Kelley: I’m Done Discussing “The Dynasty”

Apple TV’s “The Dynasty” series has been discussed at length by this scribe. I wrote reviews of every episode. I wrote an article explaining why I disliked the series so much. Despite my unhappiness with the series, I even created a Top 10 list of the best performances of those who participated. When New England Patriots legends Devin McCourty and Rodney Harrison voiced displeasure with the supposed docuseries, I reported about that too.

This is one final article to state I’m done discussing “The Dynasty” for good.

More Patriots Legends Chiming In

Since reporting on McCourty and Harrison’s comments, several other notable Patriots figures echoed their sentiments. They have voiced unahappiness with how the greatest run in pro football history was portrayed.

Patriots Hall of Fame coach Dante Scarnecchia voiced his displeasure. He said he had no plans to watch the show after finding out how many key members of the organization were never interviewed.

“There is some selective journalism here and I don’t like it,” said Scarnecchia.

Longtime Patriots captain Matthew Slater made some critical comments about Bill Belichick’s demanding style in the series. He voiced displeasure with those comments being the only ones shown about his coach.

“Let’s make sure none of us forget the fact that the dynasty is not even being talked about without Bill Belichick,” reminded Slater.

Stephon Gilmore won a Super Bowl and NFL Defensive Player of the Year during his time with the Patriots. He took to social media to give his review of “The Dynasty” and it was not a positive one. He said, in part, “Don’t let that fool you.”

Just watched The Dynasty. Bill was the greatest coach I’ve ever been around. Don’t let that fool you. I’ll never forget we were a predominantly man team during the 2018 season all the way up to the Super Bowl. When we played the Rams we switched to Zone.

— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0re) April 12, 2024

Vince Wilfork, a two-time Super Bowl champion during “The Dynasty” was not pleased with the portrayal of his former head coach. This echoed the sentiments of many viewers not actively rooting against the New England Patriots.

“I didn’t like the comments of how it went. I think Bill (Belichick) deserves a lot more credit than what was portrayed in there,” said Wilfork. “So I just stay away from it. I’m going to tell you like I tell everybody else: Bill Belichick is the best head coach that ever coached the game of football.”

In Conclusion

Quite simply, I don’t have an interest in writing about every former New England Patriots player or coach not enjoying “The Dynasty” at this point. Maybe if somebody comes out and says how great it was that will be news at this point. Contrary to those who bashed me on social media for not enjoying it (p.s. it’s fine to have differing opinions) clearly I was not alone.

I made my feelings on “The Dynasty” series known. People can read all of my episode reviews on Patriots Football Now. One can read the other features I wrote regarding the series as well. It is all available here.

But to reemphasize a point made in my final review of the complete series, my issue with the series went deeper than just snubbing Bill Belichick or glossing over some of the greatest achievements of the historic run. As I wrote in that review:

“Long before covering the New England Patriots, I was a fan. That predates “The Dynasty” by many years. So I lived through the ups and downs of the franchise in real time. Being a New England fan during this historic run of success was so much fun. The series captured almost none of that enjoyment.”