tech
January 26, 2026
‘The most stressful TV experience on record’: Alex Honnold and the rise of potential death as live entertainment
Witnessing the free climber’s ascent of the Taipei 101 without ropes on Skyscraper Live was an astonishing experience. But beneath panicked viewers’ sweaty palms, there was a queasy truth about the future of television
TL;DR
- Alex Honnold's unassisted climb of Taipei 101 was broadcast live by Netflix as Skyscraper Live.
- The live format was more stressful and less structured than the documentary Free Solo.
- The extended duration and repetitive nature of the climb led to viewer zoning out, punctuated by moments of panic.
- Taipei 101 provided a dramatic setting with increasing difficulty and precarious sections.
- The broadcast raises ethical questions about entertainment that relies on the possibility of a participant's death.
- The author compares it to Red Bull's Felix Baumgartner jump, suggesting a 'rubbernecker' audience.
- The article argues against Netflix commissioning more death-defying live events, likening it to a 'Victorian freak show'.
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