So a friend of mine suggested I check out Challenger – The Final Flight on Netflix. Pretty self-explanatory. It’s a documentary on one of the most shocking incidents ever broadcast live on national TV. I was 8 years old. Too young to understand that all of those brave astronauts weren’t coming back but old enough to know something really horrible happened. Heck, I couldn’t even watch the “very special” Punky Brewster they made about the episode. If Soleil Moon Frye was struggling with what the world witnessed, how the heck was some chubby nerd living in Patchogue gonna deal with it?
So the question is, why the heck did I watch this documentary? It’s a horrible story. What I didn’t realize is that it’s also a fascinating story. After each episode of this docuseries I was reaching for my phone to cancel any plans I had, because I wasn’t moving from the couch. What these men and women went through just to be a PART of this is worth checking out.
That’s the funny thing about arts and entertainment. Not everything entertaining has to be sunshine and rainbows. Some art IS tragic. Someone a lot more talented than I am who watches this story might be inspired to write the next lyrical masterpiece or take that trauma-soaked inspiration and turn it into an awe-inducing Broadway production. A sad song doesn’t always make you sad. Eric Clapton once said the first thing he thinks when he hears a sad song is “My God I’m Not Alone”
Tragedy CAN lead to triumph I guess. The point I’m TRYING to make is just because something is sad, doesn’t mean its not worth experiencing. Check out Challenger – The Final Flight on Netflix if you get the chance. It is worth the extra boxes of Kleenex you will be replacing in the house.
(Image: AP Newsroom)