Name: Heart of Invictus
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2023-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

The opening shot of Heart of Invictus lingers on a wheelchair athlete crossing the finish line, his face a mix of exhaustion and triumph. It’s an image that encapsulates the spirit of the Invictus Games, but also hints at the documentary’s central tension: how to balance the profound personal stories of its competitors with the looming presence of Prince Harry.

Orlando von Einsiedel’s five-part Netflix series follows six wounded service members as they prepare for and compete in the 2022 Invictus Games. The docuseries is a collaboration between Archewell Productions and The Invictus Games Foundation, with Harry serving as executive producer and on-camera presence. What works best are the intimate, unflinching portraits of the athletes themselves—like Yulia Paievska’s journey from Ukrainian soldier to para-athlete, or the raw determination of a British veteran overcoming PTSD through sports. These moments are deeply moving, capturing the transformative power of the Games with authenticity and nuance.

However, the series stumbles when it shifts focus to Harry himself. His appearances—whether discussing his own struggles with mental health or reflecting on his military service—feel unevenly integrated. Some critics have noted that these segments occasionally veer into what feels like score-settling, particularly when Harry revisits his time in Afghanistan. While his personal insights are undeniably compelling, they sometimes overshadow the very athletes the series aims to center. The documentary also struggles with pacing; transitions between the competitors’ stories and Harry’s commentary can feel jarring, disrupting the emotional momentum.

The production values are solid, with crisp cinematography and a respectful approach to storytelling that lets the athletes speak for themselves. However, the series lacks the narrative cohesion that might have elevated it from a well-intentioned collection of vignettes to something more cohesive. The absence of Meghan Markle—despite their collaboration on previous projects—is notable, though her presence isn’t missed in the same way Harry’s occasionally intrusive narration is.

Heart of Invictus succeeds when it focuses on the athletes, offering a powerful testament to resilience and healing through sport. But its inability to fully step back from Harry’s shadow keeps it from reaching its full potential.

Tags: Netflix, Heart of Invictus