessed. The event, which saw Alex Honnold scale Taipei 101 without any safety gear, was touted as a record-breaking feat that would push the limits of human endurance. However, in hindsight, it feels more like a reckless bid for viral fame than a genuine pursuit of adventure.
The problem lies not with Honnold himself, whose daring ascent up the 508-meter skyscraper is undeniably an extraordinary achievement. Rather, it's with the way his team presented the event to captivated audiences. While Free Solo, his previous documentary series, was carefully crafted to amplify the drama and tension of his climb without sacrificing Honnold's safety, Skyscraper Live took a more laissez-faire approach. The result was an hour-and-a-half-long broadcast that oscillated between moments of electrifying excitement and periods of sheer boredom.
At its core, watching Skyscraper Live felt like taking a long-haul flight in turbulent weather – punctuated by brief but intense episodes of panic. As the camera panned over Honnold's determined face, it was impossible not to think about the potential risks involved in this kind of stunt. The longer the broadcast went on, the more one began to wonder if we'd be tuning in solely for the thrill of possibility – that our friend might slip and fall to his death at any moment.
It's a concern that echoes through history, from Red Bull's Felix Baumgartner jump in 2012 to the Formula One crashes that have captivated fans worldwide. In each instance, there's an unspoken expectation that viewers are witnessing something extraordinary – albeit one with inherent risks.
The irony is that Netflix wants Skyscraper Live to remain a standalone event, rather than encouraging more high-risk live broadcasts like Free Diving or Rooftop Parkour. And for good reason – by capitalizing on the allure of human risk-taking, the company risks turning its "Live" series into a Victorian freak show.
As the article concludes, it's crucial that we reassess our fascination with this type of programming and prioritize genuine adventure over calculated risks. Our sphincters may have been able to handle the thrill of Skyscraper Live, but should we be willing to watch others risk their lives for our entertainment? Only time will tell if Netflix decides to take a different approach – one that prioritizes responsible thrills over reckless stunts.
and I gotta say, this whole Skyscraper Live thing just left me feeling meh 
. Like, I get it, Alex Honnold is a total rockstar and his climb up Taipei 101 was straight fire 
, but come on, the presentation was just so...lazy 
. It's like they took all the excitement and danger out of it and were left with this boring, drawn-out broadcast that had me checking my watch every 5 minutes 
.
. I mean, is it really worth risking someone's life for a few million views? It just doesn't sit right with me 
. I think we need to take a step back and reevaluate what we're willing to watch and participate in as consumers. Can we prioritize actual adventure and exploration over just chasing clicks and likes? 
I hope so, because if not, we're all just perpetuating this toxic culture of thrill-seeking and voyeurism 
.
his stunts are always so intense! and honestly who can blame him for wanting to make some viral content? 
i just hope they do take this as an opportunity to revamp their live series in a way that's safer but still super thrilling 
they're more worried about views than actual safety lol alex honnold is an amazing climber but come on skyscraper live was like watching paint dry 
. It feels like Netflix is trying to recreate a viral sensation, but at what cost? I get why they wanted something record-breaking, but this whole 'no safety gear' thing was just lazy 
. And honestly, have we really become so desensitized to risk that we'd watch someone do something as reckless as this for entertainment? 
the real question is why are we still watching this? r u more entertained by the possibility of him falling to his death than actual climbing skills? and btw, didn't free solo already show off honnold's talent without putting himself in danger 
I'm totally disappointed in Netflix's decision to make Skyscraper Live 
It just felt like a long, boring ride (no pun intended 
). And can we talk about how terrifying it was to watch?! 
My heart was racing the whole time thinking about what could've happened to Alex 
. Fingers crossed Netflix listens to their fans and takes it up a notch! 
, it's all about the thrill of the risk not the actual adventure lol what if he slips and dies? that's not entertaining to me anymore 
this whole skyscraper thing is just not worth the risk, maybe netflix should stick to documentaries or something 
.
does anyone else have an opinion on this? should netflix just stop doing these live things altogether? 
. But now that I think about it, Skyscraper Live felt like a huge hype fest 
Who needs to watch people risking life and limb when you could be watching a foodie challenge? 
Who knows, maybe they'll take it to heart and come out with something better next time 
[A meme of a person watching TV with a "Thrill is Gone" caption on the screen]
[A GIF of a filmmaker trying to recreate a dramatic scene, but everything that can go wrong does, resulting in a messy and boring outcome]
The way Netflix is trying to make it look like some kind of big deal with viral footage and whatnot just feels really staged to me. And honestly, I'd rather watch a good old-fashioned documentary or something that's actually educational than sit through some dude climbing a building for hours on end 
. Like they're tryin' to make a viral sensation rather than a genuine adventure 
. And the part where he's just chillin' up there for ages, lookin' all focused and stuff 
. Are we really okay with people riskin' their lives for our entertainment? 
. Can't we have adventure without puttin' lives on the line? 
I'm callin' for some responsibility here 
, not just a bunch of reckless stunts for the sake of views