In Netflix’s interview show Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall, the recently deceased anthropologist sat with producer and host Brad Falchuk prior to her death to discuss her life. The special is purported to be the start of a new series, one that allows public figures the chance to speak freely knowing that the interview will only air after their death. It might sound ghoulish but instead it’s uplifting, an opportunity to reflect on a life well-lived. As Goodall calmly sips a whiskey, she’s equally reflective and honest about everything from her marriages, motherhood, and her real feelings about the most powerful men in the world.
Opening Shot: “When someone important dies, all you long for is just a little more time with them,” reads an opening title card. That sets up the premise of Netflix’s new, fascinating series that, one assumes, will only drop episodes after the death of cultural icons, like this first episode with Dr. Jane Goodall, in order to let us have one more (posthumous) moment with her.
The Gist: Famous Last Words is a great premise: the new series on Netflix, hosted by Brad Falchuk (of Gwyneth Paltrow’s husband fame), features an interview with a unique, beloved figure, filmed before their death, allows them the opportunity to offer a final, public message to the world. The subject of these interviews is well aware that these conversations will not air until after their death, whether that’s a matter of weeks, months or even years. (The New York Times reports that Goodall’s interview was filmed in March, and Netflix has at least three others banked, though they won’t reveal who the subjects are.)
Upon Jane Goodall’s death last week at the age of 91, Netflix released an episode with the famed anthropologist and primatologist whose work with chimpanzees was groundbreaking and helped us better understand not just the animals but humans’ link to the animal world.
At the start of the interview, Goodall credits her mother’s support as one of the primary reasons she pursued her dream of working with animals. As a child, Goodall explains that her mother was never upset when she played with worms or disappeared for hours as a time to be with animals, and that her mother’s supportive, inquisitive nature led Goodall to feel like her interests mattered and were worth pursuing.
Goodall is as humble as they come and often mentions how perplexed she is that she’s world famous, an “icon.” Her humility and quiet demeanor make it all the more fun when she’s asked who she dislikes, and she easily rolls off a list of political and business leaders, including Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu, all of whom she says she wished would board one of Musk’s SpaceX rockets to another planet. Goodall compares the men on board this hypothetical rocket to the alpha male chimps she studies, whose aggression is the primary way they fight for dominance. (Though she doesn’t get deeply political, it’s clear that her passions for conservation and scientific research are at odds with much of what these men represent.)
Of course it’s juicy and fun to hear someone air out their grievances and name names, but the more fascinating aspects of Goodall’s interview concern the more magical, mystical air that encircles her. She discusses her ability to communicate not just with animals but with nature in general, recounting a time when she simply asked the rain to stop, and it did. In another spiritual aside, she reveals seeing the spirit of her deceased husband who came to her after his death, reinforcing her belief that there is some kind of afterlife.
The interview is brief, under an hour, and covers topics that are very personal in nature, including her surprising thoughts on her two marriages, motherhood, and the deep relationships she’s had with the animals in her life. Though there is one thing she refuses to reveal – the name of a man she once loved – Goodall is open to talk about her life and the afterlife with the calm assuredness that has made her one of the most trusted figures of the past century.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Famous Last Words is based on the Danish series The Last Word. What sets it apart from other similar interview shows is the specter of death looming throughout. Not in a creepy way, but here it forces Goodall to be reflective and consider her life as a whole and her legacy. While the subject’s death promises a certain level of insulation from any blowback to their hot takes or opinions, in this case, there’s nothing too controversial.
Our Take: The set of Famous Last Words looks like the set of many other great interview shows like Inside The Actor’s Studio or My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, just two chairs atop a small platform. But there is no audience and there’s not even a crew on set, all the cameras are operated remotely so that Goodall is comfortable enough to speak candidly with no judgment or interruption. While Brad Falchuk is a good-enough interviewer, moving the conversation along and showing genuine affection and respect for Goodall, he seems an odd choice as host, perhaps mostly because he’s not a known personality. (I say that word in the truest sense: as someone who is mainly behind the camera, he comes to the show without a preexisting persona, and comes off as reverent but a bit dry, though Goodall needs little coaxing to deliver quality soundbites.)
What was so moving about the entire episode was the way Goodall flowed between topics and was able to articulate the meaning of so many key moments in her life. In discussing her mother, who supported Jane’s passion for bugs and animals even as a toddler, it’s a lesson in what it means to be an unconditionally loving, non-judgmental parent. As she reflects on her love of nature, she recalls how entertained she was while watching two dung beetles get in a fight, and it’s honestly just as good as anything on DeuxMoi. Goodall bridges a gap between several generations; born in 1934, she lived through World War II, she lived through an era where women scientists had to fight for credibility, she has seen the planet undergo colossal devastation thanks to climate change, and despite all the reasons she might have to be bitter and frustrated by the state of the world, she remains progressive, optimistic, and ahead of her time. Aside from a couple of personal anecdotes, there’s nothing Goodall says in this interview is something she wouldn’t say freely at any other time, but there is some comfort in getting one last moment with her, one last chance to deliver words to remember her by.
Parting Shot: As the interview ends, Falchuk excuses himself to give the floor over to Goodall, allowing her to speak freely with some parting words. Goodall offers a speech, roughly three minutes long, about how every single human life matters and makes a difference, closing with, “Do your best while you’re still on this beautiful planet Earth that I look down upon from where I am now. God bless you all.”
Memorable Dialogue: “I’m dead so I won’t have repercussions,” Goodall laughs when she’s told that the interview she’s filming is one where she can speak freely about any topic she likes.
Our Call: The premise of Famous Last Words inherently makes for a much more moving and candid interview show than most others, and Goodall is not only game to openly discuss her successes, her grievances and her public image, but her wit and humility which shine through help emphasize the magnitude of our loss. STREAM IT.
Liz Kocan is a pop culture writer living in Massachusetts. Her biggest claim to fame is the time she won on the game show Chain Reaction.