‘Skyscraper Live’ Netflix Review - Palms are Sweating, Legs are Shaking (Not)

This was definitely the most thrilling event I have encountered on live TV, even though it was delayed by a day, which doesn't stop it from being the most heart-pounding 90 minutes I have ever watched. Before this event, I had seen Robert Zemeckis's The Walk starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, which was based on the life of high-wire artist Philippe Petit.

Alex Honnold deserves all the praise for holding his nerves and eliminating any risk of tiredness or fatigue throughout the free solo ascent (without any ropes or safety equipment) and making it to the top of Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings on our planet. While climbing, Honnold casually chatted with hosts Elle Duncan and Seth Rollins via microphone, waved to spectators inside the building, attempted a high-five through a window, and posed for photos—showcasing his composure at extreme heights. At the top, he took a selfie and made it feel like he was on the rooftop of his house. 

The renowned American rock climber Alex Honnold made it to the top in the first-ever free solo ascent of Taipei 101, one of the world's tallest skyscrapers in Taipei, Taiwan. The building stands at 101 stories, 1,667 feet (508 meters) tall, and is currently the 11th tallest in the world. Honnold, the 40-year-old professional climber famous for his ropeless ascent of Yosemite's El Capitan (documented in the 2018 Oscar-winning film Free Solo), took on this challenge as a lifelong dream, emphasizing preparation and training to mitigate the inherent risks. The event was produced by Plimsoll Productions and followed standard live-TV safety protocols, including a 10-second broadcast delay in case of a fall, along with viewer warnings against attempting similar climbs due to their illegality on urban structures.

The ascent was divided into three main sections, each presenting distinct obstacles due to the building's irregular design, including abstract steel protrusions like two cloud-shaped Chinese ruyi talismans and ten 16-foot-tall dragon formations.

Honnold easily finished the first section, The Slabs, in a matter of a few minutes. The Slabs are straightforward, 372 feet, and were easier than the other sections of the building to climb, apart from the cloud-shaped Chinese ruyi that created the first thrill. The longest section of the journey to the top is the "Bamboo Boxes" - 900 feet tall, they were basically vertical, in a way, upside-down slopes that made it one of the toughest challenges for Honnold to climb. Alongwith that, there were dragon formations at the finish of each of the 10 bamboo boxes. However, not only did Alex not shake anywhere while leaping over the boxes, he waved to the crowd cheering for him on the ground.

While climbing the Upper rings, Hannold did the only risky stunt that put every viewer's heart in their mouth when he hung his legs in between the rings and opened his arms like an eagle in the sky, flapping his wings. This thrilling moment became the biggest highlight of the whole ascent.

Throughout this ascent, Honnold encountered only a few minor issues, such as intermittent headset failures disrupting communication with hosts, brief broadcast static, and arm tiredness in the final section, where he remarked, "You know what? I’m kind of tired." Despite this, he remained composed, cracking jokes, waving to fans (including a high-five attempt through a window), and problem-solving on the fly. No major incidents occurred, and seismic risks (Taiwan averages ~1,000 felt earthquakes yearly) were monitored but didn't impact the event. The event was broadcast with drone footage, a rig cameraman, and expert commentary from Emily Harrington, Pete Woods, and Mark Rober. A 10-second delay was in place for emergencies, and viewers were warned not to attempt similar climbs. An exclusion zone kept crowds safe.

Alex Honnold rappelled down using a harness for safety, then took the elevator to reunite with his family. He celebrated with a selfie at the summit and received global praise for his "superhuman" mental and physical feat.

Overall, the event proved a resounding success, even in the face of an unexpected weather delay and a handful of minor technical issues. These brief setbacks did little to diminish the impact of the experience, which many viewers described as “pretty gripping” from start to finish. The flawless execution of the ascent, with no mishaps or safety incidents, underscored the significance of the accomplishment. In the aftermath, plaudits came in from all across the town and beyond, with many congratulating Honnold on his outstanding daring, precision, and mastery of his profession.