On August 22, 2023, a new documentary on Netflix about the Florida Gators 2005 to 2009 football teams came out called “Swamp Kings.” “Swamp Kings” has suspense, comedy, and heartfelt genre aspects throughout four episodes that are an hour long each.
There are many attractive entertainment aspects that draw people to the documentary, such as the former players and coaches being interviewed to give that authentic feeling. The show also has in-game footage of the team playing from the sideline which allows the viewer to feel like they are right there with the team.
However, while the show has many positives, a viewer who is informed about these specific Florida teams will know the many situations and facts left out. To the uninformed viewer, it isn’t a big deal, but to the informed viewer it could make the watch less enjoyable.
The message that is portrayed by this documentary is to show people how a team with endless scandals can overcome problems and win not one, but two national championships. It is effective in how it portrays when together a group of people can persevere and do extraordinary things.
If I were to compare this documentary to other Netflix Untold documentaries, one very similar is “The Malice in the Palace.” I would say that “Swamp Kings” trumps “The Malice in the Palace” because of the authenticity it provides.
“Swamp Kings” was a major hit and was published on almost all major media platforms. It took off when TikTok creators started to react to the documentary and gave their insightful thoughts on it. It reached Netflix top 10 most watched less than 24 hours after its release.
Some of the players and coaches interviewed were head coach Urban Meyer, defensive coordinator Dan Mullen, quarterback and first round pick Tim “Superman” Tebow, star linebacker and second round pick Brandon Spikes, and standout safety and third round pick Major Wright. These are only a few of the many former players interviewed and this alone makes it an interesting and beneficial documentary to watch. Still, the vast amount of stories and information about the team, players, coaches, and even fans really give this documentary a very accurate and entertaining outline of what those special Florida football teams were like.
