Bold, boisterous, and bursting with nineties nostalgia, Beckham is an entertaining insight into the private lives of two giants of celebrity culture, David and Victoria Beckham. The show follows the highs and lows of David’s football career, his journey into parenthood with his wife, and the highs and lows that come with fame. All in all, the series is a fantastic blend of football nostalgia, celebrity gossip, and a cheeky bit of the Spice Girls.
The show itself is a good representation of the trials and tribulations of playing football at an elite level. Despite earning himself worldwide recognition for his sporting efforts, Beckham came under intense scrutiny after being sent off during the England vs Argentina game at the 1998 World Cup. In the documentary, Beckham discusses the horrific abuse he endured from England fans for years afterwards, and the effect it had on his personal life. The series paints a sympathetic picture of Beckham which makes the audience question their own participation in the media circus, and brings into examination the boundaries of public and private life.
The series also does a commendable job at normalising two of the most notorious celebrities from the nineties. Posh and Becks take turns at speaking of events from their past from their own points of view, from finding out that Victoria is pregnant from their first child to the alleged Rebecca Loos affair.
In the final episode, the series paints a picture of a family that is warm and wholesome, irrelevant of all the criticism and pressure that they went through as documented in the four episodes. The show ends with a well-rounded conclusion of how David Beckham is content with his life as a husband, father and co-owner of American soccer team Inter Miami.
The ending is almost too perfect given the rash decisions and insatiable behaviour of Beckham demonstrated by his move to America, refusal to retire and his ever-changing hairstyles, but it is ultimately a sound representation of a man who, at his core, cherishes his family above all else.
Edited by Bethia Wyborn