A comeback for good

If you’re reeling from the shocking finale of The Night Manager, you might find some solace like I did in the Take That three-part documentary on Netflix.

In the first episode, we spend some time watching the five boys form their band and find themselves thrust into the limelight.

It is each lad for himself in their journey from being brought together at auditions in Manchester in 1990 to multiple UK number ones, and millions of records sold across the world.

It becomes a pressure to sustain the music – and the relationships. And eventually (almost a spoiler alert, but this was a long time ago!) the wheels come off the wagon. First Robbie Williams departs in a spiral mid-way through 1995, going on to become a huge star, but one who said some hateful things about his former bandmates.

The following year, the band splits. It was such a seismic event for young people in the UK that a helpline was set up to support devastated fans. Gary (the blonde writer of many of their songs at this point) sinks into depression when his solo career fails, not leaving the house for 13 months, and overeating as if to hide the pop star he was and “pass as normal”. The band members seem lost, to themselves and to each other.

But that wasn’t the end. In 2005, after ten years “off” being the band, a documentary is made about them. They cannot see themselves going back on stage, but when a note from a music industry colleague suggests they could still fill stadiums (yes, even without Robbie) they talk until the sun comes up, and decide to give it a go. They sang their song Pray with its open arm actions and Mark Owen said it felt “like opening your heart”.

The first time they had made music together, it had been something they did together, but for themselves. This time, they say “I think we wanted to look after each other”. It needed to feel good for each of them. Gary relaxes his grip on the songwriting. No-one is relegated to being “the dancer”. They filled those stadiums. Take That then went on tour with Robbie too in 2010. Since 2005 they have done eight tours, with another one planned for this summer. Their music has gone from being boy band to “man band” with a more mature timeless pop sound that continues to be popular. Their 2007 song Rule the World spent 12 weeks inside the Top 10, more than any other song they’ve done.

Parts of the series are painful to watch, others heart-warming. The media have described the band as comeback kings. Why do stories of comeback feel so appealing to watch? They are about resilience – and in the face of setbacks. We are promised that challenges will come, irrespective of our faith in Christ. Comebacks show us it is possible to persevere. And they aren’t just about making it over the bump, but about moving forward and becoming who you were meant to be. Stories of comeback fill the Bible, whether it’s the Israelites making a mess in the desert, or Joseph being raised up after literally being pulled out of a hole. Comebacks show us that failure doesn’t need to be final. Comebacks reframe failure as transformation. Jesus makes the most dramatic and impactful comeback of all time when He rises again. We have been promised that our physical failure – death – is not the end. His comeback is what enables our own, both here on earth as His Spirit enables us to keep going, and in the future when we will be raised again. It will knock socks off a 1990s boy-band somehow coming back in 2023 to headline the King and Queen’s coronation concert. To quote the boys themselves: “We’re only people, we’re not invincible.” But watching this comeback tale reminds us that one day, another ultimate comeback is coming, when Jesus Himself returns again.