Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues Review 2025 Tv Show Series Cast Crew Online
Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues is a five‑part Prime Video docuseries released on August 1, 2025, that weaves a layered, character‑driven narrative around Birmingham City Football Club’s dramatic 2023–25 seasons under new American ownership It centers on NFL legend Tom Brady’s 3.3 % minority ownership stake, alongside billionaire Tom Wagner of Knighthead Capital, and chronicles a rollercoaster path from relegation to promotion. With executive producing from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, the series offers both spectacle and sincerity as it dives into football culture, city identity, and sporting
From the outset, the series establishes everyday Birmingham as both a character and a setting: an industrial, working‑class city with a proud but downtrodden football heritage. Knight’s narration and interviews with lifelong fans ground the story in authenticity. Their self‑deprecating humor and blunt honesty—as when a steward declares “we’ve been rubbish for years”—lend a warmth that offsets the American gloss of Brady’s presence In contrast, Brady often appears as a “big fish out of water,” asking basic questions about English football structure and adapting uneasily to local customs—even pronouncing “holding the ‘h’ in Birmingham” as Brady struggles with pronunciation
The first two episodes revolve around managerial turmoil and relegation. The controversial firing of John Eustace, the ill‑fated appointment of Wayne Rooney (who manages just 83 days), and the diagnosis of Tony Mowbray’s illness cast the club into chaos. Commentary from Brady—he bluntly labels the players “lazy and entitled” and questions Rooney’s work ethic—stirs outrage among fans, sparking social‑media backlash calling Brady “snooty” or “tone‑deaf” given his limited football wisdom A standout moment is captured in episode two: Brady berates staff for refusing to give David Beckham a gift bag, calling that choice “f⁎⁎⁎ing stupid”—a flashpoint capturing both his intensity and cultural friction
Despite the early setbacks, the narrative shifts chrome in episodes three through five as manager Chris Davies arrives, player Jay Stansfield emerges, and the club begins its ascent back to the Championship. Birmingham clinches promotion as League One champions with a record 111 points. Personal stories—like Jay Stansfield’s emotional return to his former club Exeter, where his late father was a club legend—add depth beyond football results The goal‑scoring struggles of signing Alfie May, and leadership scenes such as Wagner’s speech from the Royal Box at Wembley (“We will get to the Premier League—it’s just a question of when, not if”), further cement a turning point in the club’s cultural reboot
Visually and sonically, the production is polished, with high production values, cinematic narration, and a soundtrack featuring Birmingham native The Streets Yet critics differ sharply on what that polish hides: some see the docuseries as a soulless celebrity vehicle, likening it to a vanity project thin on emotional engagement. One review calls it flashy but hollow and suggests skipping it altogether, arguing Brady is “flashy with high production values” but lacking empathy or genuine involvement Others see clear homage to Welcome to Wrexham and Running with the Wolves, while noting Brady lacks their charm and hands‑on presence
Supporters of the documentary praise its emotional resonance and thoughtful pacing. IMDb reviews show many full‑marks ratings, highlighting its candid interviews, gritty edge, and portrayal of a club reborn through shared purpose: “A professionally shot … prepared documentary … rivals Wrexham and Sunderland docs … open and honest … it feels like going home” writes one fan Such fans emphasize how the series succeeds in capturing the identity of being a Blues supporter: long-suffering yet optimistic and fiercely loyal
Thematically, the series explores culture clashes—American ambition versus Brummie grit. Brady’s corporate speak, management lessons (for example, sending Davies an American college football video), and talk‑through aviator‑sunglass‑clad pep talks contrast sharply with the fans’ cynical While the documentary markets Brady’s star power, the emotional soul belongs to the fans and their city. In that sense, it’s less Brady’s show than Birmingham’s—but even that framing doesn’t promise full equity, critics argue, because stories beyond the first team, or broader community plans envisioned by Wagner, get short shrift
More pointed critics argue that the storytelling feels selective: three of the five managers during the decline go unmentioned, the series omits deeper context around side stories like Tony Mowbray’s cancer illness, and largely ignores the club’s broader infrastructure strategy beyond player recruitment. Even the Zulu Warriors’ ugly subculture is depicted with surprising nuance, sometimes verging on excusing origins rooted in hooliganism rather than fully condemning it
Ultimately, Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues delivers a compelling season arc—from chaos to redemption—with richness in character, culture, and aspiration. It offers sharp insights into sporting dynasties, working‑class identity, and the fraught intersection of celebrity and community. For fans of Birmingham City it is a heartfelt tribute; for global viewers it is a glossy entry into the American celebrity‑club takeover documentary genre.
Still, its balance between spectacle and substance divides opinion. Those craving emotional authenticity may find it leans too heavily on marketable faces and flashy production. Others, inspired by the reversal of fortune, intimate storytelling, and local charm, will find it a stirring narrative of hope and tenacity in the Midlands.
In summary, the series shines brightest when it lets Birmingham speak—not just through Brady or Wagner, but in the chants, stories, and resilience of the Blues faithful. It may not be the most honest football documentary ever made, but it is one of the most vivid—an ambitious, occasionally flawed, but ultimately entertaining portrait of ambition, culture clash, and football’s enduring power.
