Liam Payne’s tragic passing final 12 months created shock waves internationally. The One Course singer, who had tens of millions of followers worldwide, is dearly missed, and he left behind a robust legacy as a musician. Payne had plenty of tasks within the works earlier than his passing, together with a Netflix singing competitors present that he participated in as a mentor. The present, titled Constructing the Band, dropped its first 4 episodes at this time on the 2025 TV schedule, and watching it felt eerie, regardless of the singer’s legacy being honored.
The Netflix present opens instantly with a tribute to the late singer by host AJ McLean, and it serves as one among many emotional tributes to Payne which have come after his demise. He addresses the truth that the present was filmed earlier than Payne handed away in October, and notes that he shall be featured in later episodes of the present. He says that within the wake of Payne’s passing, they’ve determined to dedicate the present to him, and notes his irreplaceable expertise and generosity that shall be dearly missed. McLean stated:
Once we got here collectively to movie Constructing the Band, we by no means imagined we’d quickly be saying goodbye to our good friend Liam Payne. Liam is a visitor decide in later episodes, and thru his presence we see his deep love of music and unwavering dedication to serving to others discover their voice. It’s by means of that spirit that we dedicate this sequence to Liam and his household.
It’s necessary to notice that Payne doesn’t make an look within the first 4 episodes presently accessible for these with a Netflix subscription. Nicole Scherzinger does, and acts as a mentor and decide to a number of the rising expertise, providing a teaser for what Payne’s function is on the present. His lack of presence is nearly as looming as his presence can be, as I felt like I used to be anticipating the late star making an look and questioning what his power can be like. The present was notably filmed in the summertime of 2024, simply months earlier than the singer’s premature passing.
Whereas we’ve got but to see Payne within the present, apart from a teaser in direction of the top of episode 4, it’s not onerous to think about why he would have been requested to take part. The present kinds bands simply based mostly on expertise alone, and never on any confirmed stage chemistry. This considerably mirrors how One Course was fashioned on X Issue in 2010, as the person skills have been put collectively by the judges in hopes that the fivesome would make a great boy band. The decide’s instincts have been proper, and the remaining is historical past. If anybody knew about creating stage chemistry simply based mostly on vocal expertise, it was Liam Payne.
The present is powerful, because it feels distinctive amongst different in style singing competitions. Nevertheless, it’s onerous to not anticipate Payne’s presence because it feels surprisingly eerie ready for him to look. Alternatively, I feel there’s a number of worth in having Payne’s work being shared along with his followers posthumously, because it’s doubtless what he would have needed. The present has but to air his decide look, and we’ll see if the tone modifications when extra episodes are launched.
You may take a look at the primary 4 episodes of Constructing the Band now on Netflix. Then, ensure to remain tuned to Netflix’s 2025 schedule as Episodes 5 by means of 7 drop on July 16 and the ultimate batch premieres on July 23.