Expos' Demise: A Heartbreaking Tale of What Could Have Been

In the lead-up to the 2025 World Series, Netflix has released a new original documentary, "Who Killed the Montreal Expos?", exploring the nearly 40-year history of the ill-fated National League team. The film, directed by Jean-François Poisson, provides a comprehensive look at the Expos' place in Montreal, Quebec, and Canadian culture, as well as the factors that led to the team's eventual relocation to Washington, D.C., prior to the 2005 season.

While the reviewer found the documentary engaging and entertaining, they believe one major change could have elevated it to an "all-star" level: a multi-part format. The reviewer notes that other recent sports documentaries on Netflix, such as "The Last Dance" and "The Comeback," have ranged from three to 10 episodes, allowing the stories to breathe and be told in greater depth. In the case of "Who Killed the Montreal Expos?," the reviewer feels that the 90-minute runtime caused some "serious physical and emotional whiplash" as the film bounced between chronicling the team's rise and its eventual demise.

One particular aspect the reviewer wishes had been given more focus is the strike-shortened 1994 MLB season, when the Expos were the league's hottest team with a 70-43 record and were favored to win the World Series. The reviewer believes this "one of the biggest what-ifs in sports history" should have been the center point of the documentary, with a dedicated episode exploring the impact of the season's suspension on the team's final decade of existence.

Overall, "Who Killed the Montreal Expos?" is a compelling and well-crafted documentary that provides a loving portrait of the team and its place in Montreal's sports and cultural landscape. However, the reviewer believes a multi-part format could have allowed the story to be told with more depth and focus, making it an even more engaging and impactful viewing experience.