LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW: Episodes 2.1-2.3

Name: LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW: Episodes 2.1-2.3
Item: LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW: Episodes 2.1-2.3
Author: Review

"An Inspiring Lesson in Human Resilience"

Family Content: -2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.

Entertainment Quality:

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

Credits →

What You Need To Know:

LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW is a health-based documentary series on Disney+ hosted by Chris Hemsworth. In this mini docu-series, Hemsworth goes through various physical tribulations to elevate his current physique. In season two, the famous Marvel actor gets out of his comfort zone by attempting a 200-meter rock climb and military training in South Korea. However, each challenge brings out Hemsworth's greatest anxieties. Along the way, Hemsworth gives a sit-down testimony on overcoming his anxiety and near-physical exhaustion Can he surpass the apex of human limitation?

Season two of LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW is well-shot and contains positive messages regarding teamwork, listening to other people and thanking one’s family. The episodes are shot beautifully, contain excellent color grading and top-tier camera work. Each episode boasts such a high production value that it could easily be mistaken for a real movie at an independent film festival. However, there are numerous scenes of extreme stunts, mild violence and moderate cussing. Furthermore, one episode explores Buddhist philosophy of tolerating physical pain. MOVIEGUIDE® recommends caution for older children and their families.

Content:

(C, BB, HH, Pa, LL, VV, D, N):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

A strong humanistic moral worldview with Christian and Buddhist elements, Chris Hemsworth is shown to be supportive father to his children and a loving husband, he takes on difficult activities outside his normal range as a movie actor, he personally thanks and listens to his fitness instructors, the showrunners emphasize the benefits of strong physical training and discipline, Hemsworth overcomes his anxiety of not being good enough for each challenge, and the characters briefly visit a Buddhist temple for meditation advice;

Foul Language:

Hemsworth utters twenty cuss words throughout episodes 2.1-2.3 (but every word is censored with a bleep);

Violence:

Moderate violence throughout but no blood or gore, Hemsworth does boxing training with a South Korean instructor, he and his colleagues endure an “electric shock” pain test, he scales a dangerous climbing course in the Swiss Alps, he endures a gruesome military simulation course in South Korea, and various B-roll of extreme-sports athletes making death-dying jumps;

Sex:

No sex;

Nudity:

Brief upper male nudity with Hemsworth being shirtless during the training montages;

Alcohol Use:

No alcohol use;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

No smoking or on-screen drug consumption, but Hemsworth and his trainers discuss the benefits and drawbacks of taking doctor-prescribed pain killers, the show explains the effects of fitness training on a improving a person’s cognitive function, and the showrunners stress the importance of professional safety;

Miscellaneous Immorality:

None.

More Detail:

LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW is a health-based documentary series on Disney+ hosted by Chris Hemsworth. In this mini docu-series, Hemsworth goes through various physical tribulations to elevate his current physique. In season two, the famous Marvel actor gets out of his comfort zone by attempting a 200-meter rock climb and military training in South Korea. However, each challenge brings out Hemsworth’s greatest anxieties. Can he surpass the apex of human limitation?

In season two of LIMITLESS, Chris Hemsworth tackles three challenges related to pain tolerance, upper body strength and hand-to-hand coordination. In each episode, Hemsworth seeks training advice from doctors, extreme sports athletes, and his stunt double from the THOR movies. The documentary crew explains the purpose of a challenge, how it affects the human body and its benefits for improving cognitive function. Along the way, Hemsworth gives a sit-down testimony on overcoming his anxiety and near-physical exhaustion.

In terms of production value, LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW surpasses the zenith of most docu-series. The episodes are shot beautifully, contain excellent color grading, and top-tier camera work. Each episode boasts such a high production value that it could easily be mistaken for a real movie at an independent film festival. The most considerable praise must go to the cinematography during the “big challenge” scenes. The camera perfectly captures the danger and risk of Hemsworth’s physical obstacles. When he successfully scales a 200-meter wall, it makes his accomplishments feel earned.

While season two of LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW is a heavyweight in the production department, its moral outlook has mixed results. The episodes carry a strong humanistic worldview with some Christian elements. Hemsworth and his colleagues don’t openly mention God. But they stress the strength, stamina and discipline of human athletes. The crew advocates for the values of improving one’s health, using physical pain to strengthen one’s mental fortitude, and pushing oneself out of one’s comfort zone. Moreover, there is a spiritual dimension.

During his downtime, Chris Hemsworth is a loving husband and father to his children. He helps his children take on extreme sports such as skateboarding and motorbike dirt racing. On top of that, he becomes a team player and an active listener to his fitness mentors. Lastly, he gives personal thanks to his colleagues for pushing him through despite his fears of not living up to his full potential. The series does a great job of exploring the vulnerabilities and eventual triumph of its lead star.

However, there is one episode where Hemsworth visits a Buddhist temple in South Korea. The Korean monks practice a meditation technique and briefly mention the wisdom of their forefathers. The show is spiritually agnostic, but parents should be aware of this brief dive into Eastern spiritualism. They should also be aware of this series’ other faults.

In terms of content warnings, season two of LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW features moderate violence, adrenaline-pumping peril and mild swearing. Hemsworth undergoes an “electricity shock” pain test, visibly displaying discomfort. In B-roll footage, a motocross biker makes death-defying jumps and a climber scales a mountain with a rope. During the South Korean military episode, Hemsworth trudges through freezing water, crawls under an electric fence and carries a dummy of an injured soldier. There is no blood or gore, but the violence is tangible.

Furthermore, there are a few scenes of Hemsworth walking around shirtless during his physical training. He befriends a coach who lost his hands and feet from an electrical accident. Lastly, Hemsworth utters multiple swear words while taking on extreme pain. All the cussing is censored, but it’s reasonable to expect that he cursed at least two dozen times. Despite its title, there is no “limit” to the amount of physical pain the actor endured.

Season two of LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW is an amazing docu-series about human strength and resilience. It’s well-shot, has great directing and contains a positive message about getting out of one’s comfort zone. Moreover, the lead star emphasizes teamwork, listening to others, and being thankful to his family. However, there are numerous scenes of extreme stunts, mild violence and moderate cussing. Furthermore, one episode explores the Buddhist philosophy of tolerating physical pain. MOVIEGUIDE® recommends caution for older children and their families.