Taylor Swift performs during her Eras Tour in Vancouver on Dec. 6, 2024.Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters
If the first two episodes of Taylor Swift’s new docuseries, The End of an Era, were a love letter to those who helped bring her Eras Tour to life, the next two chapters are a sheer dedication to them. The episodes, which dropped Friday on Disney+, give fans more behind-the-scenes peeks at what it took to bring the massive stadium show to fruition – and the family the venture created.
Swift remains a likeable – but never saccharine – figure, speaking about those in her orbit as equals who love what they do as much as she does. And as she shines a light on the dancers who bring costumes to life or the backup singers she worries about, the same personalities gush about how special this opportunity has been for them.
One example is Jeslyn Gorman, a backup singer who was diagnosed with breast cancer while on tour. She recalls the team showering her with love and bolstering her spirits during chemotherapy. Later, Swift tells the cameras how in awe she was that the singer worked so hard to rejoin the team as soon as possible.
“She’s one of the most talented, resilient, loving people I’ve ever been around,” Swift says.
Then there’s Whyley Yoshimura, who brushes away tears while recalling his experience growing up as a male dancer who was constantly told to change his looks or style. He credits Swift with being the first boss who allowed him to be his full self, and he shines when she lets him dance in the Reputation set, which previously featured only female dancers.
Sabrina Carpenter, who opened on the Eras Tour before her own career skyrocketed, appears for a guest performance during a night off in New Orleans. Swift’s genuine enthusiasm for the younger star’s success seeps from the screen.
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Together, these stories paint a picture of a strong leader who cares deeply about the people who surround her. Many of those in Swift’s professional life have been with her since she was in high school, meaning they’ve experienced many major life events together. The singer’s determination to make others feel seen makes sense, considering she speaks often in the episodes about how others stopped viewing her as a person and instead saw her as more of a machine.
That reflection is particularly relevant when it comes to her now fiancé Travis Kelce and how the pair got together. Swift talks about going through two breakups while on tour, and how even the men in her life have historically failed to see beyond the stage presence. The tone shifts when Swift’s mother, Andrea, tells the story of Kelce attending an Eras concert in Kansas City, hoping to give the singer a friendship bracelet featuring his phone number. “Mama Swift” was charmed, and asked around about the NFL footballer. When she found out he loved his mom, she persuaded her daughter to give the guy a shot.
Swift divulging she learned all about football because of Kelce is one of the strongest parts of these episodes, as is when she discusses their mutual career goals and what makes them work as a couple. She also talks about getting him to appear onstage for a surprise Eras Tour performance, and the series shares previously unseen footage of them kissing backstage.
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It’s an intimate picture of a couple that would have been made even stronger with similar footage of Kelce opening up for the cameras. But Swifties will still love hearing the singer talk about how likeable her boyfriend is and the phenomenon of fans sporting Kelce jerseys to her shows.
Structurally, the third and fourth chapters are tied together even more loosely than the first two, which can be a little dizzying. There are home-video recordings, fan footage, professional shots and random clips interspersed throughout, along with signature Swift Easter eggs. These include the episode titles themselves, which hail from The Life of a Showgirl lyrics: Kismet and Thank You For the Lovely Bouquet.
Still, it all culminates in an entertaining and joy-filled watch that, much like the Eras Tour itself, intentionally overserves fans. Swift knows what the people want, and she’s made it her genuine mission to give it to them.