Dateline (Keith Morrison is the best), I.D. channel (that whispering "investigate" gets me every time), streamed documentaries (Outcry...wow), etc. are my achilles.
True crime is fascinating and there is no doubt my morbid curiosity is strong. Everything from motive to forensics of crime-solving, or the cold case to the solved case. Whatever it is that makes people cross the immoral, illegal line-evil, madness, illness, abuse, drugs-I find it all so fascinating and, fortunately, foreign.
My latest experience with true crime television (depiction) is Dirty John-The Betty Broderick Story. Mind you, this isn't my first B.B. (Betty Broderick) televised viewing. In 1992, Meredith Baxter (Family Ties) fabulously portrayed B.B. The tale was so intense and memorable, that I decided to watch the 2020 version (if any year was binge-worthy, it's 2020!). Now as a wife and mother, there is a new perspective at play!
First off, Christian Slater and Amanda Peet are amazing. Amanda gets the A+ but Christian isn't far behind on the grading scale. They both make you love them and hate them-much like their real-life counterparts, I presume.
Second, The 80s/90s themes are hilarious-the poof sleeves, the feathered hair, the tacky new money of SoCal...it's amazing.
Third, I LOOOOOOVED the Father of the Bride movie. When Dan B./Christian Slater's attorney looked so familiar, it hit me...George Newburn, a.k.a.Bryan MacKenzie!!!!!! I immediately felt every bit 40 years old when I realized it. George too has aged since 1991 (I mean, it's only been 19 years), when Father of the Bride was released. Wow-I feel old. He's aged pretty well, to be fair. He was just so baby-faced cute in that film!
So, back to the story. If you aren't familiar, I won't spoil it entirely should you tune in. Long story short, B.B. is a woman fully and completely S-C-O-R-N-E-D. He's shady, she's shady. It's just messy. It ends in bloodshed and it's so very tragic. Oprah interviewed B.B. from prison and two of their children in the 90s and it's all the more tragic.
I guess with an interest in true crime, I focus on the "why" and the breaking point. The rabbit hole of marital strife, mental instability, faith, excess, abuse, infidelity, and trauma are really well depicted in this latest USA version. I love the character development and the acting is pretty solid.
I have a couple more episodes to go but what I don't think has been fully addressed is the impact on their 4 children. The spouses are front and center but their children aren't main characters.
Sadly, they lose more than just a voice in real life.
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