Back in 2018, “Free Solo” documented Honnold’s gearless, 3,000-foot ascent of El Capitan, a rock face in Yosemite National Park. Now, Honnold has made history again. On Sunday, Honnold became the first person in the world to free solo Taipei 101 — one of the world’s tallest buildings — all while his climb streamed live on Netflix.
Taipei 101 — which, in total, reaches a staggering 1,667 feet — was once the tallest building in the world. On Sunday, Honnold climbed it in a nerve-racking 91 minutes. Due to the extreme level of risk, the livestream included a 10-second delay, giving the broadcasting crew just enough time to cut off the recording should plans go awry.
But the crowds of viewers on the ground would not be given this grace period, and the many phones recording the event would have meant that a recording of Honnold’s death could have been shared to the public instantly. For some, this has brought the ethics of this live and perilous form of entertainment into question.
But much to the relief of those watching, Honnold succeeded. Despite the repetitive nature of this climb, which at times became boring, it’s hard to deny the sheer talent the feat required.
While the climb made for a thrilling watch, not all components of the stream were quite as successful as Honnold. The panel — hosted by broadcaster Elle Duncan and featuring World Wrestling Entertainment champion Seth Rollins and climber Emily Harrington — boasted little to no rock-climbing knowledge outside Harrington. Instead of commentary on the nuances of the sport, viewers were forced to listen as panelists restated their anxieties, reported information about the building or spoke over Honnold as he attempted to communicate with the ground.
Aside from the seemingly pointless narration, the livestream also provided entertaining pre-recorded clips showing snapshots of Honnold’s life. Notably, Honnold’s wife Sanni McCandless gave an interview where she spoke on their life at home with their two children — in which she acknowledged concerns but said that she felt "breezy" watching Honnold’s climb.
McCandless saw Honnold on the 60th floor, motioning to him encouragingly through the window. This brief exchange seemed to motivate Honnold as he continued up the skyscraper, passing more fans whose regular offices had become viewing stations.
When Honnold finally made it to the top, the world took a breath. The climber had once again proven his skill and astounding self-confidence. Although this may not have been the most well-executed attempt at turning the possibility of death into entertainment, the climb itself — and the suspense brought on by witnessing it live — was nothing short of gripping.
