New documentary on Take That on Netflix

[PuppyMonkey]

Just binged the whole three episodes in one night. The archive material is amazing, bloody loved the whole thing

Jason Orange, where are you now?
🔥

Loved it too, and was very touched by Gary talking about how much he realised he needed the others.

I always thought it was daft to deny he's a world-class talent (and hated the years when it was apparently cool to put the boot in over his weight- so nasty). But there really is something magic about them as a band and I'm so glad they've made it for so long the second time around.

And yes to all the love for Jason "The Jawline" Orange. Though I get special feelings about them all in the Patience video- which I cannot believe is about to be 20 years old....!

I remember growing up it was always a joke that the mums loved Jason, watching now, I totally get it!

I sobbed at the end of episode 3. So much nostalgia. I always loved Jason the most and got ribbed about it at school but I was right!

Loved it and this thread! Oh the nostalgia!! That doc covered virtually my whole life like many of you I'm sure!!

Didn't know about Robbie pinching Angels off an Irish songwriter. I thought he was kind on the eye for a short while back then but his arrogance was just 🤮

Jason has a hint of James Norton about him! He's definitely the 🔥one of the them all, especially as a wiser, taste refined middle aged woman 😅

I adored them as a teen, Howard and Robbie were my faves. I remember being so upset and distressed when RW left and my dad, bless him (he used to read my Smash hits magazines so he could talk to me about my favourite bands) stuck up for Robbie and said he was only young and it was a lot of pressure, and he wasnt surprised he walked away.

Now looking back 30 years later as a mum of a 16 year old boy, its almost shocking how young they were, and how much was expected of them. (The recent boyband programmes have really shone a light on how hard the industry was) And all so good looking, as a teen i think i overlooked how good looking Jason was! (Although I think Gary has aged better than the others - possibly because hes seemed middle aged since he was a teen and has finally caught up with it!)

I was so excited by the comeback programme in 2005. I was 27, when I saw it but felt like a teenager all over again!

Ive seen the first 2 episodes of this series and enjoyed the nostalgia, just waiting for an opportunity when my family are out so I can watch the last one!

Why?

Last time I saw him was in a service station in Petersfield m&s 😂

Enjoyed it, v familiar stuff but undemanding nostalgic watch. Bit weird though at the end where it says the voiceovers are new interviews with Gary, Mark and Howard so all the rest is old interviews with Robbie, Jason, Nigel etc. Yet it’s cut together as though they’re all talking about it from the same point/context. Feels a bit shifty, splicing it all together as if it’s all of them looking back on it. I don’t mind that Jason etc aren’t taking part now but felt it should’ve been clearer that it’s the current three making deal with Netflix and the rest is just editing. Anyway, I wasn’t into them in the original era but don’t mind them now apart from Robbie who’s always irritated me. I can see his issues/vulnerabilities but he’s still unbearably self-regarding. Jason is objectively beautiful and Mark seems a delight.

Thanks for the thread @PuppyMonkey.

Binged the lot while crashed out with a cold. Then Boy Bands Forever (iplayer) straight after. Two combined gave a fuller perspective - Robbie and Nigel Martin-Smith in the latter.

Had no idea they built the band around Gary or how conceited he was to start with. Or that it was a decade of doldrums until they came back. Or the 6 year age gap between Howard and Robbie.

@Meliourous I agree Jason seems the most principled and mature. Appears to have a particular dislike for Martin-Smith. Wonder if it’s just because he told him not to sing or something darker.

Martin-Smith (on Boy Bands Forever) arrogantly dismisses Robbie’s claims he failed to protect or love him. He was 16. And they were being taken around gay clubs to perform. Robbie certainly describes women sexually assaulting him.

@Fizbosshoes I love that your dad read your Smash Hits to keep up with the bands! Top parenting there.
@EdithBond I’m going to rewatch the Boybands series. thanks for a great idea.

I believe most of them feel that Nigel’s recollections vary from theirs. Jason, being principled, was the one to tell him they didn’t need his services, and it seemed implied, give him some home truths. I think in their first documentary Jason said he had been the one to tell Robbie to go and he regretted how they handled it.

