This week saw the conclusion of The Last Dance, ESPN 's instant cult docuseries chronicling the Chicago Bulls ' last great season , 1997/98, Michael Jordan 's last and the team that dominated the American basketball league for nearly a decade. It was the last dance of Phil Jackson 's team , which won six NBA titles in eight years, all wearing the number 23 on the court. The 97/98 season was immediately heralded as the team's final season, which would be overhauled at the end of the year, so the company decided to follow the players throughout the year, on and off the court. In the end, they obtained more than 500 hours of video material from which the TV series was developed, which quickly became Netflix 's most-watched product in Italy, deservedly surpassing Money Heist.
The power of storytelling
Michael Jordan has ended his baseball career. For many years, he has been one of the most famous and influential men on the planet, even starring in a movie. This will be his final season, and he has only one goal: to win his sixth NBA title and remain in the history books. You don't have to be a basketball fan to appreciate The Last Dance ; in fact, you could easily be a stranger to the world of sports and fall in love with the exploits of Michael Jordan and his teammates. Even today, the number 23 is a sacred icon, and its silhouette is worn by millions of kids around the world who probably know nothing about basketball. The great strength of The Last Dance lies in its narrative , a hero's journey where each character fulfills their role, a sporting feat told as an epic ride toward a supernatural goal, men who push themselves beyond their limits and lay themselves bare, revealing the weaknesses that lie beneath their enormous size. The series travels back and forth in time, each episode starting in 98, then going back in time to retrace the story from the very beginning, that is, from MJ's arrival in Chicago. The first episodes introduce the main characters, who, in addition to the aforementioned MJ, are Scottie Pippen , Dennis Rodman , and coach Phil Jackson. Each is introduced individually and each has their own story to tell, from Pippen's difficult childhood to Rodman's wild and illicit nights.
A question of empathy
We all know how that season ended: a sixth NBA title and a team that became legendary. So why do we all watch The Last Dance as if we didn't know the ending? Why do we get excited about the players' feats and John Paxson's last-second shot if we already know where the ball will go? The answer lies in the flashback narrative , a springboard between past, present, and future that fuels tension, suspense, and allows the viewer to understand the motivations behind the team's winning, almost obsessive, mentality. There are no spoilers; we will remain glued to the screen because the power of the story is more attractive than any twist. Like Tiger King , another successful Netflix docuseries , The Last Dance satisfied the public's desire to witness great, true stories , enriched by a narrative with epic and surreal tones but with great visual and emotional impact that can be a source of inspiration in difficult times like the one we are experiencing. And then there's the empathy . Michael Jordan, the unbeatable great on the court and beloved by all, actually hides countless weaknesses. Number 23 is a man consumed by a competitive spirit , and the series exposes his excesses, his unfortunate outings, his passion for gambling, and even his psychological breakdowns. No longer an unrivaled legend, but a fragile man like the others, who accepted his flaws and pursued his ambitions of victory to the point of exhaustion. Until he achieved them.
Mirko Migliore
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