While watching the Apple TV series The Dynasty, I chronicled my thoughts. Below is how I felt about each episode as it aired. I begin with some overarching thoughts:

1. Appreciate the run of success for what it was. The drama at the end is interesting, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that the Patriots had the greatest run in sports history. They won SIX freaking Super Bowls!
2. After episode three, Bill Belichick did not want to be part of this series. It was an unfortunate missed opportunity for him to add more detail/ context.
3. Wish we could hear from Scarnecchia.
4. Each episode could have been 10-15 mins longer.
5. While I don’t think it was a “hit piece” against Belichick, there were times it could have been a bit more fair to him. That is detailed below.

Notes on the series as it progressed.

6. Episodes 1+2 were excellent besides framing of 2001 regular season game vs Rams. That game was more about the Patriots being able to compete with the league’s best.
7. Bill sticking with Brady during the 2001 season when Bledsoe was healthy was one of the best coaching decisions in sports history.
8. “That’s when the Patriot Way started”- referencing Bledsoe taking a back seat in Super Bowl XXXVI
9. Super Bowl 36 parts were A+. Mike Martz and Ty Law were great to hear from.
10. Not having 2003 and 2004 featured was a HUGE mistake (plus 21 game win streak).
11. No mention of Brady/ Manning! Why?!?!?
12. Moss, Bledsoe, Bruschi were excellent in this series.
13. 2007 episode was good. BB could have helped himself more here.
14. Other teams taping not mentioned. Mistake. But fair in assessing Bill’s culpability.
15. Adapting with Cassel was great coaching and they told the story well overall.
16. Hernandez episode was great overall. Jonathan Kraft part at the end was unfair to Belichick.
17. Belichick had a 22 min press conference about Hernandez that was great. Arguable his finest moment as head coach. It’s barely in the episode. Series screwed him on that
18. Deion Branch and Brandon Lloyd were great.
19. No mention of “On to Cincinnati?
20. Rupert Murdoch why? Putin story funny but why this episode?
21. Deflategate was the stupidest thing ever.
22. Left out Kraft press conference asking for an “apology” from the league.
23. That Seahawks team was probably the best one the Pats ever played. Defending champions and loaded on both sides of the ball with a great head coach.
24. “Jealousy and envy are incurable diseases.”
25. I understand the logic of Bill drafting Jimmy G. Brady is just a unicorn that beat father time.
26. The first six quarters of Jimmy G starting were aces. That first half vs Miami in Week 2 made him look like an All-Pro.
27. Locker room footage after Arizona win with Jimmy G was great.
28. I’d pay $1000 to watch one more game of angry Tom Brady
29. Didn’t show Bill’s press conf after Super Bowl LI complimenting Brady? Would’ve liked that.
30. Brady’s ability to accept Bill’s hard coaching is one of the most important but underrated aspects of the Patriots being great for 20 years.
31. Really enjoyed Josh McDaniels in this series.
32. “The pain is temporary. The championship is forever.”
33. Slater’s comments on Bill’s letter to Trump….damn.
34. Two points guys changed- Spygate for Belichick and 28-3 for Brady. Both guys seemed different after those instances.
35. “Tommy was starting to separate from team-first all the time.” This is a sneakily damming quote from Kraft, but also a reflection of where Brady was in his life.
36. Nothing about Jimmy G being locked out of TB12?
37. Gronk went to TB12 because he thought Bill would cut him; I don’t buy that that would have happened.
38. Alex Guerrero encouraging guys not to lift (Gronk squat issue) was a problem. Undermines staff and deserves discipline. Perhaps outright banning went too far.
39. Appreciate Kraft’s honesty on Jimmy G trade (Wickersham was right all along).
40. No comments from Bill on trade? Another missed chance for him.
41. Appreciated McCourty’s comments. “Those jerseys they buy, they don’t know us.”
42. Butler benching….just a massive mistake.
43. Not telling him until the game? Stunning.
44. Patriots’ offense was amazing in Super Bowl LII. McDaniels says “game was out of control.” Brady said something similar in Man In The Arena.
45. Bill missing further chances to help himself.
46. Kraft “something personal” between Bill and Malcolm.
47. Chris Hogan was unreal in SB52.
48. “There are things that can’t be undone.”
49. Giselle seems like one of the driving forces of Brady leaving (meeting at Kraft’s house).
50. No mention of Gronk almost being traded?
51. Brady asked Slater to talk to Bill. Sheesh
52. Pats vs Chiefs AFCCG was an all-timer.
53. The 2018 playoffs were the epitome of both-no other QB does what Brady did in the 4th quarter/ OT in KC and no other coach shuts down Rams in Super Bowl the way Belichick did.
54. “He didn’t want Tommy there.”
55. Jason McCourty play in the end zone SB LIII. Amazing!
56. McDaniels deserves credit for adjusting personnel on TD drive in SB LIII.
57. Seems like SB LIII solidified Kraft choosing Bill over Brady.
58. I think the original sin was not paying Brady after 2017. After Guerrero stuff. That was the first step in him leaving. By the summer of 2019 there was no changing his mind.
59. Bill acknowledged Brady made the right decision leaving. 2020 Pats were not winning Super Bowl.
60. “It was hard. But it was great.”
61. Amendola really hates Bill.
62. Kraft admits Brady would have stayed if Bill left.
63. Them staying together for 20 years is a major accomplishment in itself.
64. Pioli saying Bill vs Tom is disrespectful to everyone else is 10000% correct. It discounts all the elite players, coaches, scouts, etc. that helped make it happen.
65. “Everybody wants to go to the Super Bowl. Not that many people really want to do what it takes to get there.”