Bobby’s Binge Recommendation – ‘Making a Murderer’

This Netflix original docu-series is getting more and more attention every day, and for good reason. I just wrapped it up and I couldn’t recommend it any stronger. It’s definitely worth a watch.

In the span of less than a week (as of writing this), I’ve gone from not knowing anything about this series, to watching all 10 episodes, to seeing headlines about it everywhere I turn.

When I started watching (4 days ago), and decided to write a review about it, I thought I would be letting you in some great unknown treasure. And now, just a few days later, I feel like an idiot telling you about something the whole world already knows. Like “hey, did you hear about this ‘internet’ thingy? It’s amazing!”

So I’ll try to keep this brief and I promise not to reveal any spoilers. I’ll say this much too…if you want to watch the series and don’t want to know how it ends yet, be careful with your online activity. It’s hard to avoid seeing headlines on social media that may spoil things for you.

Okay, here’s a quick description of the series. Making a Murderer takes place in Manitowac County in Wisconsin, and follows a fellow named Steven Avery who was (wrongly) incarcerated for a sexual assault back in the 80’s. He spent 18 years in jail before being released after new DNA evidence proved his innocence. Two years after his release he was back in jail, this time being charged with murder. There – that’s the gist of this crazy story, but there is really so much more to it.

While this is a documentary, using real people, real footage, and telling a real story – I felt, after a while, that I was watching a movie. It kinda seemed like a spin-off of Fargo or something. I found myself, from time to time, thinking less about the case and trial, and more about these people. I was fascinated! I kept thinking to myself that you couldn’t make these characters up, and that this story just wouldn’t be the same if it were set in a major city. Everything about it - the landscape, the language and dialect, the clothing – it all had me absolutely riveted. I was hooked after the first episode.

I could go on and on about this story. I could talk more about the filmmakers and their intentions. I could tell you how I feel about the Avery case, his lawyers, and the prosecution, but I won’t. I want you to go into this like I did, only knowing the basics of the story. And I want you to know that I dig/dug the hell out of this series. I just feel like a slacker for taking 4 days to go through the 10 episodes.

Watch the trailer and then go home and watching the series...today!