Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour on June 21, 2024.Scott A Garfitt/The Canadian Press
Taylor Swift sobbing over a stabbing that left three fans dead or listening to meditation cues to stop her body from reacting to a thwarted terrorist attack in Vienna probably weren’t moments that fans had on their 2025 bingo cards. Yet it’s those deep, meaningful scenes that make Swift’s latest project, The End of an Era, a moving and must-see documentary.
It’s been just more than a year since Swift wrapped her record-grossing Eras Tour in Vancouver, bidding farewell after performing 149 three-plus-hour shows in 51 cities spanning five continents. Even though the glitter has settled, the tour remains alive in fans’ memories, and through this latest project they can revisit all of the highs and lows.
Review: Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour ends with a group hug
The first two of six episodes dropped on Disney+ Canada on Dec. 12. Swift wastes no time getting into one of the hardest aspects of the tour in the premiere: the aftermath of those cancelled Vienna shows in August, 2024, just days after three children were killed during a knife attack at a Taylor Swift dance party in England.
Swift comes across as her authentic self as she dissects the situation to the cameras, breaking down at the thought of how they almost had a massacre on their hands. She cries again after a private meeting with the families who were at the party.
But as she grapples with her anxiety and tough feelings, she likens her situation to that of a pilot: If a pilot were to show fear while going through turbulence, how would the passengers react? And so, after allowing herself those integral moments to sit in her feelings, Swift knows she has to pull herself together and be the front woman her crew and fans are relying on her to be.
Uncredited/Disney via AP
It’s hard not to feel for Swift as she processes her grief, and if the documentary does one thing extremely well it’s showcasing the singer in those vulnerable moments – reminding viewers she is still a human. Whether she’s tearing up upon meeting her new dancers before heading into their first rehearsal, or calling now-fiancé Travis Kelce with glee after getting off the stage, it’s impossible not to see Swift’s inner child and the sheer joy this life brings her.
It’s not all heavy moments in the first episode, either, as Swift, her mother and others from her team reflect on what it took to bring the Eras Tour to life. The challenges were plenty, from construction and choreography to the physicality and logistics of it all. Viewers know a lot of work went into the tour, but until they see the visuals and hear the stories from those on the ground, they can’t truly understand.
The second episode continues with that thread, as the cameras showcase some of the people who helped make the tour possible. Choreographer Mandy Moore, whom Swift hired on the recommendation of actor Emma Stone, shares how she and the singer communicated to bring a cinematic feel to the show. Canadian Amanda Balen, the dance captain and associate choreographer, also shares her story, from being a dancer on tour with Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears and Celine Dion to returning to the stage after Swift recognized her star power.
Kam Saunders, the energetic dancer who became a fan favourite, also gets time in the spotlight alongside his mother. He recalls being broke and asking his brother, NFL player and Super Bowl champion Khalen Saunders, for money so he could fly out to the blind audition. Something was telling him he needed to be in that room.
Taylor Swift hugs her performers on the last night of her tour in Vancouver on Dec. 8.The Globe and Mail
Yet it’s not just Swift’s penchant for recognizing and uplifting the people around her that makes the doc so compelling. Sure, it’s hard not to tear up over the opening scene, in which she gives a final pep talk during the last concert huddle. Or when she delivers handwritten cards with US$100,000 bonuses to her crew. Through it all, it’s this woman’s work ethic, leadership and passion that really shine through.
Swift’s commitment to delivering a good surprise is on full display, whether she’s learning lyrics and bars to an Ed Sheeran song for a guest appearance or choreographing an entire sequence for a one-off duet with Florence and the Machine. And there’s ample time devoted to what it took to revamp the concert to include songs from The Tortured Poets Department, which was released mid-tour. (The process involved everyone listening to the songs through headphones instead of a loudspeaker before the album was officially released.)
Packed with reveals and personal moments, the first two episodes fly by, leaving viewers wanting more. If this were a documentary about Swift and her vision, six episodes would feel like a drawn-out cash grab or a collection of stories fans mostly already knew. Instead, with incredible visuals, mini profiles of those who brought the tour to life, plenty of shots of the fans and an overall vibe that this was a movement for every person involved, The End of an Era truly feels like a scrapbook of one of the most important moments in pop culture history.