‘Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom’ (2026) Netflix Review - The Candidly Spoken Life of NBA Star

“Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom” is no easy job. As it goes, obviously, the center of the documentary revolves around Lamar Odom, a former NBA champion also known for being the spouse of the famous media personality Khloé Kardashian.  The makers show us things from the start-how he was a troubled kid in Queens whose childhood was spent in loss, instability, and loads of exposure to addiction. Then things move ahead to his successful NBA championship, which is also marked by another life low-drug addiction. He himself admits to his addictions going far, which caused him great losses in life, including his marriage to Khloé Kardashian. We are also shown the near-fatal drug overdose, which shook the media and the NBA fraternity. And what sets this documentary apart is the fact that he is himself present in all the scenes that he tells us. For sure, it takes guts for someone to come on screen and talk about the failures and mistakes committed, and that is what Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom is all about. The near-fatal overdose is one of the scariest parts of the entire documentary, and it sends chills to know he actually underwent that. This also acts as a reminder for him of the life he nearly lost, which is why death comes first in the title of the documentary before life.

Additionally, a significant part is also shown on his marriage to Khloé Kardashian, their romance, how it started, and how the marriage started to fall apart. Khloé Kardashian is herself present to tell her share and how the marriage took a toll on her emotional well-being, too. She recollects the moment she decided to walk away from the marriage after his relapse. Again, for us viewers, this is a painful part to watch. But that’s not where things end, Lamar Odom tells us about his father and infant son’s loss, the losses that shook him up from within. Surely, you now know why I said this isn’t an easy watch.

When it comes to the overall making of Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom, the makers don’t glorify anything. Instead, they have chosen to keep it straightforward and uptight. That’s the best part- it is brutally honest and doesn’t shy away from Lamar Odom openly accepting how his life has been throughout all these years.

But again, I felt like asking if we really needed a documentary on Lamar Odom. Of course, if you have been a fan, this will be a great watch to see the life of your favorite NBA player. But if you aren’t, like me, then at some point things begin to feel repetitive. Themes such as addiction, loss, and frustration, though shown candidly, might seem over and over again. Yes, I understand, that’s how his life has been. However, what was the point of making a documentary on him? The pacing is also slow, hence the repetition feels even more. So all in all, you can watch Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom if you are a fan. Otherwise, maybe not.

Final Score- [6/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times