Nearly 25 years after Baywatch wrapped up its iconic run, the new Hulu documentary After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun attempts to dive into the massive cultural impact of the show. Baywatch, with its unforgettable scenes of lifeguards sprinting in slow motion along sun-soaked beaches, defined television in the 1990s.
Starring David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, the series captivated audiences from 1989 to 2001, even spawning the spinoff Baywatch: Hawaii. The documentary, however, struggles to deliver a meaningful analysis, often falling short of its intended depth.
After Baywatch tries to dissect how the show capitalized on the concept that “sex sells,” but it ends up feeling more like a promotional tool for the original series rather than a thorough critique. The documentary’s pacing is frantic, darting from one idea to the next without allowing viewers the time to fully absorb any significant points. This fast-paced editing, reminiscent of a Michael Bay film, might work for an action-packed blockbuster, but it feels out of place in a documentary that aims to assess the legacy of one of the most popular shows of the ’90s.
The documentary juggles interviews with a wide array of individuals involved with Baywatch—actors, producers, casting directors, and consultants—alongside footage from the show and stock images of beachgoers. However, the rapid cuts create a chaotic viewing experience, often overshadowing the substance of the interviews. As a result, it’s hard to gauge the true impact of the statements made, as they are quickly glossed over in favor of the next topic.
One glaring issue is the documentary’s inability to provide context about the people it features. Viewers are introduced to numerous individuals who were part of the Baywatch phenomenon, but the film fails to convey whether their involvement was brief or substantial. Critical moments that could add weight to the documentary are often rushed through, leaving little time for reflection.
This hurried approach is particularly evident at the end of Episode 2, which briefly addresses accusations of racism against the show. The episode mentions the NAACP’s concerns that Baywatch featured only one African American character, Sgt. Ellerbee, played by Gregory Allen Williams. The documentary then quickly notes that Traci Bingham joined the cast as the first principal African American lifeguard, seemingly suggesting that her casting resolved the issue. However, it fails to mention that Bingham only appeared in two of the show’s 11 seasons, leaving viewers with an incomplete picture.
After Baywatch ultimately falls short of offering the in-depth analysis it promises, opting instead for a fast-paced, surface-level exploration of a show that left an indelible mark on popular culture.