It starts with the end.
National Geographic’s “Limitless with Chris Hemsworth” aired its sixth and final episode at the Jazz at the Lincoln Center premiere on Nov 15.
The show, which is available for streaming on Disney +, puts Hemsworth through physical trials — from high wire walks to ice plunges. The last episode, however, gives the “Thor” actor a trial of a more metaphysical nature.
The title is “Acceptance.” Hemsworth spends three days in a retirement community preparing for death. It’s a meditative episode to close out the stunt-filled series.
“I lost both my parents this year,” said series creator Darren Aronofsky at the post-screening panel. “As I was losing my mom, I watched it on the couch with my dad next door to my mom as she was passing. Half way through I paused and asked, ‘Is this ok?’ Because there’s a lot of heavy shit going on. He was like, ‘Yeah, keep it going.”
Aronofsky said watching the cut of the final episode was “extremely helpful” for him in coping with the deaths of his parents.
Along with “Limitless,” Aronofsky has been promoting his film “The Whale,” which premiered to plaudits at TIFF. It too deals with grief and family.
Hemsworth had family on his mind after the final episode. “It made me think about my family in a more intense way and my kids,” he said. “And not taking anything for granted.”
His big takeaway from making the series is to live in the present. “It’s the narrative in the past and the future that can scare us and become overwhelming,” he said.
An interactive reception followed the screening and panel. Attendees could take pictures in front of a green screen, strap on VR helmets to get a taste of the high octane thrills and take a seat in zero gravity chairs. The event kicked off with a man grappling down a rope from a cable car on the ceiling.
All six episodes are available for streaming on Disney +.
