As a sports enthusiast who has followed the tragic story of Aaron Hernandez since it unfolded, I must say that this Netflix series has done an outstanding job in shedding light on the complexities of his life and the factors that may have contributed to his downfall. The show masterfully immerses us into the mind of a man who was torn between his passion for football, his struggles with identity, and his troubled past.
This first season of American Sports Story has turned out to be unexpectedly enjoyable for me, but I’m not convinced it will make my top picks for best shows of the year. Compared to Killer Inside, the 2020 documentary, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. However, it does have its merits. The series effectively portrays the tragic events central to the story, despite some initial hurdles.
It’s evident that Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) significantly impacted the storyline, and I believe the series effectively highlighted the impacts of this disorder without either exaggerating or downplaying it. In the initial scene of the final episode, approximately thirty minutes before Aaron’s demise unfolds, researchers from Boston University are shown dissecting his brain, visibly astonished by their findings. Later, during a press conference, an expert clarifies that the damage to Aaron’s frontal lobes was extensive, most likely impacting his judgment and impulsivity in recent years. If he had survived, it’s estimated he would have only had about ten more years before experiencing complete incapacitation.
In this episode, it’s not surprising that Aaron’s struggle with CTE gets more focus than before, as his story is often recounted after the fact in real life. D.J., Terri, and Shayanna debate whether to let the university examine Aaron’s brain, but they all yearn for answers about his condition. In hindsight, it seems clear – as D.J. notes, he was always a head-first player on the field, absorbing hit after hit over the years. Aaron had mentioned earlier that his migraines weren’t recent issues; dealing with them without regular team-provided medication while in prison was particularly challenging. However, Bill Belichick has little to contribute when journalists question him about coaches concealing the impacts of the disease. That’s more for the medical staff to address.
Before the closing scenes, the main storyline in this finale primarily revolves around Aaron’s second murder trial. Unlike his previous trial, he now has a robust legal team, headed by Jose Baez (Jose Pablo Cantillo), who is often referred to as “Juanie Cochran” due to his role in the successful Casey Anthony defense. The team also includes George Leontire (Gregory Porter Miller), an individual who identifies as gay.
As a devoted supporter, I wish Aaron’s entire family could attend the trial, but it seems only Shayanna remains steadfast in her presence for him. Unfortunately, Terri and D.J., under the relentless gaze of public scrutiny, are struggling – D.J.’s football career appears to have stalled completely. Terri expresses her helplessness with “I just can’t,” a sentiment that Aaron finds as another example of his mother not standing by him in times of need. Infuriated after speaking with her, Aaron promptly initiates a confrontation with the individual who has been mocking his basketball abilities. In a manner that I believe is an attempt to cope with his feelings, this is how Aaron chooses to respond.
In the courtroom, Alexander Bradley, also known as Sherrod, serves as the key witness for the prosecution regarding the Boston double murder case. However, Baez successfully challenges his credibility by portraying him as a violent individual, referring to his nicknames like “Sherrod the Shooter” and stirring an angry response about Aaron’s actions towards him. The prosecution then attempts what Leontire refers to as a ‘gay-panic defense,’ introducing Chris as a witness to suggest that the pressure of hiding his sexuality led Aaron to commit murder. Fortunately, Leontire’s motion in limine is approved, keeping unsubstantiated gay rumors out of court.
It’s worth noting that something like this actually did happen, even if Chris is a composite character. (Baez and Leontire spoke about it on Oxygen’s “Aaron Hernandez Uncovered” special.) But in the context of this depiction, it feels meta. Early on in the season, it felt like Aaron Hernandez actually was drawing a link between Hernandez’s queerness and his crimes, so having someone like Leontire come in to call it out is clarifying. The same goes for the scene that follows when Aaron looks to Leontire as a sort of queer elder and asks if someone abused him as a kid. “That’s not what makes people gay,” the man replies. It should be an obvious point, but the show has been a little wishy-washy about it, especially back in that episode with the actual flashback to Aaron’s molestation at the hands of his (fictionalized) uncle.
The verdict declared Aaron innocent, yet it seems he may be beyond recovery from his downward spiral, with the recent spread of rumors only exacerbating the situation. The documentary “Who Killed Aaron Hernandez?” does not solely attribute Aaron’s suicide to homophobic bullying, but it undeniably served as a catalyst, driving him towards his tragic end, where he bought K-2 under the belief that it would enable him to connect with the divine.
As a movie buff, I can’t help but feel it was only natural that Aaron found solace in religion, given his close bond with Tim Tebow early in the series. Christianity, however, wasn’t the ultimate solution for Aaron’s inner turmoil, not when it demanded suppressing emotions and conforming to a heterosexual lifestyle. For a while though, it provided him with a semblance of control. His Bible study group in prison echoes John 3:16, the verse Tebow often wore on his face paint, and stirs within him thoughts about heaven – a place where he envisions being truly free at last.
When Aaron gazes into the mirror and seems to see his father, it’s as if he’s catching a glimpse of heaven for the first time, given how deceased his dad appears. This apparition of Dennis, however, speaks all the words that Aaron yearned to hear: expressions of love, pride, and protection. Yet, Dennis is not truly present, and Aaron understands this when he inscribes John 3:16 on himself and his cell walls. True liberty remains elusive for Aaron, perhaps forever, but this brief taste of it is too precious to relinquish.
The final episode of Aaron Hernandez delves deep into Aaron’s mental state, offering a gripping portrayal of his last troubled days, allowing us to empathize with his paranoia and insecurities. Towards the end, we sense his absence as those left behind grapple with their fears and regrets. Shayanna gazes at boys playing football, musing if any of them might follow in the footsteps of the man she still loves yet couldn’t marry. Everyone is shaped by their influences, and football doesn’t have to be harmful. However, events like this make one question whether the warning signs were evident all along. If only they had seemed genuine at the time.
The End Zone
The episode features brief sequences displaying “The Kirk and Callahan Show,” where its hosts labeled Aaron as “the next O.J.” and jokingly mocked his perceived queerness following a rumor from journalist Michele McPhee. At that time, there was much debate about whether this amounted to an exposure of Aaron’s sexuality.
There’s an intriguing instant where Aaron appears somewhat disturbed by Shay mentioning the possibility of him going back to his previous life someday. To be honest, Aaron from the past wasn’t genuinely content or at ease, and he was hiding a significant aspect of himself, so it seems challenging for Shay to romanticize it as much as he does.
It’s unclear what Chris might be feeling upon learning he won’t testify, as it seems his viewpoint has always been somewhat obscure for me. However, I assume a significant portion of him would feel some sense of relief, considering he wouldn’t have to expose his ex and himself in the process.
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2024-11-13 08:54