Making a murderer on Netflix

Hey. Let me recommend you this Netflix original TV show “Making a murderer“.

This review might contain spoilers but consider this is a document of the real-life case that happened 33 years ago in Wisconsin I believe you already heard about it.

Basic info:

It’s a documentary series showing the true story of Steven Avery from Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Steven spent 18 years in prison (!) wrongful conviction of sexual assault and attempted murder he allegedly committed in 1985.

He was released in 2003 and obviously, he filed a $36 million civil lawsuit against Manitowoc County but 2 years later he was charged with the murder of Teresa Halbach and was in prison ever since.

Docuseries directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos portraits Stevens prosecution and also arrest and prosecution of Stevens’ nephew Brendan Dassey, just 16 years old, mentally challenging, not very bright boy who under pressure of investigation made up a confession of helping his uncle murder Teresa and sits in prison as well.

The document also shows the background of each character. Their families interviews and the impact of this case on the Avery family and Halbach family. Investigation and potential evidence tempting and many more.

Making a murderer has 2 series now with 20 episodes of approximately 50 minutes each. It was filmed for 10 years since 2005 when directors read about this case and realized it would be a great idea to document this.

The first season aired on Netflix in 2015 and focuses on prosecutions and failed attempts of Stevens and Brandon’s lawyers to prove their innocence.

The second series that aired just last month (October 2018) focuses more on a new investigation of what really happened to Teresa under Stevens’s new lawyer Kathleen Zellner, and Brennan’s story as well.

Why it’s so appealing:

It’s so controversial, it makes you sympathize with potential murderers. It keeps you on the edge of your seat with each new piece of information.

Lately, I can very rarely focus on one thing only. I’m always thinking about something else. Searching the internet on my phone in one hand. Watching some tv show and simultaneously thinking about my brand, blog, work, or whatever.

Making a murderer made me put down my phone and totally consumed my interest.

Very often I had to pause and just really soak in what I just witnessed. I had to constantly remind myself that this is not a basic tv show. It’s not actors, this is a document, real-life people, real stories and it still blows my mind.
It makes you feel so many emotions, most of all anger.

How could this happen?!

You don’t have to be professional to make an opinion and what’s so great about this show. It’s not one-sided, it’s not about trying to prove Stevens’s innocence at every cost. Show documents the event how it happened. It’s totally up to your interpretation to decide whether he’s guilty of the crime or not. But to be fair you would need to be really ignorant or not really paying attention to the evidences to not see the truth.

Makes you feel astonished. It’s really mind-blowing just to see what people are really capable of.

Makes you feel scared. Again this is real life and no one can guarantee you that what happened to Steven could not happen to you.

To quote one of Stevens lawyer :

“We could say that we’re never gonna commit a crime. But we can never guarantee that  someone will never accuse us of a crime.. And if that happens, then,  you know , good luck in this criminal justice system.”

You get to know the family and that is what really sucks you up into the story cuz you know this person and you believe their words not only cuz it makes much more sense but because it’s science and well that’s just facts.

After the first series, I was sure this is the end – Steven was condemned for life in prison with no chance for parole. How can you make another 10 episodes of this?

Tables turned when incredible Kathleen Zellner took Stevens’s case. Let me tell you something about  Kathleen Zellner  – I never thought that a person could impress me this much. She’s truly life goal, the confidence that burst out of this woman is mesmerizing. She’s truly the definition of big dick energy and I aspire to be like her. I was watching her work with my mouth wide open.

I’m a sucker for murderous documentaries and thankfully Netflix supports my interest with a wide variety of documentaries.

That’s why I can truly say that Steven Avery’s case is very unique.

Take a look at another 2018 amazing docu-series called Evil Genius -The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist. Story about pizza delivery guy who robs a bank with a bomb around his neck that later on blows off and kills the guy. The evil genius behind this crime is Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong with few associates.

If you watch this show or any other documentary about famous murderers you can clearly see the difference between Steven and Marjorie.

Not only the feeling you get from both of them but the way they present themself, the way they talk, how caught up Marjorie gets into the lies she’s telling, how aggressive she gets when someone things don’t go her way, the basic vibe.

Steven is determined to keep the investigation going, to prove his innocence once again. He spends 18 years in prison claiming he did not commit the crime he was charged for which later on DNA evidence confirms that he was telling the truth.

To be falsely accused of a crime must be horrible.

But to be falsely accused twice ?!

Holly hell how could you piss someone that much they do this to you on regular basis?

To sum it up Manitowoc County police department is one big joke but you can’t laugh when people’s lives are being ruined.

Another reason why is this how so popular and causes so many responses is that is about a white guy.

People of color have been falsely accused of crimes for so long and no one makes a fuss about it.

But if this can happen to white man no one is safe anymore.

It’s so controversial and it makes you questions your morals because even though you sympathize with Steven. At the same time, you think about Teresa. Young girl who died 13 years ago and she still did not have peace. Imagine your death being used to frame a guy for money, or political games, or whatever is going on there.

Imagine being Teresa’s family and watching a document about your daughter’s murdered innocence. That’s why this show is so brilliant. I admire the directors for such a clever idea and the way it’s made so fascinating.

It makes you think and question everything.

Puts your whole life into a different perspective.

Yeah, my boss is a pain in my ass but at least I’m not serving life in prison for a murder I did not commit.

10/10
Thank you for your attention
xo Natalia