I’d like to add that I remember when Nigel launched them in their leather and pants, it looked a bit dated, almost Chippendales style. And it turned out that the gay audience wasn’t as much the key to their success as the teenage girl market.
Its unbelievable these days that 16 year olds were performing in their pants isn’t it. Or without them, in that first video with the jelly.

I was a HUGE fan in the 90s. Like obsessed teen. I did go to the first reunion tour and the tour with Robbie but sort of lost interest after that and I wouldn't go and see them now.

Love the nostalgia of the documentary, gave me such a yearning to go back to that simple time. But good god, Robbie Williams was and is such a narcissist. Nobody was a Gary fan in the 90s, we all laughed at him and he's still a bit of a self-serving twat now, and Jason was a bit of an ick back in the day but by the time the reunion came around I thought he was lovely. I was a Mark girl back in the day, or Howard. I still think Howard is lovely.

Me too, I was surprised. I think Gary clearly had a massive ego, and two massive egos never mix well.

Its weird how Jason and Howard were mostly ignored at the height of TTs fame but they were clearly the best looking! I wonder if thats because our idea of what is attractive changes over time? Mark would not be considered so attractive by today's standards I dont think. He does seem to be one of the nicest people ever.

For me Robbie came across appallingly in his own documentary for Netflix, very self centred and self absorbed, but actually this one put a little context on him.

Gary sounded like hard work in the early band days but he has grown a lot and he has aged physically and emotionally extremely well.

Mark, was and is fabulous, then and now. Howard and Jason too, really nice guys.

The manager was truly awful.

I thought it was a great documentary. I have seen both Take That a couple of times and Robbie on his own many, many times. After his own documentary I knew I’d never go and see Robbie again as it really changed how I viewed him but I’d definitely see Take That again after that one.

Looking forward to watching this.

I was a TT “fan” when I was around 9/10. Had the first couple of albums on tape.

By the time they had their comeback and were big again I wasn’t interested, but I’ve always retained a small interest in the dynamic and interested to see the footage from the early years.

At the time, when I was very young, I liked Mark with his floppy hair. Even at such a young age I found Robbie irritating and unlikeable. Thought Gary was “old” and never gave Jason or Howard a second thought. So I’m interested to see Jason now that I hear how hot he is considered!

Having watched some of Gary as a judge of Xfactor I think he is really handsome and likeable. Love his Yorkshire accent and dry sense of humour. Definitely my favourite.

Watched Robbie’s documentary when it came out a few years ago and thought he was a tragic character. He looks dreadful, physically. He’s aged really badly and he just looked really miserable. His whole home life looked really miserable.

As I say, I’ve never liked him one bit….but you do have to remember how young he was and how damaging this whole teen pop star thing is. It’s been going on for so long, and still is (all the young bands from Xfactor etc) and it’s just too much too young for these young kids.

I think the difference is that Gary has grown up, gained self awareness and understanding/humility. ROBBIE, on the other hand….still a massive twat.

I wondered this, Mark was such an archetypal 90s heart throb with his swooshy hair.

I was really impressed with Gary, he seemed very reflective and emotionally intelligent, he could see how and why he was in the 90s and he paid the price for it, and was remorseful. Late 00s Take That is my favourite era of Take That.

I’ve watched it now. I was slightly older when they started out - at uni already - but we all loved Mark!!
Some of my uni mates were big fans but I wasn’t massively in to them except as eye candy - I was too ‘cool’ 😂
Watching the doc was eye opening to me - Gary more of a prat than I thought, I always felt a bit sorry for him as he wasn’t the good looking one and was mocked.
Good on Jason for being true to himself and Robbie, well we all know about him (weirdly he’s the only one I’ve seen live - at a festival in 2000 - he belted them out).
Mark still seems lovely though and I still wouldn’t say no!!!

What they achieved is remarkable. 5 northern working class boys. Outstanding.

My friend met Jason in a cafe and told her that her friend was going to see him at Wembley that week (me!) and was a big fan. He was only too happy to sign a random bit of paper for me that she brought into work the next day! She said he was lovely

I agree. When I went to see them when they came back around 2006!? All my friends were like wow what’s happened to Jason and Howard 🤣 we were all mark and Robbie lovers previously!

is Robbie that hard up he needs to do a cat food ad?

i wonder if Robbie has ever had his ADHD formally diagnosed?